West Seattle, Washington
14 Sunday
High-school sports postseason updates:
BASEBALL: West Seattle High School finished the Metro League tournament last night with second place after a 5-2 loss to Lincoln at Steve Cox Memorial Park. The Wildcats, now 20-3, have led the league all season and now head to the state championships. We’re awaiting word of their first game; the tournament starts Tuesday, and the matchups will be posted here.
SOFTBALL: After their final two games at the Metro League softball tournament, WSHS took sixth place and is moving on to districts. Friday at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, the Wildcats beat Lincoln 12-2 and then lost to Bishop Blanchet 7-6. WSHS’s first district game is Tuesday at NCSWAC, 5:30 pm vs. Lake Washington.
(Photo courtesy Rain City Ropeworks)
Five local jump-rope athletes from West Seattle-based Rain City Ropeworks are headed to the world championships! Here’s the announcement we received today:
The American Jump Rope Federation announced the US National Team for 2023. Among the team representing the US (with more than 30 other countries from around the world) are five local teenagers from the Rain City Ropeworks team: Calla Freeman, Madeleine Garrison, Riley Hill, Halle Morgan, and Ava Wheatley. The girls will be competing in two Team Double Dutch categories. Riley and Madeline will also be competing in the Individual Freestyle category.
The event will have 3,000 participants and will mark the first time the event will be held in Colorado Springs, CO. The event will be a combination of the World Championships, as well as the International Open Tournament and the Junior World Championships, held July 16-23, 2023.
Rain City Ropeworks is led by Rene Bibaud, a 5-time world rope-jumping champion and Cirque du Soleil performer. Rene believes everyone should have access to the joy of jumping rope. “A jump rope is portable, inexpensive, and can be done virtually anywhere – making it an incredibly equitable and fun activity!” said Rene.
Rene’s goal is to share her passion for jumping rope with the community through her after-school programs, summer camps, workshops & classes and the Rain City Ropeworks jump rope team. The team is a performance and competition team based in West Seattle. Team members range from 8-18 and perform at special events, halftime shows, festivals, school assemblies, and compete in local, regional, national, and international tournaments. Rain City Ropeworks will be performing at this year’s 50th anniversary Bumbershoot Arts & Music Festival.
Another local event in which RCR is participating – this Saturday, they’re having a fundraising sale as part of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, as noted in our benefit/fundraiser sale list – on the WSCGSD map, they’re Sale #251. (Demonstrations promised, too!)
The Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks’ baseball season is over. Playing Seattle Prep at Steve Cox Memorial Park this evening, they fell behind 5-0 in the first inning and couldn’t make a comeback. Final score was 6-1.
All afternoon and evening, Metro League softball-tournament contenders have been on the field at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, including both local teams.
(WSB photo, between innings at WSHS-Ballard game)
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: The Wildcats blew out Ingraham in their first game of the day, at mid-afternoon, 19-0. That sent them forward to play Ballard tonight. WSHS lost that game 5-3, but gets one more try to stay in the postseason, with a 1:30 pm game Friday (May 12) vs. Lincoln, also at NCSWAC (2801 SW Thistle).
CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL: Lincoln is who brought the Seahawks’ season to an end this afternoon, 15-10. Chief Sealth finishes the year with a 10-8 record.
(WSB photos)
With their 20th win, the West Seattle High School baseball team also secured a spot in the state tournament. The Wildcats shut out O’Dea tonight, 4-0 at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, and play Lincoln for the Metro League championship on Saturday night. WSHS pitcher Matthew Henning pitched the complete game, allowing only two hits:
Wildcat Bobby Trigg was first to score a run for WSHS, with a second-inning homer.
They’ll be back at Steve Cox (1321 SW 102nd, White Center) to go for the league title Saturday night, 7 pm.
(WSB file photo)
Two weeks from today, Alki Avenue will be filled with runners and walkers out for the first West Seattle 5K since 2019! Sunday, May 21st, is the day that the West Seattle High School PTSA is bringing back the scenic walk/run that takes you along the beach and shore to raise money for helping the school’s students and staff. It’ll start at 9:30 am, rain or shine, strollers and leashed dogs allowed, all ages; plan to get to the beach (61st/Alki vicinity) by 9:10 for the pre-race warm-up. You can register right now online; some registration levels still have early-bird rates in effect.
Miles Gosztola (above) got the win as West Seattle High School beat Ballard 12-2 in Metro League playoff baseball this afternoon at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center. WSHS, now with a record of 19-2, got a first-round bye and opened tournament play today. Gosztola struck out nine and allowed six hits.
(WSHS #4, Tyler Eisenhut)
The big inning for the Wildcats was the sixth, when they scored five of those 12 runs. Their next game is 7 pm Monday, also at Steve Cox (1321 SW 102nd), against the winner of tonight’s Eastside Catholic-O’Dea game.
Thanks for the updates from Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center. Brandon reports that Chief Sealth International High School‘s baseball team has just defeated Ingraham in a must-win Metro League playoff game, 2-1 in 13 innings. A texter tells us the game was scoreless until the 13th – then Ingraham scored a run in the top of that inning, followed by Sealth scoring two for the win in the bottom. The texter tells us the winning run came on a bases-loaded walk with two outs. Sealth will play again at Steve Cox, 4 pm Wednesday (May 10th), vs. Seattle Prep.
Whether you’re interested in selling or buying, you’re welcome at this weekend’s West Seattle Boat Swap:
Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) adds, “Last call to register to sell your kayaks, standup paddleboards, and accessories! Great weekend to buy affordable, lightly loved gear! Come by and take advantage on some great summer packages and exclusive deals.” It’s happening both days at the shop in The Triangle, 3602 SW Alaska, 11 am-4 pm (if you have items to sell, drop them off Saturday morning 9-11 am – pre-register here).
On Monday, we reported that a plan to replace the Delridge Playfield artificial turf has gone out to bid. We also noted that the “rebidding” of Hiawatha Playfield‘s turf replacement appeared to have resulted in a decision. So we followed up on both with Seattle Parks today.
First – they confirm that the “rebidding” for Hiawatha (rendering above, PDF here) resulted in the contract going to the same firm that won the original round, FieldTurf USA. (Online files show the rebidding didn’t result in a major savings – their new winning bid was $1,243,000, compared to the original winning bid of $1,256,000.) Parks spokesperson Karen O’Connor says that Hiawatha field construction is still expected to start in the middle of this month, last about three months, and that “It is likely that Delridge and Hiawatha field closures will overlap for about 6 weeks during the summer construction.” P.S. If you have questions about any of the various Hiawatha projects, you’ll want to be at next Tuesday’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, 7 pm at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill), when ANA expects to talk with and hear from a Parks deputy superintendent.
Thanks to Jackie Borg from West Seattle Little League for sending this!
Desmond Hansen painted a new box at Bar-S Little League fields. We’re so excited for the new addition to the fields!
(That’s Mariners slugger Julio Rodriguez, aka “J-Rod,” on the box.)
It’s playoff time for two high-school spring sports.
BOYS’ SOCCER: Here’s the Metro League bracket. West Seattle High School (6-4) opens play tomorrow at Ballard, 4:30 pm. Winner of that game will be Chief Sealth International High School (8-5)’s first playoff opponent, Wednesday at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), time TBD.
BASEBALL: Here’s the Metro League bracket. Chief Sealth (11-8) hosts Ballard at NCSWAC at 7 pm Wednesday, and the winner of that game will face league-leading WSHS (17-1) on Saturday, 4 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd, White Center).
Thanks to Karen for the photo and report:
What a way to finish the regular season and celebrate Senior Night! 14 innings – an almost four-hour battle against Lakeside. Nine seniors plus student staff celebrated with family, friends, and team members.
Final score at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex last night was Sealth 7, Lakeside 6. The Seahawks finish the regular season 13-8 and are scheduled to open the playoffs at NCSWAC at 7 pm next Wednesday (May 3rd) vs. Ballard.
Got a young soccer player in the family who’s ready to level up? HSA Select will hold tryouts soon, and it’s asking interested players to register now. Here’s the announcement:
HSA Select is the youth select soccer program for the Highline Soccer Association. We are a middle ground between premier and recreational soccer, providing a cost-effective alternative for the soccer experience that balances the commitment of time and money with an opportunity to learn the skills necessary to play competitive soccer as well as compete in other sports at a high level. HSA Select is part of Highline Soccer Association (HSA) that represents youth soccer players from the communities of Des Moines/Midway, Sea-Tac, West Highline, and West Seattle.
-Tryouts will be held in May and registration for tryouts is now OPEN
-Teams are formed by Birth Year (view Soccer Age Chart).
-Boys and Girls U-11 to U-15, and High School Girls U-16 to U-19
-Register for Tryouts HERE.We know having your kids try out for a select program is a big and sometimes scary jump from recreational soccer. Please read the documents and article below to answer some of your questions. The Select Committee will also be available during tryouts for other questions you may have.
HSA Select Overview (updated for 2022-2023 season)
Questions about registration: Contact us at hsaselect@gmail.com.
(WSB photos. Above, Weston Webb of WSHS)
In what was the second-to-last game of the regular season for both teams, West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth international High School faced off tonight at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
(Sealth’s Isaac Martinez out at the plate, trying to tie the game)
It’s been a good season for both teams – going into tonight’s game, WSHS, coached by Dylan Mclauchlin, led the Metro League at 17-1, while Chief Sealth, under head coach Ernest Policarpio, was <12-7. The Wildcats prevailed, but by just one run, 2-1. Winning pitcher was Miles Chandler, who allowed just 1 run and 7 hits in 6 innings:
On the mound for the Seahawks, Ryan Moore had a respectable night too, 2 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings. Good turnout to watch the game, which ended under the lights:
WSHS’s last regular-season game is at Kennedy Catholic in Burien next Monday (May 1st); the regular-season finale for CSIHS is against Lakeside this Wednesday, at home at NCSWAC.
JUNIOR VARSITY: We weren’t there for the JV opener but CSIHS shutting out WSHS 6-0, with one Sealth supporter reporting, “Sammy Popelka, freshman pitcher for the Chief Sealth Seahawks, pitched a complete=game shutout (7 innings) to beat the previously 14-1 Wildcats!”
(Thanks to Elise for the photo.)
It’s Salute to Armed Forces night as the Mariners continue their series vs. the Cardinals, and that included a US Air Force C-17 cargo-plane flyover. We noticed it as it headed southbound over West Seattle a short time ago, so we’re making note in case you noticed it too.
(Added photo sent by James Bratsanos.)
One month from today – at 9:30 am Sunday, May 21st – Alki Avenue SW will fill with runners and walkers during the first West Seattle 5K since 2019. This is presented by, and benefiting, the West Seattle High School PTSA. If you haven’t registered yet, keep in mind that now’s the time to get in at the lowest price – general registration goes up May 1st, student fees on May 15th. (As announced last month, this year WSHS students have an incentive to participate – the grade that registers the most participants gets a cash grant!) The West Seattle 5K is powered not only by registration fees but also by community sponsors – see them here. Ready to register? Here’s the link.
(WSB photo, February)
Back in February, we reported on the rapid growth of the relatively new Westside Pickleball League, an all-ages group playing the official Washington state sport. The story noted that the group was seeking Seattle Public Schools permission to add pickleball lines to the district-owned Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex courts west of Southwest Pool. One of the league administrators, Amy Greger, tells us that they have now received that permission, and the league will cover the cost of painting lines for 12 pickleball courts on the six tennis courts. As explained here, the weather has to warm up a bit before the courts can be cleaned and painting can be done. They’re hoping to have the initial league tournament at the NCSWAC courts in June.
ADDED TUESDAY: The league clarifies, SPS has given permission to paint lines for six pickleball courts, while six more will be “marked for taping.”
(WSB photos)
Both Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School are having strong seasons in fastpitch softball so far. Just as school was getting out for spring break, the two faced off Friday afternoon at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.
(WSHS’s Carmen Cruz)
As one spectator who emailed us postgame described it, this was a “five-inning slugfest with five total home runs and two ground-rule doubles that were centimeters shy of home runs.”
(CSIHS pitcher Delaney Sipila)
West Seattle went ahead early and took the win, 17-7. According to the GameChanger summary, Lane Ryan was the hitting leader, with three hits – including one of those home runs – and five RBIs. Tangerine Zurek was the winning pitcher for WSHS. Starter Sadie Stroud and reliever Delaney Sipila – who also had two steals – pitched for CSIHS. The Wildcats are now 5-2 and next play at Eastside Catholic, 4 pm Wednesday, April 19th. The Seahawks are now 7-3 and next host Roosevelt at NCSWAC, 4 pm Tuesday, April 18th.
It’s National Fish Sticks Day (sort of). But you don’t have to go eat battered, fried seafood to celebrate. You can also buy one or more tickets to game(s) played in White Center by the DubSea Fish Sticks, now exactly two months from their home opener. Here’s the announcement:
The DubSea Fish Sticks summer collegiate baseball team launched its single-game ticket sales for the 2023 season this morning as part of National Fish Sticks Day.
The team hosts their events at Mel Olson Stadium, which is located inside King County’s Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center and is nicknamed “The Fryer.”
The team is known for their crazy antics, including throwing out a ceremonial first fish, where the honoree flings a fish toward home plate instead of a baseball. During non-league games the team also runs an open raffle for a random fan to sign a one-day contract and lead off in the game for the Fish Sticks as the “Fan Batter of the Night.”
The Fish Sticks recruit players from colleges across the country to come and play for the months of June and July. The 2023 summer roster is composed of players from thirty different colleges. The players report in late May and play with the team to hone their skills and hope to one day play professionally.
“We’re not in the baseball business, we’re in the fun business, where there happens to be a baseball game going on. Our goal is that this is the most fun you’ve ever had inside a baseball stadium. From the music, great food, beer and crazy promotions, this will be something you’ll never forget,” exclaimed General Manager Justin Moser.
Single-game tickets for DubSea Fish Sticks games are only $12, and Opening Night on Saturday, June 3rd, is expected to sell out quickly. Flex Ticket Packs with options ranging from three to ten games packages are also available. The team will host 26 home games this summer, including every Saturday night from June 3th – July 29th. The team will host the Battle for West Seattle, a charity softball game celebrating the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce’s 100th anniversary. They have also been selected to host the MLB JR Home Run Derby Regional Competition, where winners will go on to compete at T-Mobile Park as part of All-Star Week.
The Fish Sticks also partner with youth organizations and nonprofits to run ticket fundraisers at every game and sell discounted group packages.
You can find more information and secure your tickets for Opening Night at The Fryer online at GoFishSticks.com/tickets.
(WSB photos. Above, senior Jake Daily)
Chief Sealth International High School lost for just the second time so far this season when Eastside Catholic visited Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex on Wednesday night. In their only home game of the week, the Seahawks fell 7-0.
(Starting pitcher, senior Wyatt Trujillo)
Chief Sealth is now 8-2 for the season. On Friday afternoon, they’ll play at Garfield; next home game at NCSWAC is Friday, April 7th, 4 pm, vs. Sammamish.
(WSB photos. Above, Matthew Henning)
In the third week of the season, the league-leading, undefeated West Seattle High School varsity baseball team just scored their third consecutive shutout victory. Playing tonight at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, the Wildcats beat Franklin, 20-0.
(Tonight’s starting pitcher, Miles Chandler)
According to the GameChanger summary, WSHS really broke things open with a 10-run third inning. Owen Earls was the night’s leader in RBIs, with five; TJ Buehring was right behind with four. Starting pitcher tonight was Miles Chandler, who held Franklin to one hit in four innings; the hitless fifth inning was pitched by John Langen. The Wildcats’ next two games are on the road; they’re back home at 7 pm next Monday (April 3rd) vs. Cleveland at NCSWAC (2801 SW Thistle).
(WSB photos)>
Baseball and softball season-openers continue this afternoon as West Seattle Little League‘s season-opening jamboree concludes, with more than 800 players and 68 teams participating. Saturday we stopped by the softball venue, Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle); this morning, we visited the baseball venue, Bar-S (64th/Admiral) – the photo above is from a juniors (10-year-olds) game, below is from a seniors (12-year-olds) game:
Baseball is scheduled to continue until about 7 tonight, softball until 4:30.
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