Braves Raves
By Amylynn Richards
ALL-STATE BASKETBALL
Senior Kyle McKnight was selected on Thursday, March 31 as an Honorable Mention to the 2B Basketball All-State team.
GOLF
La Conner high school hosted Grace Academy at Similk golf course on Monday, March 18, and won 211-294. Senior Jake Silva was the medalist with a score of 37.
On Thursday, the team traveled to compete against Rainier Christian. The Braves won 243-255. The medalist was Jake Silva, who scored 41.
Bobby Poulton has qualified for districts; the Braves now can boast six boys and one girl who have qualified for district competition. “We’re looking good so far,” says Coach Sean Skiles, “we’re still undefeated so you can’t do much better than that, but some better weather would be great.”
BASEBALL
The boys hosted Friday Harbor on Tuesday, March 29. The Wolverines won 5-4. Jeremiah LeSourd reports, “This game went back and forth and was close throughout.”
Tyler Howlett pitched. Howlett struck out eight batters, gave up six hits and only one earned run. The Braves’ five errors contributed to the team’s first 2B/1B league loss this season.
LeSourd reports that the Braves had a great offense, “The Braves were able to get runners on base consistently, but left ten on base. The Braves were missing a few starters for the game, and this was a great opportunity for younger players to get valuable experience.”
Leading Hitters: Garrett Wilbur 4 for 4, with a double; Christian Johnston 2 for 4 and 1RBI; and Matt McCauley was 1 for 4 with 2RBI.
FASTPITCH
The Lady Braves played Friday Harbor at home, on Tuesday, March 29, beating the Wolverines 15-11. The Braves took an early lead, scoring 4 runs in the first inning. Each team scored one point each in the second and third innings. The Wolverines gave the home team a bit of a scare in the fourth inning, evening up the score 6-6, until the Braves brought 2 more runs at the bottom of the fourth.
The Wolverines brought in 4 runs in the top of the fifth for the lead, but the Braves brought home 7 runs. The Wolverines scored one final run in the seventh inning, but it was too little too late for Friday Harbor.
The Braves made the 15 runs off of 13 hits, with 11 errors. The Wolverines scored their 11 runs from 11 hits, with 4 errors.
Team highlights: Kaitlyn Summers was 3 for 3, with a double and 4 RBI; Taysha James was 2 for 5, with a double and 2 RBI, Kelley McClung was 1 for 4 with a triple. First baseman Galena Graham was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and 9 put outs, and pitcher Samie Miller had 7 strikeouts and 6 assists.
The girls travelled to Seattle Lutheran on Thursday, March 31. The Braves won 24 – 4 in five innings.
Seattle Lutheran scored 1 run in the first inning, but the Braves sent them packing with 9 runs in the second inning. The Saints never recovered. Though the Saints did score 3 more points before games’ end, the Braves second high scoring fourth inning of 8 points sealed the win for the Braves.
The Braves 24 runs were scored off of 15 hits, with only 2 errors.
Pitcher Samie Miller threw 11 strike-outs, and hit a double. Kelley McClung was 3 for 4, with a double, triple and 2 RBI. Kaitlyn Summers was 2 for 4 with a double and 5RBI; and Taysha James was 5 for 6 with 2RBI.
The fastpitch team is 6-2 overall and 4-0 in league.
GIRLS’ TRACK
La Conner, Concrete, Lopez and Friday Harbor met on Friday Harbor on Thursday, Mar. 31 for a 1B/2B/1A meet.
Freshman Kirstyn Bell earned first place in the 400 meter race in 1:14.25 seconds and second in the 200 meter race, in 30.93 seconds; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas won first in the 600 g. javelin with 92’04”, beating her previous personal best for the second straight week, this time by 1’8”; Ponce-Venegas also won first place in the 30” 300 meter hurdles, in 50.54c; and Sammie Mesman won first place in the 1600 meter race in 6:21.37.
Emily Anderson won second in the 33” 100 m hurdles, and second in the high jump, leaping 4’04"and second in 14.1 seconds, setting a new personal best and finishing an exact second quicker than the first race of her high school career on March 18.
Kelsie Crawford took third in the 100 meters race, in 14.1 seconds;
The Lady Braves swept the relay races, winning first place in the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relay races.
The four-woman team of Sammie Mesman, Lydia Lenning, Madi Cavanaugh and Kirstyn Bell won first place in the 4x100 relay, in 5:05:50.
The 4x200 race was won by Madi Cavanaugh, Kirstyn Bell, Emily Anderson and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas in 1:58.09.
The 4x400 race was won in 5:05.50 by Sammie Mesman, Lydia Lenning, Madi Cavanaugh and Kirstyn Bell.
BOYS’ TRACK
The boys track team also competed at the La Conner, Concrete, Lopez and Friday Harbor met on Friday Harbor on Thursday, March 31 for a 1B/2B/1A meet.
Senior BG Miller has beaten his personal best in the long jump event. Miller attempted the long jump competitively once before, on Friday, Mar. 18. In less than two weeks, Miller increased his personal best by 7 inches, for a new personal record of 10’1.00”.
Senior Sten Mejlaender won first in the 36” 300 meter hurdles, in 42.24c; Mejlaender won first place again in the 39” 100 meter hurdles in 16.24c. This time beat his previous personal best by 0.10c.
Landy James set a new personal record for the high jump of 6’, beat his previous personal best by 2 inches. James picked up first place along the way. Landy James also took first place in the 800g javelin throw, with a distance of 144’07”.
Brandon Drye earned first place in the 1.6 kg. discus, throwing the discus 120’09.25”. Drye earned second in the 12lb. shot put, with a distance of 36’09.75”.
Nathan Sybrandy took second in the 1600 meters in 4:58.25 and third in the 800 meters with a time of 2:18.21; Todd Hoagland came in second in the 800 meter race, with a time of 2:12.0, and third in the 800 meters, in 2:18.30.
Sophomore Jamall James earned second in the long jump, leaping 19’0”, his new personal best by 1.5”. Track is only 3 meets into the season, and James has already increased his long jump by 1ft. compared to his personal best of the 2010 season. James won second place in the triple jump, leaping 38’5.00”.
Stephen Bell won third place with a distance of 97’09.25” in the 1.6 kg. discus throw.
Nathan Parker won third in the 12lb. shot put, throwing a distance of 35’07”.
The Braves won first place in the 4x400 relay race in 3:47.09, run by Nathan Sybrandy, Jamall James, Sten Mejlaender and Todd Hoagland.
In the 4x100 meter relay, the Braves took second place in 47.56 seconds. The race was run by Wylie Thulen, Jamall James, Todd Hoagland and Sten Mejlaender.
