More big school-sports news – two Madison Middle School teams won citywide championships today!

That’s the Madison volleyball team. Jennifer sent the photo with word that they won the Seattle Public Schools championship today to crown an undefeated season. The championship was against Robert Eagle Staff Middle School – and Madison won despite Eagle Staff having home-court advantage, since that’s where they played.

Eagle Staff is also the school that Madison’s boys soccer team beat for their championship win today:

The photo and update are from Amber; as she had mentioned in the preview we published last night, this match was played at Memorial Stadium downtown

7:04 PM: That’s how West Seattle High School‘s baseball team celebrated the win this evening that is sending them back to the state semifinals – third year in a row! We’ve been up at Edmonds-Woodway HS for the past six hours covering WSHS’s first two state tournament games – both one-run victories, 2-1 over Peninsula and 10-9 over Mountlake Terrace. Next they’ll head to Pasco, where the state 3A semifinal and final games will be played this year. We’ll add more about today’s games here later!

9:58 PM: Here are our highlights of the two games the Wildcats played today – both “loser out” games, so the stakes were high – starting with the game against Peninsula:

WSHS starter #12, senior Miles Chandler, had some control problems right out of the gate. He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning but gave up a run in the second. He was pulled in the fourth inning, and #6, senior John Langen, took over mound duties. Later that inning, WSHS got on the board after #2, senior Bobby Trigg, got a leadoff double and was brought in by #24. junior Lukas Cheha.

The Wildcats’ other run was in the 6th, when #11, senior TJ Buehring, got on base, made it to third after a double by #7, senior Caden Fahy, and then scored.

Time ran out for Peninsula, which didn’t manage to muster a late comeback.

That win sent head coach Dylan Mclauchlin and his team up against Mountlake Terrace, also a “loser out” game. This one had plenty of drama, as well as weather challenges (rain, mostly light). A dedicated crowd braved it all.

This time the Wildcats scored right off the top – Buehring drew a walk, Fahy hit another double, Cheha hit a sacrifice fly for an RBI, and WSHS had an early 1-0 lead. Starting pitcher #17, senior Matthew Henning, struck out two of the first three Terrace batters. In the second, he had two outs on two pitches. Things looked good … until the bottom of the third, when Terrace loaded the bases and turned that into two runs, followed by two more before the inning ended. West Seattle got one back shortly thereafter. It was three up, three down, for Henning in the bottom of the fourth, still 4-2 MLT. The Wildcats added another run in the 5th. So did the Hawks.

Then came the dramatic two-out comeback in the top of the 6th. Buehring and Fahy both got hits after two previous batters notched outs. Henning walked. Cheha got an RBI single.

#42, senior Sabin Tomlinson, came up to bat:

With that, WSHS took the lead, 6-5.

And the rally was’t over – one more run followed. Then in the bottom of the 6th, pitcher #9 Sam Waskowitz made 1-2-3 work of the Mountlake Terrace batters, and it was on to the 7th. The Wildcats added three insurance runs, with hits including yet another Fahy double. By inning’s end, they were ahead 10-5.

But as the saying goes, “it’s not over till it’s over.” Mountlake Terrace loaded the bases in the bottom of the 7th and cleared them with a grand slam, That five-run lead was down to one. Fahy concluded his heroics for the day by moving onto the mound and saving the victory.

So, for the third year in a row, the Wildcats have made it into the state tournament semifinals (see the full bracket here). Their next game is in Pasco, vs. Eastside Catholic (20-7), 7:15 pm Friday (May 24). The two teams met on April 3; the Wildcats (20-5) won, 5-4.

One last reminder that tomorrow (Sunday, May 19) brings more than 1,300 runners and walkers to Alki and Harbor Avenues for the West Seattle 5K. The no-parking signs are out (don’t defy them – you might get towed) and both streets will be closed to vehicle traffic between roughly 8 am and 11 am. It’s not too late to be part of it – you can still register online, or at the starting line – near the Alki Bathhouse (60th/Alki) – starting at 8:30 am Sunday. The West Seattle 5K is a fundraiser for programs supported by the West Seattle High School PTSA, which coordinates the event.

The photo is from Amber, one of two Madison Middle School parents who sent word that the boys’ soccer team plays for the district championship Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium downtown. The other parent notes, “They are led by the amazing and caring Coach Zanna Peterson, who is also an Instructional Assistant at Madison. Congrats to Coach, these players, and their families!” The game at 10 am tomorrow, Amber says, is vs. North Seattle’s Robert Eagle Staff Middle School.

Congratulations to the West Seattle High School Wildcats softball team for another strong season, which ended tonight. The team, coached by Kyler Tsukada, made it to the district tournament again this year but lost their opening game, 9-4, vs. Renton’s Liberty High School, played at Juanita HS in Kirkland. The Wildcats finish the year 11-11.

(2023 photo by David Hutchinson)

One more look ahead before the weekend ends … next Sunday (May 19) brings the West Seattle 5K to Alki! It’s the season’s first big 5K, presented by the West Seattle High School PTSA to raise money for WSHS. The morning starts with Alki and Harbor Avenues closing to vehicle traffic around 8 am, then:

8:30-9:15 am: Day-of-event registration
9:10 am: Pre-race warm-up
9:30 am: 5K Run/Walk starts
8:30 to 11:30 am: Visit our sponsor booths and enjoy student music

You can register online right now, or register in person at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) the day before the WS5K (noon-5 pm Saturday, May 18). The start/finish line next Sunday is near 61st/Alki. See you there!

Thanks to Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio for sending the announcement and photos:

Congratulations to the Chief Sealth and West Seattle 2024 Washington Athletic Club /101 Club award winners:

Chief Sealth

Isaac Martinez, Ocean Freeman, Jeylen Pham, Breanna Tran, Jennie Brown, and Joy Ohta (Not Present) (Also in the pic: AD Ernest Policarpio and Assistant Principal Isaisha Perry)

West Seattle

Carmen Cruz, Kamil Ignacio, Sole Norman, Bo Gionet, Matthew Henning, and Gibson Aguilar

The WAC & 101 Club Awards honor 3 boys and 3 girls from each school who have athletic & academic achievements.

(WSB photos)

The West Seattle High School Wildcats are the Metro League champions for the second time in three years! They won the title game against Ballard 7-1 tonight at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center. WSHS was ahead 2-0 after the first inning and never looked back.

(#11, TJ Buehring)

A few more innings went by before West Seattle started piling on the runs by methodically advancing after getting on base – a single here, an RBI there, a stolen base here.

(#7, Caden Fahy)

Miles Chandler was the winning pitcher. Head coach Dylan Mclauchlin‘s Wildcats had already secured a spot in the state tournament, which starts Tuesday.

When their next game is set, it’ll appear on this bracket.

SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: The next game is set – next Saturday (May 18), 1 pm, vs. Peninsula, at Edmonds-Woodway HS. It’s a potential doubleheader, as it’s a must-win game, with the winner advancing to another game that afternoon.

(WSB photos. Above, #9, senior Caitlin Gordon)

Metro League tournament play wrapped up tonight for the West Seattle High School softball team, after two games – one victory, one loss. In their first game of the afternoon, the Wildcats beat Seattle Prep, 12-5. Our photos are from the second game, a 15-5 loss to Lincoln.

(Above, #12, sophomore Mackenzie Curry Uzwack)

The Wildcats ended the tournament with sixth place. Now it’s on to the District 2 tournament, which starts Monday.

(Above, #13, freshman Violet Faull)

They’ll be playing on the eastside, at Juanita HS in Kirkland – first game, 6 pm Monday vs. Liberty.

(WSB photos)

One of the three local high-school teams that played Metro League postseason ballgames this afternoon and evening is still standing: The West Seattle High School softball team. Our photos are from the first of the two games they played today at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, an 11-1 win over Eastside Catholic. Above, Julia Herron at the plate – she hit a triple today. Below, Tangerine Zurek threw a complete game, giving up only five hits and one run.

A few hours later, the Wildcats lost to Roosevelt, 14-0. WSHS’s next game is at 3:30 pm Friday vs. the loser of tonight’s Blanchet-Prep game.

Also in softball today, Chief Sealth International High School lost a must-win game vs. Holy Names at NCSWAC this afternoon, 15-0.

Chief Sealth’s baseball team also came to the end of its road at the Metro tournament today, losing to Blanchet 2-0 at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center.

Ford Rains pitched the complete game, giving up 2 runs on only 1 hits and 1 walk. The Seahawks almost rallied in the final inning – Mason Filitaula drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and made it to third.

But a double play ended the game.

P.S. The WSHS baseball team is off until Saturday, when it plays Ballard for the Metro championship, also at Steve Cox (1321 SW 102nd), at 7 pm.

(WSB photos)

#42 Sabin Tomlinson jumped exuberantly as he finished rounding the bases following a two-run sixth-inning homer that helped power the West Seattle HS Wildcats to a 4-0 Metro League Tournament semifinal win tonight.

The win over Seattle Prep at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center sends WSHS not only to the Metro championship game but also to the state tournament. #17 Matthew Henning got the complete-game shutout win, yielding only five hits and two walks while amassing four strikeouts.

The Wildcats’ two other RBIs tonight were by #2 Bobby Trigg and #5 Matthew Hazlegrove. WSHS, under head coach Dylan Mclauchlin, will play the championship game, also at Steve Cox, at 7 pm Saturday (May 11), versus the winner of the other semifinal game – under way right now – between Eastside Catholic and Ballard.

Local high-school baseball and softball teams play postseason games this week:

BASEBALL: Postseason play is already under way. West Seattle HS (16-5) plays Seattle Prep at 4 pm tomorrow (Monday), Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center (1321 SW 102nd), after a 2-1 postseason win over Lincoln on Saturday … Chief Sealth IHS (12-12) plays Bishop Blanchet at 4 pm Wednesday, also at Steve Cox Memorial Park, after a 7-0 postseason win over Roosevelt on Friday.

SOFTBALL: The first postseason games are this week – CSIHS (6-12) plays Rainier Beach at 4 pm Tuesday, WSHS (9-8) plays Eastside Catholic at 1:30 pm Wednesday, both at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).

(Photos courtesy CSIHS Athletics)

Tonight is Senior Night for Chief Sealth International High School‘s baseball team, playing Cleveland at 7 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). The players in the photo above are seniors Noah Tewolde, Gavin Brown, and Isaac Martinez, and as CSIHS athletic director Ernest Policarpio recounts below, the team scored this year’s “Best in the West” crosstown-rivalry win over West Seattle High School on Friday night:

Both teams were strong on the mound on Friday, but Chief Sealth defeated West Seattle Varsity Wildcats 2-1.

Isaac Martinez started on the bump for Chief Sealth. The starting pitcher gave up four hits and one run over five innings, striking out six and walking five. Nevin Pivar threw two innings of no-run ball for Chief Sealth in reliefl he gave up three hits, walking two.

Miles Chandler led things off on the hill for West Seattle, He gave up four hits and two runs over six innings, striking out 10 and walking three.

Chief Sealth got on the board in the first inning after Teo Perala singled, scoring one run. Clay Pecore singled, which helped West Seattle tie the game at one in the top of the second.

Chief Sealth didn’t take the lead until later in the game. The game was tied at one in the bottom of the sixth when Miles Chandler induced Marko Woefle to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored.

Teo Perala and Marko Woefle each drove in one run for Chief Sealth; Brady Murphy went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Chief Sealth.

West Seattle’s Matthew Hazlegrove made the most of his chances at the plate; he led the team with three hits in four at bats. Clay Pecore went 2-for-3 at the plate as the infielder led the team with one run batted in.