Weekly Braves sports capsule, Sept. 14, 2011

Check out this sequence captured by photographer Ryan Hiller during Friday's first home game

From Braves Raves......

By Amylynn Richards

FOOTBALL

The 1A league Nooksack Pioneers overpowered the Braves 44-0 at the first home game of the season. Senior Mat McCauley, who was one of the two team quarterbacks, had his collarbone broken during the very first play.

Coach Johnny Lee reports that McCauley is expected to be out of commission for around 6 weeks. “That loss is really going to hurt us, going forward,” he said.

“Nooksack is a really good football team that should be competitive in the 1A state playoffs,” Lee says, “overall, and despite the end score, I thought we were a very improved football team from week one.”

Compared to the 2010-2011 season, Lee says that the Brave were down 42-0 at half time, and the fact that the Braves held them to 44-0 overall “is a silver lining…. Nobody else in our league plays the caliber of teams that we do in our first three non-league games of the season.”

All told, the Braves had fewer turnovers than week one and Lee says they “established a run game as the game wore on…we’re getting better prepared for our league contests starting in two weeks.”

Dahlton Zavala was named player of the Nooksack-La Conner game. Zavala caused a Pioneer fumble, and Brave teammate Cameron Wischhusen recovered the ball for La Conner. Zavala “ran the ball very well,” Lee said, “I was proud of the improvement our offensive line showed. We are not quite where we need to be yet, but we're closing in on it.”

BOYS’ SOCCER

The boys travelled to play Crosspoint in Bremerton on Thursday, Sept. 8. “The heat was a major factor,” says Coach Steve DeLeon; but the Braves still managed to win the game 3-1 despite the heat and missing a few key players.

Coach DeLeon reports that Todd Hoagland and Tanner Cyr “showed their experience and leadership” during the match. 

Hoagland scored the first Brave goal at the ten minute mark, assisted by Tyler Baker. The second goal was also scored by Hoagland, unassisted. Freshman Hayden Schmidt scored during his debut match at 27 minutes, assisted by Hoagland.

DeLeon noted “solid defensive performances” by Cyr, Spenser Finley,  Jack Borusinski and from freshman goalie Eric Reinstra.

Crosspoint scored a “consolation goal” as DeLeon quipped, at the 57 minute mark.

VOLLEYBALL

The Braves volleyball team took on the 2A league Anacortes Seahawks Saturday, Sept. 6; the Seahawks won 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-19). Coach Suzanne Marble said, “Anacortes was a strong team; we couldn’t get anything going defensively, therefore our offense wasn’t working. It was a good test to see what we need to improve on and what we are doing well.” 

Marble is impressed with the new players, who “maintained their composure under pressure.” 

Team highlights: Kelley McClung had 14 assists; Priscilla Ponce-Venegas had 7 kills; and Katie McKnight had 9 kills.

Junior Taysha James, the team right side hitter, was taken out of the game with a knee injury. An MRI showed a torn ACL and James will be out the remainder of the season. “It was a huge loss to our team physically,” Coach Marble said, but “she will be a big factor for us this year mentally.”

The Thursday, Sept. 8 match against Squalicum went much better for the Braves. Braves won 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-18). Marble said that she is “really impressed with my senior leadership tonight.  Priscilla Ponce-Venegas and Emily Anderson did a nice job of keeping things on track and flowing.”  Marble said the team played more “fluid” volleyball this game, and that the non-league matches are “really good for us going into league play.”

Team highlights: Kelley McClung had 22 assists; Emily Anderson had 5 aces, 10 kills and 5 blocks; and Priscilla Ponce-Venegas had 15 digs and 5 kills

GIRLS’ SOCCER

The girls played two games last week. The first home game of the season was on Tuesday, Sept. 6 against 1A League Meridian. Meridian won the game 3-0. The girls travelled to Cross Point Academy on Friday, Sept. 9, and earned their first win 5-4.

Photo by Amylynn Richards

Photo by Amylynn Richards

Photo by Amylynn Richards

In the Sept. 7, 2011 issue

Click "Last Issue" to see last week's paper

Photo by Amylynn Richards

BACK TO SCHOOL WEAR -- NOT! La Conner High School students Todd Hoagland and Hayden Schmidt got a grin out of Tess Bruland, left, as they paraded in front of the whole school last Thursday modeling outfits that could get them sent home to change.

Upper Skagit zone change request ...

the Mayor weighs in

La Conner Mayor Ramon Hayes has a guest editorial on the proposal bu the Upper Skagit Tribe to have the commercial property it purchased on the waterfront end of Caledonia Street zoned for industry. In today's paper, Hayes explains why he thinks this is a good deal for the nearby residents, most of whom hate the idea.

Photo by Anna Ferdinand

CAREFREE: These little eight-year-old girls, Summer Rozema of Bay View and Anna Jane Thulen of La Conner, were having a good time with a box of donated dolls while their moms raised money to help combat a crime that ruins the lives of children all over the world -- slavery. In today's paper, writer Anna Ferdinand has the story about a group of local women fighting to end human sex trafficking, which experts say hits closer to home than most people realize.

A new library!

Join the discussion at 5 p.m. on Tuesday as the board of La Conner Regional Library talks about purchasing the old hardware store on Morris Street as a site for a new library. Writer Alexander Kramer has the details in today's paper.

Must Read:

Our unique local columnists: Mickey Bambrick in Nuggets from Norway talks about coffee customs, our Zookeeper Mel Damski writes about why we like living here, Sue Phillips has a new Plant Lady featuring the evergreen huckleberry and Derek Furman the Tech Guy explains the virtues of Gimp while Richard at the old gas station has some new movie reviews. You can't find this stuff anywhere else!

From the Police Blotter:

5:46 a.m.: Asleep at the wheel – A motor vehicle accident occurred on Chilberg Road near La Conner when a driver dozed off at the wheel.  The car rolled on its side, but was righted by a tow truck.  No one was hurt in the accident.

Pick up the paper in town today. It's on the counters at the new Swinomish gas station, the old roundabout gas station, the produce market, drug store, book store and liquor store and in the quarter-loving red news stands (yes, we know they even take Canadians) along First and Morris streets.

Weekly Braves sports capsule, Sept. 7, 2011

From Braves Raves...

By Amylynn Richards

FOOTBALL

The Braves football team took the ferry to Friday Harbor for the first varsity game of the school year. Friday Harbor won by one touchdown,  20-14.

 “The kids played with tremendous heart and effort, but we turned the ball over 7 times, and that killed us,” says Coach Johnny Lee.

“We scored 12 points in the 4th quarter to make things interesting, but time ran out. Our defense played fast and did a great job limiting their opportunities.”

The two Braves touchdowns were scored by Dahlton Zavala.

Lee reports that Poulton and Zavala had solid games offensively; on defense, Nate Parker and Sean Hulbert “really took a step forward and played great.”

Starters were: Cameron Wischhusen, Nate Parker, Cameron Sherman, William Zeimantz, Rafael ponce-Venegas, Sean Hulbert, Skylar Krueger, Bobby Poulton, Matt McCauley, Dahlton Zavala, and Jimmy Garcia.

 “We were very well supported, especially on a trip over to the islands,” Coach Lee said, “I was glad to have the support of our fans and family as we begin another season of football on Friday nights.”

The Braves play an exhibition game at home against 1A league Nooksack high school on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. 

Skate Park party

Today was the Grand Opening for the La Conner Swinomish Community Skateboard Park, and we happened to snap some photos during the afternoon celebrations!

Amylynn Richard's video

Alexander Kramer's video

[Previous shots by Alexander Kramer]
More shots by Amylynn Richards can be found in our Facebook album.

In the August 31, 2011 issue...

Photo by Don Coyote

These cormorants are ready in case any flying fish show up on Swinomish Channel.  

Industrial zone next to houses “pending” 

The La Conner Town Council scrapped a resolution that would have upheld its vote in June to deny the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe a zone change from commercial to industrial uses on 5½ acres of land it bought adjacent to houses.

That means the tribe’s request to have the town change its comprehensive plan so the commercial land the tribe purchased can be changed to industrial zoning is still alive and “pending.” Next, the Council will hold a public hearing, probably sometime in October, on the resolution they voted down.

 So, would a zone change really hurt the neighbors?

During public hearings held earlier about changing the commercial land purchased by the Upper Skagit Tribe back to industrial use, several residents expressed fear that their property values would fall if the land is re-zoned.

We did some research on this issue and it's in today's paper ...

 

Boardwalk plan moving ahead

After years of planning and discussions, La Conner is closer to getting its boardwalk along the waterfront. Permits are all in place to start the first phase. Writer Nicole Jennings has the story in today's paper. Mayor Ramon Hayes has been lobbying state and federal officials and the town is looking for grants to get construction going.

 Photo by Amylynn Richards

You know it's fall when you see this...  La Conner Braves Football players have been sharpening their skills for the fall season that starts Friday when they travel to Friday Harbor. Here Ben Harper prepares to throw the ball, while Zach Harris runs out to catch it. Keith Aske watches from behind.

 

From the genius file:

A reader sent in this photo of a kayak that paddled right into a salmon net on Sunday as tribal fishers were beach seining off Lone Tree Point. 

From the police blotter:

11:25 p.m.: Suspicious – Suspicious noises were reported near the marina on Second Street in La Conner. A deputy checked and found the source of the noises was the propane cannons farmers use to scare away birds from their crops.

 The paper is on sale today in the usual places, including on the counter of the new Swinomish Village Chevron station, the drug store, liquor store, produce market, and in our office right next to the Station House.  Stop by and subscribe or call us at 466-3315.