Friday update May 27

Blessing of the Fleet

 Photo by Amylynn Richards

The summer fishing season for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community officially opened Thursday with the annual Blessing of the Fleet and Blessing Ceremony for the safety of the fishers and a bountiful harvest from the sea.

Photo by Amylynn Richards

Here Tribal members and guests walk in a procession led by Linda Day and the Edwards Family from the Swinomish Gym to the shore. The Tribe had hosted a feast of salmon, crab, prawns and butter clams for about 650 people prior to the celebration. 

Photo by Amylynn Richards

Photo by Amylynn Richards

Swinomish Tribal Chairman Brian Cladoosby at the Blessing of the Fleet

Galloping Gourmet meets Plant Lady

 Photo by Eve Boe

Our own Plant Lady, feature writer Sue Phillips, and the Galloping Gourmet Graham Kerr met up with their mutual friend, Basil, at Christianson's Nursery recently. Kerr was there to talk about kitchen gardening and his book "Growing at the Speed of Life."

Canoes on Saturday

Be sure to watch the Swinomish Channel tomorrow afternoon, May 28, around 2 or 3 p.m. when several large family canoes are expected to be practicing their landing techniques in preparation for the 2011 Canoe Journey in July.  

About 100 canoes from northwest coastal Tribes will come ashore July 25 for this summer’s Paddle to Swinomish, a spectacular week-long Native American celebration that is expected to draw thousands of visitors to La Conner and Swinomish.

 

Baseball State Championships

Update:

Braves take 3^rd after 7-inning rally in 5-4 win over DeSales

By M. Sharon Baker

The La Conner Braves took 3^rd place at the Class 2B Baseball State Tournament, staging a last-inning rally to beat DeSales 5-4.

 Junior outfielder Matt McCauley, who went 4-4, hit the game winning single that brought Tyler Howlett home from second.

The Braves led DeSales 2-0 in the first four innings of the game, but gave up two runs in the fifth and six innings, which gave DeSales a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.

 Winning pitcher Garrett Wilbur allowed just 7 hits in the game. Playing their last game for the Braves were seniors Wilbur, shortstop Kyle McKnight and second baseman D.J. Carr.

  
State Championship game one: 

Braves 4, Worden 9

Writer M. Sharon Baker, reporting from Yakima, has some disappointing news on the baseball state championship games.

Though the La Conner Braves boys’ Baseball Team made it to the top four in the state, the team fell short of taking the 2B State Championship in Yakima on Friday with a 9-4 loss to Worden.

 La Conner’s offence generated only four runs on 11 hits, and left many runners stranded on base. Worden capitalized on 7 errors by La Conner fielders. The winning team scored its nine runs on six hits.

 The Braves now play for Third Place in the State Tournament at 1 p.m. today, Saturday in Yakima.

In the May 25, 2011 issue...

Photo by Kathy Elston

La Conner Elementary School Girls’ Running club is now in its second year and sponsored by the PTSA this year.

 

What? No more Sea Scouts?

La Conner’s Sea Scout program is in crisis.

The Skipper who has spent every Monday, weekend and vacation for the past 15 years teaching teenagers to sail, “and loving every minute of it,” she says, is ready to retire.

The Scouts' 80-year-old ship Rejoice, a 56-foot knockabout staysail schooner requires at least a four-person crew, constant maintenance and a skipper with strong sailing skills and the temperament to handle a boatload of teenagers.

Unless such a person steps up, La Conner could lose its Sea Scouts.

 Ancient songs come to life

in new voices 

Writer Mary Evitt has the story about the Swinomish children who are learning their ancestral songs and dances as they prepare to welcome some 20,000 visitors for the Canoe Journey in July. Some 50 children will represent the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community during the week-long Paddle to Swinomish which will start July 25 when at least 100 family canoes are expected to land there.

  Photo by Scott McDade

 Hole in the Wall Gang

Meet some of the talent behind La Conner's literary magazine, Hole in the Wall, during an evening of prose and poetry at the La Conner School Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31. High school teacher and writer Scott McDade has the details in today's paper.

An essential link in education

Writer Anna Ferdinand is back in the paper with a story about MoNA Links, the education program connecting area schools with the Museum of Northwest Art in La Conner. A noted gallery recently held an artist's reception to feature an exhibit by ... Edison Elementary 6th graders.  It's in today's paper.

 Decades of public service

Photo by Marci Plank

La Conner Town Councilman Don Wright was honored on Tuesday for his 38 years of service on the La Conner Volunteer Fire Department. Wright is retiring from active duty on the fire department, but he’s still serving his community as a member of the Town Council. Mayor Ramon Hayes read a proclamation which drew applause at Tuesday’s council meeting.

And this  – 

A guy who tried to beat the motorcycle speed record set by Burt Munro at the Bonneville in 1967 is ripping into columnist Mel Damski in today’s letters section.  See an old  TV news story about the letter writer here

From the Police Blotter: 

11:31 a.m.: Theft – A garden gnome was apparently abducted from a yard on South 3^rd Street in La Conner. The missing gnome was last seen wearing a tall red hat and holding a shovel. If he is seen in the area, please contact the Sheriff’s Department so he can get a ride home.

 The paper is in the news stands and on sale in all the usual places. Call us and have it delivered to your home. 360-466-3315.

 

Weekly La Conner High Sports capsule, May 25, 2011

Photo by Amylynn Richards

In the state's Top Four

Braves Baseball team is in top four in state and will be in the State Championships this weekend in Yakima.

Photo by Ed Baker

Garrett's game face

La Conner Braves' Garrett Wilbur pitched a two-hit shutout and struck out 10 batters in Saturday's game against Concrete. 

 Photo by Christy Hoagland

Tri-District Champs

 For the first time since 1991, the La Conner Braves Boys Track Team has won the Tri-District championship. Shown here from left are track team members Conner Anderson, Todd Hoagland and Sten Mejlaender.

Braves Raves

By Amylynn Richards

ALL SPORTS TO STATE

For the first time in known Brave history, Golf, Track, Baseball and Fastpitch teams are all headed to 2B State competition.  “All four teams have not gone to State at one time, before, least not in recent history,” says Athletic Director Peg Seeling.

BASEBALL

The boy’s Baseball Team is in the state final four – for the first time since 1999, the year that Coach Jeremiah LeSourd and assistant Coach Andy Otis were seniors at La Conner high. 

Making the final four is all the sweeter for the Braves this year; two years ago, the Braves had only eight boys turn out. “Luckily, four boys joined at the last minute, to give us a team of twelve,” LeSourd said.

The Braves won the first round of the 2B State Regional Tournament in Anacortes on Saturday, May 21 15-2 against Toutle Lake. The Braves got off to a quick start scoring four runs on five consecutive hits with two outs in the first inning. The Braves were held scoreless in the second inning, but in the third they scored 7 runs to give sophomore pitcher Tyler Howlett all the run support he would need. Howlett pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and striking out 8. Leading hitters: Dakota Hartley, 3 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI; Matt McCauley, 4 for 5 with 2 RBI; Garrett Wilbur, 3 for 4 with a double; Wil James, 2 for 3 with a double, triple and 4 RBI's; and Kyle McKnight, 2 for 4 with a double a 2 RBI. 

In the second game that same day, the Braves beat the Concrete Lions 5-0 in what started out as a slow, game into a nail bitter by the fourth inning. This was the third time Braves and Lions have played this year, and this win won the Braves a trip to the State Final Four in Yakima.

LeSourd said, “This game was a pitching duel and was the best game between the schools this year.” The Braves offense had the bases loaded in the first inning, but was unable to score and would leave six runners on base through the first three innings. In the fourth inning – with two outs and the bases loaded – Garrett Wilbur hit a two run single up the middle to score Tanner Cyr and Kyle McKnight. Tyler Howlett followed with a double off the Center Field wall, scoring DJ Carr and Garrett Wilbur. The Braves added another run in the sixth inning in exciting fashion. Kyle McKnight walked to get on base. 

Concrete's pitcher tried to pick him off of first, but the throw got past the first baseman and McKnight was able to advance all the way to third base. McKnight then scored on a close play at home on a pass ball. The game culminated with senior Garrett Wilbur pitching a two hit shutout, while striking out 10 batters. He allowed just one base runner to reach third base. “Wilbur's strong pitching and clutch hit helped send the Braves to Yakima,” LeSourd said.

The Braves are schedule to play Warden in the 2B State Semi-final at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 28 in Yakima at Parker Field.  

TRACK

The Braves boys’ track team has won the Tri-District Championship, for the first time since 1991 – before the current track team was even born.  The Braves scored 126, Tacoma Baptist won second with 121, and Concrete came in third, with 114.  The girls came in fourth out of ten teams.

State competition begins on Friday, May 27 at the University of Eastern Washington in Cheney.  Headed for State are: Sammie Mesman, 1600 meter race; Pricilla Ponce-Venegas, 300 meter hurdles; Chrissy Barsness, Lydia Lenning, Sammie Mesman and Madi Cavanaugh will compete in the 4x400 meter relay;  Conner Anderson, 200 meter race;  Sam Traylor, 3200 meter;  Sten Mejlaender, 110 meter and 300 meter hurdles; Nathan Sybrandy, Sten Mejlaender, Conner Anderson and Todd Hoagland are competing in the 4x400 meter relay; Jamal James will compete in the high jump, triple jump and long jump;  Landy James, high jump and javelin;  Brandon Drye, shot put and discus.

FASTPITCH

The girls are in the 2B Sweet Sixteen statewide, and compete first against Kettle Falls high on Friday, May 27 at 9 a.m. at the Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima.  In the case of a Brave win over Kettle Falls, the girls next play either Mossyrock or Brewster at 7 p.m. the same day.  The winner of that game plays on Saturday, May 28 at noon. Finally, the two teams left standing in this bracket play for first and third the same day at 4 p.m.  Northwest League-mate Orcas Island is also state-bound.

The girls competed on Saturday, May 21 in Stanwood against Seattle Lutheran to earn the State-bound berth. The Braves won 8-2. The Braves’ 8 runs were from nine hits, with three errors. Lauren McClung was 2 for 4 with 2 triples, 2 RBI, and stuck out 11 Seattle Lutheran batters;  Samie Miller was 1 for 2 with 1 triple and 1 RBI; Taysha James was 1 for 3 with a double and 1 RBI; Galena Graham had 8 put-outs and 1 assist; and Alissa McCoy was 2 for 4 with 1RBI.

The Braves played a second game against Orcas that same day, but saved their energy – the game was for seeding only.  Orcas won 13-0.