Braves Sports April 25, 2012

Photo by Karla Reynolds

La Conner linksters not rusty despite rain, long layoff

By Bill Reynolds

They say the best things in life are well worth the wait.

And for golfers, that includes a day on the course – even in the pouring rain.

The La Conner High golf teams returned to action Thursday after going nearly a month without a match, and had little trouble shaking off the rust.

The Braves kept their undefeated season intact, easily downing visiting Grace Academy and Highline Christian in a downpour at nearby Similk Beach Golf Course.

The Lady Braves, meanwhile, boasted medalist Hilary Edwards, who shot a 59, one stroke under the round shot by teammate Bailey Wyles.

"I'm proud of the effort," La Conner head coach Sean Skiles said afterward. "The rain made it tough, but everybody stuck with it and really turned in some impressive scores considering the elements."

La Conner's Jake Silva took top honors on the boys' side, carding a 37. Teammate Brendan McLeod fired a 39.

The Braves' Spencer Finley finished at 42, while Wilson Crawford shot a 44 in his varsity debut.

Pretty remarkable scores given there was standing water on some greens, and the

La Conner boys were without three of their top five players.

"It was nice to get a couple of the JV golfers a chance to compete in a varsity match," said Skiles, "without a noticeable drop off in team score."

The Braves finished with a combined count of 210. Grace Academy was 32 strokes back, at 242. Highline Christian golfers sloshed their way to a 267.

"It was very wet and never stopped raining," said La Conner assistant coach Kelly Silva. "So a team score of 210 was pretty awesome all things considered."

There will be little idle time for La Conner golfers from here on out. The LCHS teams were slated to host Lopez late Tuesday, then return the favor tomorrow, Thursday, afternoon.

La Conner wraps up the week Friday at Snohomish in a dual match with Northwest Christian.

Photo by Karla Reynolds

La Conner thinclads sweep home track meet

By Bill Reynolds

It was two weeks past Good Friday.

But a good Friday, indeed, for the La Conner High track teams.

The Braves boys' and girls' squads each won their half of the five-school La Conner Invitational Track Meet Friday afternoon at Whittaker Field.

The Braves outdistanced runner-up Crescent 122-77, with league rival Concrete, 67, claiming third place in the boys' meet.

On the girls' side, La Conner edged Concrete 110-96 for the meet title, with Crescent, 67,  placing third.

Friday Harbor, 30,  and Christian Faith, 17, rounded out the girls' field.

Christian Faith, 34, and Friday Harbor, 33, waged a close battle for fourth place in the boys' competition.

La Conner's Landy James, Nathan Sybrandy, Jamall James, and Nathan Parker were double victors for the Braves, whose mile relay team also captured top honors.

Landy James claimed the high jump with a personal best leap of 6'-4", easily besting Crescent's Donovan Christie, who finished second with 5’10”.

James, a senior, also won the javelin by a wide margin. His winning heave of 167'-5" was more than 24 feet better than the second best effort, a toss of 143'-0" by Quenton Wolfer of Crescent.

Sybrandy won both the mile and two-mile.

The La Conner distance standout hit the tape in five-minutes flat in the 1600 meters. That was seven seconds better than Friday Harbor's Jose Guerrero.

Sybrandy dominated the 3200 meter field, clocking an impressive 11:19.00, nearly two minutes faster than the rest of the field.

An added bonus in the two-mile was the performance of La Conner sophomores Jack Borusinski, Alec Azure, and Alex Wirth, all of whom placed in the top five.

Jamall James took gold in the long jump with 19'-6" and 110-meter high hurdles at 16:16, winning both events handily. No one was within a foot of him in the long jump. And James was nearly a full second better than Crescent's Matthew Waldrip in the hurdles.

Parker took both the shot put (43'-8") and discus (119'-10") in impressive fashion. His distance in the discus was more than 14 feet better than the second place finisher, Josiah Martin of Concrete.

The Braves' quartet of Todd Hoagland, Jamall James, Mitchell Grant, and Dahlton Zavala added to the La Conner point total by cruising to a win in the 4x400 meter relay.

Their time of 3:43.00 was nearly two seconds faster than that posted by Crescent's mile relay entry.

Grant and Zavala each earned silver in solo events, placing second in the 400 and 200 meters, respectively. Grant's time was :55.60, just back of Hoagland's winning pace. Zavala clocked a :24.38 in a race won by Concrete's Andy Aiken at :23.94.

La Conner's depth was a key factor in the girls' half of the meet.

Kelsie Crawford had a role in four wins, pacing the Lady Braves with triumphs in the 100 meters at :13.75 and long jump of 12'-9" while also running legs of La Conner's meet-best sprint and mile relay entries.

Crawford led a 1-2-3 Lady Braves finish in the 100 as Priscilla Ponce-Venegas placed second at :13.85), just ahead of teammate Madi Cavanaugh’s  :14.44).

Katie McKnight, Emily Anderson, and Ponce-Venegas likewise turned in blue ribbon performances for the Lady Braves.

McKnight was first in the 200 meters at :28.68 winning by more than two seconds over Concrete's Thea O'Brien.

Anderson captured the triple jump with 32'-2.5", an event which saw La Conner teammate Amber Drye place fifth.

Ponce-Venegas sped to a convincing win in the 300 meter hurdles. Her time of :50.75 was almost three seconds faster than her nearest rival, Crescent's Kellie Belford. 

Ponce-Venegas, McKnight, and Anderson joined Crawford on La Conner's winning 4x100 meter relay team, clocking a time of :53.44. 

Ponce-Venegas also finished fourth in the javelin with 93'-7", three slots ahead of McKnight, who turned in a toss of 77'-0".

McKnight, Anderson, Crawford, and Cavanaugh then teamed to claim the 4x400 meter relay, posting a time of 4:29.06, nearly a half-minute faster than second place Friday Harbor.

Cavanaugh, meanwhile, was a strong second to Crawford in the long jump.

On a busy day, Anderson also finished second in the 100 meter hurdles, a finish matched by La Conner junior Sammie Mesman in the 1600 meters.

Mesman at 6:19.00 was just one tick back of mile winner Kaitlyn Smith, who finished in 6:18.00.

Mesman also joined Lydia Lenning, Marina Kochuten, and Victoria O'Brien for a second place finish in the 800 meter relay, turning in a time of 2:08.34.

Lenning further added to the Lady Braves' tally with a third place finish at 15:38.37 in the 3200 meters.

In related notes:

La Conner head track coach Peter Voorhees said the meet's highlight was the mile relays for both the boys and girls. Braves' sprinter Jamall James closed a 30-meter gap on the leader and seized the lead going into the final exchange. Anchor Dahlton Zavala held on for the win. Voorhees said the Lady Braves met their pre-race goal in terms of time, and are now the sixth ranked 4x400 group in the State. "The girls' relay was a great example," said Voorhees, "of the athletes choosing to make something happen, working hard for it, and pushing themselves through to their goal. I'm very proud of them."

Another highlight, stressed Voorhees, was the performance of Robert Duckworth, who established personal bests in four events.

Voorhees was grateful for the community's support of the meet. "The people in La Conner do a great job supporting school activities. I'd like to thank everyone who came out to help. It was our last home meet for our seniors and they all had a great day."

Photo by Lauren Reynolds

Braves defense falters in two tough losses

By Bill Reynolds

Baseball is a game that can drive coaches batty – in more ways than one.

Just ask La Conner's Jeremiah LeSourd, who last week saw his club turn in solid mound work and grind out several quality at-bats.

But it was their defense that let the Braves down in tough losses to Concrete and Blaine.

La Conner committed critical errors at crucial points of an eventual 5-3 setback to the Lions, a game marred by wet playing conditions.

"The game was close throughout," said LeSourd, "but errors were the difference. Weather conditions also played a factor, and made things difficult."

Braves' hurlers Taylor Swanson and Tanner Cyr were poised on the mound Thursday while facing a good hitting Concrete team.

"They really performed well and kept their composure," LeSourd stressed.

Cyr also helped his cause with a base hit. 

Hayden Schmidt led La Conner with a pair of base knocks, while Dakota Hartley lined a run-scoring single.

Cyr swung a hot bat Saturday against Blaine, as well. He went three-for-three at the plate, with a double, a pair of singles, and two runs scored in a 14-3 loss.

Erick Reinstra likewise delivered three hits, while Wil James laced two safeties in four trips.

But, again, it was defensive miscues that sealed La Conner's fate.

Starter Matt McCauley and Reinstra, who came on in relief, were victimized by five Braves' errors.

"Matt got his first start on the mound," said LeSourd, "and did well. Erick pitched the final three innings and was very aggressive."

Despite the twin defeats, LeSourd justifiably has a positive outlook on the rest of the campaign.

"Our pitchers are getting experience and improving with each appearance," he said Monday. "Their confidence will be an asset in the playoffs."

It's much the same scenario on offense.

"The Braves' attack is improving," LeSourd told La Conner Weekly News, "with the hitters having solid at-bats. We just need to come through with runners on base."

The key will be shoring up the defense, he said.

"That's where we must improve if we're going to make a run in the playoffs," LeSourd noted. 

It's a mission, he said, that can be accomplished.

"We're working on staying focused and thinking a play ahead," said LeSourd. "When we can do that we'll begin to execute on a more consistent basis."

The Braves (3-4 in league) were scheduled to resume play Monday at home against longtime rival Darrington.

The struggling Loggers entered the week with a 1-5 conference mark.

La Conner is slated to entertain Lummi today, Wednesday, in a non-league twinbill before traveling Friday to Coupeville. 

Braves Sports, April 18, 2012

Photo by Kirsten Morse

The South Skagit Little League opening ceremony was Saturday at Bakerview Fields in Mount Vernon, with La Conner’s Oakland A’s playing the same day.

Photo by Karla Reynolds

Lady Braves crush Concrete

By Bill Reynolds

A blowout win over Concrete Thursday was just what the doctor ordered for La Conner High head softball coach Michael Bliss.

The Lady Braves, with Bliss absent due to illness, crushed visiting Concrete 31-12 in a game called after five innings due to the league's mercy rule.

Siomi Bobb and Lauren Reynolds paced a 17-hit La Conner attack.

Bobb ripped a two-run inside-the-park homer and delivered an RBI double for the victors.

Reynolds blasted a two-run fence-clearing roundtripper and plated a pair of tallies with a triple, both shots going to the deepest part of the yard in left-center.

Bobb's home run scored La Conner catcher Hayleigh Summers, who had just accounted for one of her three RBIs on the day with a run-scoring single to right-center.

It was all part of a 13-run third inning explosion by the Lady Braves.

Reynolds' deep shot came during an 11-run La Conner outburst in the fourth. Her circuit clout drove in Olivia Hedlund, who had lined a two-run double.

Leadoff hitter Kelley McClung set the tone for La Conner, patiently drawing six walks as the Lady Braves scored in every frame.

Taysha James, Emma Christianson, and Madison McCoy also lined safeties for the winners, while pinch-hitter Kaitlyn Cultee worked a walk.

La Conner hitters provided more than enough run support for Christianson, who shook off a minor foot injury to toss a complete game victory, logging a pair of strikeouts.

Christianson cruised in the early going, limiting the Lady Lions to a single tally through three innings. Concrete managed four runs in the fourth and seven more in the fifth, but by then the game had long since been decided.

Defensively, Summers erased a Lady Lion baserunner in the second inning by throwing a perfect strike to McClung at second on a failed steal attempt.

Sarah Spaeth led Concrete with a pair of singles and a double. Melissa Clontz chipped in two singles and drove in three runs.

With the win, coming on a chilly and gusty afternoon, La Conner improved to 6-1 in league and 7-3 overall.

The Lady Braves were coming off an impressive doubleheader sweep of Darrington.

La Conner was slated to resume home action late Tuesday with Friday Harbor. The Lady Braves are scheduled to host Lynden Christian April 26 before traveling April 28 to Squalicum.

Photo by Karla Reynolds

Former Braves' standout is two-sport collegian

By Bill Reynolds

A La Conner High alum is getting his kicks clearing hurdles as a college freshman.

Soft-spoken Sten Mejlaender is quietly making a name for himself by competing this year in both soccer and track-and-field at Skagit Valley College.

A midfielder for the soccer Cards, Mejlaender is also running hurdles this spring at SVC.

It isn't easy catching up with the busy Mejlaender for an interview. He works out five to six days per week, mixing powerlifting in the gym with regular sessions on the track and soccer pitch.

He splits workout time between La Conner and Mount Vernon, on whose high school oval he logged laps in chilly, windy conditions Friday afternoon. 

The 5-11, 195-pound Mejlaender geared up for college by putting on 10 pounds of muscle following his days as a multi-sport performer for the La Conner High Braves.

He originally committed to the soccer program at Concordia University in Portland after having played on a pair of La Conner boot teams that advanced to the State playoffs. But ultimately Mejlaender landed close to home at Skagit Valley, where he could be a dual-sport performer and watch younger brother, Bjorn, play for the Braves.

An “A” student at La Conner, Mejlaender has thus far enjoyed the Skagit experience.

"There was some adjusting to do early on," he says, "but SVC is definitely a school that grows on you."

He's currently taking a full academic load, including psychology, an area he might pursue for a four-year degree.

"Next winter or spring I'll make a decision on where I'll go after Skagit," Mejlaender says. "I'm looking at Central and WSU, but I want to visit my friends at their schools and see what it's like."

Mejlaender is also considering a major in fire science, and career as a firefighter.

La Conner High well prepared Mejlaender both academically and athletically, he says.

"I have a lot of great memories of La Conner High School," says Mejlaender, who advises current La Conner students to focus on their school work, assume campus leadership roles, and be mindful of future scholarship opportunities.

"It's important to stay dedicated," he says. "Once you start something, you need to follow through as best you can."

Mejlaender has followed his own advice at SVC, literally staying on track while juggling two sports.

He has spent much of his spring working on footwork technique in the 400 and 110 meter hurdles.

"They've raised the hurdles three inches this year," Mejlaender notes. "But my big challenge is in between the hurdles. Most of the other guys are taller and have longer strides."

Mejlaender, meanwhile, has made huge strides himself, often paired this year against more experienced athletes from larger high school programs.

It's that kind of challenge that has always fueled Mejlaender's competitive drive. In fact, it's what led him to the hurdles in the first place.

"I first got interested in the hurdles when I was in eighth grade," he recalls. "I knew I wouldn't be the fastest runner in the 100 meters, but I'm pretty flexible so I figured I could make up the time in the hurdles."

Indeed, he did. In May 2011, for instance, Mejlaender was named a Seattle Times Athlete of the Week after posting a personal best time of :40.97 in the 300 meter hurdles.

Still, soccer remains Mejlaender's favorite sport – one he can see himself coaching someday at the high school level.

"During my senior year at La Conner we had a good deal of success in soccer," he says, "and that's when I decided to pursue it in college."

Mejlaender, flanked by dynamic teammates Kyle McKnight and David Carr, was often referred to by La Conner head coach Steve De Leon as the "engine" that drove the Braves, who won 18 of 21 starts a year ago.

And, thus far, Mejlaender is an engine that's running on all cylinders.

Braves Sports, April 11, 2012

The All-Star quality play of La Conner High volleyball standouts Emily Anderson (15) and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas (31) resulted in their selection to the recent 1B/2B All-State Volleyball match, where La Conner's Suzanne Marble (back row, right) was on the coaching staff. The La Conner contingent played a key role as its All-State team won in straight sets.

Braves volleyball enjoys net gains in off-season

By Bill Reynolds

It's no secret La Conner High boasts one of the top volleyball programs in the state.

And, just in case the word hasn't gotten completely out, the play of two La Conner netters at the recent 1B/2B All-State Volleyball match in Fife spoke volumes of the Lady Braves' repeated success.

La Conner seniors Emily Anderson and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas played key roles in a three-set sweep for an All-Star squad that also featured Darrington's Jessica Brooks and Jill Goldman and a half-dozen Eastern Washington standouts.

Anderson, Ponce-Venegas and their All-State teammates posted a 25-21, 26-24, 25-18 triumph.

They fought back from an early 9-2 deficit in the opening set, finishing with a 23-12 run that set the tone for the rest of the match.

"We were down in the first set and came back to win it, and that took the pressure off of us and we were able to relax," said veteran La Conner mentor Suzanne Marble, who has guided the Lady Braves to multiple State titles, and was tabbed as an All-State coach.

Anderson and Ponce-Venegas had much to do with the comeback, Marble said.

"I was really pleased with the way the girls played having had only one two-hour practice," said Marble. "I was so proud of the way Priscilla and Emily represented

 La Conner. They really played fantastic and were a huge part of our success." 

The entire squad meshed well.

"Playing with the other players was one of the best experiences I've had," said Ponce-Venegas, who hopes to enroll this fall at either Gonzaga or Eastern Washington University.

"I seriously had the most amazing team ever," she said. "We were all so supportive and we played like a team despite only practicing a couple hours before the actual match.

"The whole time was awesome," Ponce-Venegas stressed. "The fact that I can say my All-State teammates are now my friends is amazing."

Anderson had much the same feeling afterward.

"I'm really glad I was able to participate in the experience," she said. "It's definitely something I will always remember."

Anderson singled out Ponce-Venegas and Darrington's Goldman, a skilled libero, as favorite All-State teammates.

"Priscilla and I were on the same team and won all our games," said Anderson. "And it was super fun playing with Jill Goldman. She was amazing."

Anderson, who next year plans to play volleyball and run track at Whitworth University, in Spokane, was amazing herself – just mustering the strength to play such a highly competitive match on the heels of a bout with walking pneumonia.

But the rigors of playing at a championship level for La Conner High, said Ponce-Venegas, more than prepared her and Anderson for the All-State match, despite illness and "having not played volleyball in ages." 

"You can't get an experience like La Conner volleyball anywhere else," said Anderson. "You fight through the tough preseason workouts and the sweat because, in the end, it's worth it to be part of such an outstanding team."

Marble laments that Anderson and Ponce-Venegas, who in two months graduate from La Conner High, will no longer be part of that team. Still, she realizes time marches on.

They've accomplished so much in the past four years," noted Marble, "and I'm very proud of them."

Ponce-Venegas and Anderson, in turn, take pride in having been part of the La Conner volleyball tradition, and vow to carry those lessons forward.

"I learned," Ponce-Venegas said, "that when things get hard, push yourself harder. Never settle for less and always push yourself to be the best you can be."

Marble, meanwhile, knows the contributions by Ponce-Venegas and Anderson are lasting, and that their presence will continue to be felt.

"Priscilla and Emily will be missed next year," she stresses. "but I so look forward to hearing about their successes in the future."

Photo by Karla Reynolds

La Conner's Wil James works on his timing, getting in some extra cuts during a soft toss session Monday with Braves' coach Jeremiah LeSourd. La Conner was scheduled to resume league action late Tuesday with a doubleheader at Darrington.
La Conner diamond teams drawing double duty
By Bill Reynolds The La Conner High baseball and softball teams were looking to spring back into action this week after weathering a series of postponements.
Both the Braves and Lady Braves were slated to resume action late Tuesday with league twinbills at Darrington.
For the La Conner baseball team, the doubleheader at Darrington was to kick-start a stretch of five games in a week.
The Braves were able to prep for the schedule crunch with workouts late last week and on Monday.
"Practice went well," La Conner's Sean Hulbert said Monday afternoon. "Everything is getting quicker and we're getting a lot more done in the two hours we have than we were before, so I think we're ready for this week."
That view was echoed by Wil James, one of the team's top run-producers.
"I thought we had a very productive practice," said James, who got in some extra cuts Monday with Braves' coach Jeremiah LeSourd throwing batting practice.
La Conner, with the second half of its regular season looming, hopes to finish the campaign with a surge, despite not having injured pitcher Tyler Howlett available.
"It felt like we got a lot of work in today," the Brave's Taylor Swanson said Monday. "I think the pieces are starting to fall in place and we'll finish this last half of the season off strong."
There was much of the same sentiment on the Lady Braves' softball diamond, where players were getting in some conditioning after a near week-long layoff. The Lady Braves told La Conner Weekly News they expected to pick up in Darrington Tuesday where they left off last week.

Braves Sports, April 4, 2012

Photo by Karla Reynolds

La Conner thinclads get the jump on track foes

By Bill Reynolds

There was no way the La Conner High track teams were going to blow a chance last week to shine against big school rivals.

Even if it meant having to weather gusty conditions at a four-team meet in Anacortes.

Ultimately, La Conner got the jump on its competition, at least in the field events.

Landy James paced the Braves' thinclads by capturing the high jump, 5'-10", while La Conner's Emily Anderson claimed the girls' triple jump with a best effort of 30'-4".

Jamall James, meanwhile, clinched second place in the boys' triple jump, stretching the tape to 40'-10.5."

Anderson was nearly a dual winner, finishing second, 4'-6", in the girls' high jump.

She also ran legs of the sprint and 800 meter relays for the Lady Braves, who placed third in each event.

Kelsie Crawford, Priscilla Ponce-Venegas, Anderson, and Katie McKnight combined to clock a :55.40 in the 4x100. 

The same quartet posted a time of 1:57.63 in the 4x200 meters.

Anderson said afterward the weather contributed the afternoon's mixed results.

"I had a really off day in high jump," she conceded, despite the runnerup finish against entrants from larger schools. "I'm not sure if it was the wind or not. But running both relays on the back stretch was really difficult in the wind.

"But, for the triple jump, I won," she noted. "I think the wind was going with us then so it wasn't really an issue in that event."

Ponce-Venegas was another Lady Brave to finish in the Top Three in a solo event.

The La Conner senior placed third in the 300 meter hurdles, clocking a :52.50 in that event's final heat.

McKnight finished fourth in both the 200 meters,:29.06, and javelin, 83'-8", while Crawford was fourth in the long jump, 14'-5.5",  and fifth in the 100 dash, :14.78.

Lydia Lenning placed fifth in the 1600 meters, 6:38.04, a finish matched by Ponce-Venegas in the javelin, 82'-9".

Lenning was also sixth at 3200 meters, nearly breaking the 15-minute mark. She was clocked at 15:00.91. 

La Conner's Chrissy Barsness, Marina Kochuten, Kelby Herstad, and Victoria O'Brien were timed at 5:17.34, good enough for fifth place in the girls' mile relay.

Amber Drye posted Top Ten placements in the shot put, discus, and triple jump.

On the boys' side, the Braves' Nathan Parker was second in the discus and third in the shot put. Parker went 124'-6" in the discus, and 41'-2" in the 12-pound shot.

La Conner sprinter Mitchell Grant, just a freshman, placed fourth in the 200 meters at :24.50.

Versatile Nathan Sybrandy and Todd Hoagland once again were all over the time sheet.

Sybrandy was fifth in the 1600 meters, 5:00.69, and fifth in the 800, 2:30.18.

Hoagland finished fourth in the 400 meters,  :56.13, and eighth in the 200, :25.04.

Sybrandy and Hoagland each ran legs of La Conner's mile relay, which finished second in 3:54.80. Jamall James and Dahlton Zavala rounded out the Brave quartet.

Hoagland, Jamall James, Landy James, and Zavala were runnersup in the sprint relay, completing the 4x100 in :46.22.

It was yet another busy outing for Landy James, who rounded out his meet with a fifth place finish in the javelin , 142'-6".

Zavala, 100 meters;  Jordan Romanelli, 200 meters, 300 meter hurdles;  Grant, 400 meters; Mitch Roth, 110 meter hurdles; and Jimmy Garcia, 300 meter hurdles, added Top Ten finishes at Anacortes for the Braves.

Mount Baker erupts in twin wins over Braves

By Bill Reynolds

Life was a beach Monday for La Conner High's baseball and softball teams, both of whom opened Spring Break with double-digit setbacks at Mount Baker.

It was a matter of offenses getting stuck in quicksand for the La Conner clubs, neither of which was at full strength due to players being away on spring vacation.

The Braves fell 12-2 to the potent Mountaineers.

The Lady Braves, with starting pitcher Emma Christianson unavailable, were defeated 18-2.

But all wasn't lost in either case.

The La Conner softball team received outstanding relief pitching from Olivia Hedlund and sterling defensive play at shortstop by Kelley McClung.

McClung also delivered an RBI safety in support of Hedlund, who threw over 50 per cent strikes and yielded just six tallies after taking over the circle late in the first frame.

With the Lady Braves playing shorthanded, coach Michael Bliss used the game as an opportunity to give players work at different positions.

Lexi Nelson, for instance, debuted at second base and turned in a flawless performance.

"We didn't have any errors," Bliss said afterward. "It's just that Mount Baker is such a good hitting team.

"This game," he said, "was a good learning experience for us. What I liked is our girls stayed positive the whole time."

Lauren Reynolds had two doubles and drove in one of La Conner's two runs.

Hayden Schmidt led the La Conner boys at Mount Baker, going three-for-three at the plate while also pitching four solid innings.

The game was closer than the final score indicates, said Braves' coach Jeremiah LeSourd, noting that Mount Baker was held fairly in check other than a seven-run eruption in the fifth.

La Conner had bolted to a fast start, with Tanner Cyr leading off the game with a double and then scoring on the first of Schmidt's three base hits, an RBI single to right.

Trailing 2-1, the Braves briefly deadlocked the contest in the fourth when Taylor Swanson drove in Cameron Sherman with a single.

Mount Baker added three insurance scores in the sixth.

Braves Sports, March 28, 2012

Photo by Karla Reynolds

La Conner linksters ace Similk in season debut

By Bill Reynolds

It didn't take La Conner High golfers long to get into the swing of things.

La Conner's Jake Silva and Hillary Edwards were top medalists as the Braves’ and girls' golf teams enjoyed solid rounds in their season debuts last week at Similk Beach.

La Conner played host to teams from Shoreline Christian and Cedar Park Christian, with the Braves winning the boys' half of the match.

Team scores weren't compiled on the girls' side because the squads weren't able to field the required five players per school. 

Silva carded an even par 36 over nine holes despite wet conditions from recent heavy rains.

"I didn't think it played that difficult," Silva said afterward, "because it's my home course. I was able to play my game and everything seemed to click."

Edwards, who nearly qualified for State a year ago, shot a 52 despite being momentarily distracted when a roaming Newfoundland dog picked up teammate Bailey Wyles' ball.

"It had a nasty drool on it," quipped Edwards, a junior, who also shook off the effects of rain-soaked fairways.

"It wasn't as bad as it was last year," she noted, recalling the dismal spring weather of 2011. "But sometimes it makes the game ten times harder. But, then again, that's golf for you."

The highlight of Edwards' round was her par three on the downhill third hole, which is unforgiving to both hooks and slices.

La Conner coach Sean Skiles was clearly pleased afterward with the day's results.

"Jake has put in a lot of extra time this past year and is really hitting the ball well and with consistency," he said of Silva's round.

Skiles noted that Silva is just one of several key returnees from last year's league championship team, which should be further bolstered by the additions of Mathew Finley, Crawford Wilson, and Mike Wilbur.

Returning State qualifier Brendan McLeod was likewise splendid last week at Similk, firing a two-over 38.

"He's coming off a seventh place finish at State," Skiles said of McLeod, "and has been really working on his game."

Bobby Poulton, Spencer Finley, Bjorn Mejlaender, and General Cayou are also playing at a high level, according to Skiles.

Poulton and Mathew Finley recorded 42s their first time out.

"We may have one of the strongest and deepest teams in the state," Skiles said. "Perhaps some of the toughest competition we'll face this year is on our own team."

Skiles is equally encouraged by the Lady Braves' play.

"Hilary," he said of Edwards, "is really determined to make her first State appearance. She's playing very well."

Wyles and Amanda Hanstad return after nice campaigns a year ago.

"Both are really improving and hitting the ball well," said Skiles.

They and Edwards were joined at Similk by junior McKenzie Harrison, yet another Lady Brave golfer with plenty of upside.

"Our expectations for the year," Skiles said, "are definitely very high."

*In a related note: McLeod shot a 40 and claimed medalist honors in La Conner's recent boys' home match with Orcas. Silva carded a 41, while Wilbur and Matthew Finley shot 43s. Poulton and Mejlaender were five strokes back of McLeod, at 45. While Orcas didn't bring a girls' team to Similk, La Conner's Hilary Edwards and Amanda Hanstad each shot rounds. Edwards turned in a 49 and Hanstad finished at 57.   

Tourney Champs!

The La Conner Club Volleyball U16 (under 16) team won a 16-team tournament at Ferndale High School on Sunday. The championship match was played against Stanwood Volleyball Club and the La Conner team won 25-17, 16-25 and 15-5. Pictured here from left are Assistant Coach Nancy Anderson, Aubrey Stewart, Anna Cook, Kelly McClung, Carly Anderson, Katie Novak, Katie McKnight and Coach Bruce Entrikin.

Lady Braves able to clean up on rivals

By Bill Reynolds

The La Conner High softball team has a great sense of timing.

Last week the calendar turned to spring, and the Lady Braves went on a cleaning spree.

La Conner swept three key games, taking a doubleheader (14-2, 24-6) from Concrete and using a late rally to edge Orcas 8-7.

La Conner pitcher Emma Christianson tamed the Lady Lions on three hits while striking out five Concrete batters in the first game of the twinbill.

Taysha James and Lauren Reynolds paced the Braves' attack with three hits apiece. Two of James' safeties went for extra bases.

Olivia Hedlund was La Conner's top power hitter, driving in a team-best five runs on a double and triple.

Siomi Bobb laced a pair of singles for the winners.

"Overall, I thought the girls did a real good job of coming out and controlling the game from the start," Braves' head coach Michael Bliss said afterward. "We hit well, played solid defense, and Emma did a great job pitching."

It was pretty much the same formula in the nightcap.

Christianson scattered seven hits and again fanned five batters. She was backed by a flawless defensive effort as the Lady Braves committed no miscues.

Christianson and battery mate Hayleigh Summers were on the same page throughout the day, rarely falling behind hitters.

La Conner batters, on the other hand, often worked ahead in the count. As a team, the Lady Braves pounded out 17 hits.

Hedlund ripped five base hits, two of which were doubles. James went four-for-four at the plate, blasting a pair of round-trippers and driving in six runs.

Kelley McClung, Christianson, and Reynolds had two hits each, with Reynolds delivering a bases-loaded homer.

"I liked the way we came out and continued to play with energy until the end," said Bliss. "We never slowed down. The second game is always a tougher one to win in a doubleheader, and I think the team did a good job of making a mental adjustment."

Bliss was impressed with how well his club shook off a six-run Concrete rally in the opening stanza of the second game.

"We didn't quit when we got down early in the game," he said. "Instead we showed a lot of toughness."

That was also the case when La Conner faced Orcas in a clash that featured a playoff-type atmosphere.

The Lady Braves eventually won when Reynolds plated Christianson with a bases-loaded double in the final frame.

"This was a significant win for us," Bliss stressed. "We gave up six runs in the third inning and things weren't looking good for us. But we hung in there and scored nearly every inning.

"We stuck to our approach," said Bliss, "which was to get the lead back one run at a time.

"I was really glad," he said, "to see the team stay positive and confident."

Christianson went all seven innings, striking out 10 Lady Vikings to raise her season strikeout total to 27.

With the win, she remained perfect, 3-0,  in league mound decisions.

"Emma was able to battle and get through that tough third inning," Bliss said, "and she did such an amazing job of maintaining her composure. She gives us a chance to win every time we go out and play, and she definitely carried us through the entire (Orcas) game. I can't say enough about her performance."

Christianson was supported by McClung, who lined two base hits; Summers, who chipped in a single, walk, and was hit twice; and Hedlund, who was aboard four times.

Bliss was elated by McClung's outstanding glove work up the middle and his club's clutch hitting.

"Kelley has been so consistent at shortstop," he said. "She made several solid defensive plays against Orcas.

"And," he added, "it’s been great to see Lauren Reynolds driving in runs and hitting the ball well. She's stepped up and been playing well."

Bliss is hopeful the La Conner team can continue to blossom throughout the spring campaign.  

"It’s been really fun to watch the progress that this team has already made," he said Monday, "and I'm proud of the way they responded to the challenge posed by a tough Orcas team."

Photo by Karla Reynolds

Youthful Braves round into mid-season form

By Bill Reynolds

The new-look La Conner Braves are being thrown a lot of curves this spring.

And perhaps none more than the learning curve.

That was much in evidence during an up-and-down week in which La Conner routed Cedar Park 12-1 after splitting a twinbill (0-9, 7-3) with archrival Concrete.

The Braves parlayed nine first inning runs into a convincing 12-1 triumph over Cedar Park, which managed just seven hits against La Conner frosh hurlers Taylor Swanson and Erick Reinstra.

Tanner Cyr paced the Braves' attack with a pair of singles and two free passes. Wil James and Hayden Schmidt each ripped RBI safeties for the victors.

The Braves enter a tough stretch of their schedule after having been blanked in the league-game half of doubleheader with Concrete.

La Conner did come back to edge the Lions in the nightcap, a game in which the Braves went the small ball route to jump-start their offense.

"We were able to find ways to get on base and were aggressive running the bases to get our offense going," La Conner coach Jeremiah LeSourd said afterward.

The Braves are slated to resume play 1 p.m. on April 2 at Mount Baker and at noon on April 3 at home opposite Squalicum.

Both should be key tests for the youthful Braves, whom LeSourd notes have thus far proved to be quick studies.

"Our team is young," he stressed earlier this week, "and everyone is learning their role. Our inexperience has showed at times, but we're learning quickly."      

Braves Sports, March 21, 2012

Photo by Karla Reynolds

Foes hurl gems at La Conner diamond teams

By Bill Reynolds

It was a case of good news, bad news Monday for the La Conner High softball and baseball teams.

The good news is both La Conner squads played well on the road.

The bad news is the two La Conner clubs were still edged in non-league action by larger programs.

The Lady Braves fell 6-5 at 1A Meridian, while the Braves dropped a 10-4 decision at Lynden Christian.

Frosh pitcher Emma Christianson showed excellent control for an early season game, fanning seven Meridian hitters while throwing two-thirds of her 111 pitches for strikes.

Meridian was coming off a convincing victory over Coupeville, which had earlier beaten Concrete.

La Conner was slated to face the Lady Lions in a twin bill late Tuesday.

Lady Braves' head coach Michael Bliss was pleased with the offensive support Christianson received at Meridian, which included a two-bagger from senior Jazmin Snyder in her first-ever at-bat.

Kelley McClung paced La Conner with three safeties, including a double to lead off the game.

Olivia Hedlund lined a pair of singles and drew a walk for the Lady Braves, while designated hitter Taysha James, batting cleanup, ripped a double and single and drove in three tallies.

"What I really liked," said Bliss, "is that everybody was up there swinging."

He said the Lady Braves will be addressing fundamentals and game situations in the days ahead. Getting more non-league games under their belt, said Bliss, will help in both areas. 

"We'll work on the small stuff and how to correct the little mental errors that you can't always teach at practice," he said. "It has to come during a game, which is what the game tonight (at Meridian) helped to do."

The Braves, meanwhile, were forced Monday due to field conditions to give up a home date for the trip to Lynden Christian.

Dakota Hartley and Wil James led the La Conner attack with extra-base hits.

Hartlet delivered a solo homer in the second inning, while James blasted a two-run double in the fifth frame.

Tanner Cyr and Hayden Schmidt added two singles each for the Braves, who closed to within 5-3 before the Lynx added some late insurance scores.

Junior Christian Johnston, sophomore Cameron Sherman, and freshmen Taylor Swanson and Erick Reinstra shared mound duties for La Conner.

Photo by Melissa Reynolds

La Conner thinclads sweep League preview meet

By Bill Reynolds

If Thursday's NWB League Preview meet is any indication, the future looks bright for the La Conner High track teams.

And that means the immediate future.

Building upon past success, La Conner captured both sides of the annual event before a supportive home crowd at Whittaker Field.

The defending League champion La Conner boys, coming off a fourth place finish at the 2011 State trials, bested runnerup Concrete 85-51.

The Lady Braves edged Mount Vernon Christian to claim their half of the meet.

We had several multiple event winners and our boys' and girls' relays swept the field," an elated La Conner head track coach Peter Voorhees said afterward. "It was a great day and a nice way to start the year."

Versatile distance runner Nathan Sybrandy enjoyed the unseasonably mild conditions, weathering all challenges in both the boys' 800 and 1600 meters.

Sybrandy clocked a 2:19.75 to win the 800. He posted a 5:11.0 finish in the 1600.

Brothers Landy and Jamall James were also dual victors for the La Conner boys.

Landy was best in the javelin (151'-4") and high jump (5'-6"), while Jamall took top honors in the long jump (18'-5") and triple jump (38'-7").

Todd Hoagland set the pace in the 200 meters, hitting the tape at :25.43.

Hoagland joined Jamall James, Wylie Thulen, and Dahlton Zavala on the Braves' winning sprint relay team. The La Conner quartet ran away with the 4x100 meters in a meet-best time of :48.21.

Hoagland, Zavala, Sybrandy, and Mitchell Grant secured the boys' mile relay crown for La Conner, winning the 4x400 meters in 3:52.91.

Katie McKnight and Emily Anderson paced the La Conner girls, each placing first in one track and one field event.

McKnight won the 200 meters (:29.53) and javelin (88'-11"), and Anderson reached the winner's circle in the 100 meter hurdles (:19.40) and high jump (4'-6").

Priscilla Ponce-Venegas was also a solo victor for the Lady Braves, turning in a :54.37 effort in the 300 meter hurdles.

The La Conner girls claimed first place honors in the 800 and 1600 meter relays, respectively, with Ponce-Venegas, Kelsie Crawford, Madi Cavanaugh, and Victoria O'Brien combining to post a 2:03.7 finish in the 4x200.

McKnight, Anderson, Lydia Lenning, and Chrissy Barsness each ran legs of La Conner's blue ribbon mile relay entry, winning that event (4:57.08) by more than two full seconds.  

"The great thing about this meet," said Voorhees, "is we have a better idea of where our strengths and weaknesses are now that we have some official times."

Among the strengths for both La Conner squads is depth.

The Braves’ teams piled up points with high placements across the board.

Crawford finished a strong second in the girls' 100 meters (:14.37) and long jump (13'-0"), with teammate Kelby Hermstad matching that finish in the 800 (3:10.81).

Lenning placed third in both the 1600 (6:59.6) and 3200 (15.07.0). McKnight picked up the bronze in the 100 (:14.97), as did Ponce-Venegas in the javelin (79'-11").

On the boys' side, Zavala was second in the 100 (:12.50), as was Braves' sophomore Alec Axure in the 3200 (12:51.0).

Nathan Parker picked up second place finishes in both the discus (109'-7") and the 12-pound shot put (39'-11").

Landy James, Jimmy Garcia, and Jordan Romanelli each tallied third place points for the Braves.

James was third in the shot (36'-0"). Garcia did likewise in the 300 meter hurdles (:48.90). And Romanelli finished third in the 200 (:25.62), just back of Hoagland.

Based on last season's showing, Voorhees was guardedly optimistic going into Thursday's competition.

The final results played out pretty much as expected, with Concrete's boys and Mount Vernon Christian's girls pushing La Conner the hardest.

Mount Vernon Christian staved off Friday Harbor to clinch third place team honors on the boys' side of the meet, while Concrete's Lady Lions fell just five points short (56-51) of upsetting MVC in the girls' events.

"The biggest surprise," Voorhees quipped afterward, "was the weather. It held out the entire meet."