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.

in the April 4, 2012 issue

Photo by Jane Godfrey

Marilynn Olson, far right, has today's story explaining why she and her Soroptimist International colleagues, Linda Talman Debi Demigilio, Monica Todd-Klopfer and Maureen Harlan strung up 130 bras to "Free the Girls." 

Photo by Adrian Sharpe

Toons of talent

Writer Adrian Sharpe has crafted a profile of La Conner artist Bob Abrams, who spent a career as a film animator for Hollywood studios including Disney and Warner Bros. He's retired from drawing the likes of Daffy Duck, but he hasn't put away his easel and paint brushes. 

New Pavers at La Conner High

The La Conner High School Booster Club is selling tiles in a new quad to those who wish to commemorate an athlete, student, family, or local business. Pavers will be sold for $75 each. Graduating seniors get the discount price of $50.

Order forms are available at the High School office and also the La Conner Weekly News office or can be downloaded from the school district’s website at lc.k12.wa.us – follow the link to “extracurricular” and from there to “Booster Club.”

Photo by Don Coyote

PARTY ANIMALS – These mooching pooches were among several canines who “crashed” a party for retiring Station House owner Rich Wells on Saturday night. The new owners took over on Sunday, and have been working day and night giving the place a make-over.  They plan to re-open the Station House restaurant on  Friday. 

Photo by Don Coyote

GREAT MUSIC – Singers Patti Allen and Kathi McDonald performed with the Swinomish Blues Revue at Maple Hall on Sunday. The musicians, including bluesman Nick Vigarino, (in photo below) Terry Nelson, Chris Leighton and Rob Moitoza drew rave reviews from those who attended.  

Photo by Don Coyote

Photo by Don Coyote

After the show, Amara Grace of La Conner sat down at the piano and entertained the crowd some more. 

See Jim Smith's review of the Swinomish Blues Revue show in today's Notes from Pull & Be Damned.

From the Police Blotter:
    10:22 p.m.: Wacky washer – A report of a disobedient washing machine caused someone to call 911 from the 900 block of Maple Avenue in La Conner. The caller was referred to the Housing Authority for the complex.
    10:39 p.m.: Leaky laundry – A second call was placed about the same utility problem in the 900 block of Maple Avenue in La Conner. A downstairs apartment had water coming in through the ceiling.

The newspaper hit the streets today and is available at the usual places, including in our office where you can often get a little fresh gossip to go with it. Or subscribe and have it delivered. 466-3315.

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.

in the March 28, 2012 issue

Photo by Adrian Sharpe

Learning to the beat of their own drums

La Conner High School Students are hitting a beat and learning to hand-craft drums.

A new addition to the curriculum, “Drum Making” is a class offered through the high school and will fulfill an art credit, if students achieve a B or better the credit is even transferable to Skagit Valley College.

Swinomish artist Kevin Paul and shop teacher Mike Carrigan teamed up to teach the youth both culture and technique in the art of drum making. Writer Adrian Sharpe has the whole story in today's paper!

Photo by Adrian Sharpe

Salmon habitat court fight is over

    The State Growth Management Hearings Board ruled in Skagit County’s favor, ending a 10-year legal battle that pitted the county and agricultural interests against the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and environmental entities. 

    At issue was how to protect salmon habitat in streams that flow across or border agricultural land throughout the county. ... “The tribe lost its argument that protection meant more than simply not further degrading salmon streams,” said Alix Foster, legal council for Swinomish.  In today's paper!

Photo by Don Coyote

Foreclosure forestalled: Triton steps in

The old Moore Clark property in La Conner, on the brink of foreclosure just last week, has a new owner.

Triton America, which owns Pioneer Point Marina to the south of the historic 1898 warehouse on La Conner’s southern waterfront, bought the 3-acre parcel from La Conner Associates. Triton has leased the property back to the former owner, who has plans to develop it. Details in today's paper!

 It’s Bailey vs. Haugen in November

State Rep. Barbara Bailey will try to unseat State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen in November.

Haugen, D-Camano Island, has been the District 10 Senator since 1993. Bailey was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 2003. Both women are very popular with their constituents and neither has ever been defeated in their bids for re-election to their respective legislative positions. 

From the Police Blotter:
5:20 p.m.: Tagged Toilets – Graffiti was found in the public men’s restroom at Pioneer Park in La Conner. The vandals also defaced structures in the north end of the park, and left their evidence – cans of black and yellow spray paint – in the trash.

Get your fill of news in today's paper on the usual store shelves and in the red news stands around town. Or subscribe and have it brought to you. 466-3315.

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."