West Seattle, Washington
21 Tuesday
AC Seattle, the Italian/American cultural-exchange soccer club that was based in West Seattle for its debut season last summer, will be back – and is expanding. Its 2013 women’s team (photo above) won the Northwest Conference of the WPSL and the Evergreen Cup; for 2014, AC Seattle tells WSB it will add a men’s team and a summer camp. You won’t find many details on their website yet but AC Seattle says camp registration is open, so they’re taking inquiries at soccer@acseattle.com, which is also the address where soccer professionals are invited to send resumes if they are interested in joining a staff expanding to cover the new team/camp (players too).
You didn’t think Santa Claus went right back to the North Pole as soon as Christmas deliveries were done, did you? Al shares these scenes from the West Seattle Golf Course on Thursday – the day after Christmas.
Keep an eye out for the Easter Bunny next.
(Photo by Greg Slader)
Just sent to us to share with you – another big honor for a local sports standout, whose proud relative writes:
Earlier this month, Sam Hellinger of West Seattle became the first player from West Seattle High School to ever be awarded the Washington State Baseball Coaches Association’s State Player of the Year.
Hellinger, who helped West Seattle get to the 3A State championship game for the first time in its history and who was drafted in the 39th round by the Seattle Mariners in the 2013 June Amateur Draft, was earlier named 3A Player of the Year, Metro League MVP, and was the first West Seattle player ever named to the Seattle Times All-Area Team.
Sam currently attends and plays for the College of San Mateo in the Bay Area (California).
Congratulations to Sam!
West Seattle teenagers interested in running are invited to be part of a new group launching early in the new year. The announcement was shared by Emma:
Starting January 4th, West Seattle Runner will offer a free teen running group every Saturday at 11 am for those in high school and college. This will be a great place to meet other youth who enjoy running, train for races like 5Ks and half marathons, and improve overall fitness.
Lori McConnell, co-owner of West Seattle Runner, wanted to start this group because “As a long distance runner, the owner of a running store, and a therapist for youth and athletes, I saw the need. I have heard from teens that they would like to run more, but in the dark winter, they are limited because they don’t want to run alone. I also want to introduce the joy of running to youth. It is a healthy activity for them to spend time doing, it gives a sense of belonging, and it increases confidence. Also, running is a way to build good mental health and helps with learning. I wanted an opportunity to connect like-minded teens in a social way.”
A Facebook group called “West Seattle Teen Running Group” has been created and will be the central place for future information about this upcoming running group. If you have questions, contact Lori at lori@westseattlerunner.com or call West Seattle Runner at 206-938-0545.
Congratulations to the West Seattle Force, citywide U-17 soccer champions after Saturday’s 2-0 win over the Ballard Huskies in the City Youth Soccer Association finals. The Force is a West Seattle Soccer Club team, coached by Wayne Johnson and Greg Postel.
Victory tonight for West Seattle High School over visiting Auburn HS, according to this staff report:
The West Seattle boys’ basketball team improved to 2-3 on the season with a 66-61 win over the Auburn Trojans of the SPSL on Saturday night. It’s the Wildcats’ second win over an SPSL opponent this year, having beat Kent Meridian earlier.
The Wildcats were powered by senior DeAndre Love with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Also playing well for the Wildcats were senior Malachi Cain and Ruslan Burduzha, both scoring in double figures.
Cain hit three 3-point field goals in the fourth quarter to help the Wildcats pull out a gritty win.
See more stats here, via our partners at The Seattle Times.
Ready to run? West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) is about to launch another session of Get Fit, West Seattle – with an informational meeting tomorrow night, per WSR’s Lori McConnell:
We are back at it! After just successfully coaching about 15 runners and walkers off the couch across the finish line of the Amica Seattle Marathon, we are ready for more. Starting on January 5th, we will invite another group to get off the couch and begin training for the Seattle Rock ‘N Roll Marathon in June. Participants will receive a training plan that is guaranteed to get them to the goal. Additionally, we will host clinics on nutrition, proper training and footwear and injury prevention. Along the way, walkers and runners can expect support, camaraderie and a wealth of knowledge. All of this at NO COST!!
The informational meeting is at 6:30 pm tomorrow (Monday, December 16th) at WS Runner, second floor on the northwest corner of California/Charlestown.
One more sports report from the second-to-last week of school before winter break: Chief Sealth International High School hosted Bainbridge in Friday night basketball. The girls-varsity team lost 53-43; stats are here, with Samantha Scroggins leading the Katie Jo Maris-coached Seahawks’ scoring, 16 points. She and teammate O’Shae Walker are in the photo above, flanking Bainbridge’s Maddie Ketcheside.
In the boys-varsity game, Bainbridge also left with the win, 48-41 despite a run by the Colin Slingsby-coached Seahawks in the last few minutes.
Stats are up now (also via our partners at The Seattle Times). Alluney Burris was top Sealth scorer with 12; in our photo is the Seahawks’ Ahmed Mohamed, who had 7 points Friday night.
Next up for Sealth – road trips to Rainier Beach High School, where the boys’ teams play Tuesday, the girls on Wednesday.
Seattle Lutheran High School‘s basketball teams hosted Mount Vernon Christian last night. Top photo is from the boys-varsity game, which SLHS won, 54-41; that’s Abijah Smith, who was the team’s top scorer with 20 (next was Ben Sanders with 14). Next, the girls’ game:
Abbi Sanders is in that photo, bringing the ball upcourt; she had 14 points in the Saints’ 53-30 loss. Also during the busy night of basketball at Seattle Lutheran, there was a bonus game:
Third- and fourth-graders from nearby Hope Lutheran School hit the court.
(Photo courtesy Lorie Bennett)
Thursday afternoon rain didn’t stop students from Lafayette and Schmitz Park Elementaries from playing the first-ever West Side Flag Cup – Leopards vs. Foxes, respectively. We’re told it started with the Lafayette after-school football class and coach – third- through fifth-graders – challenging their Schmitz Park counterparts. Above, the two teams before the game (thanks to Lorie for sharing that photo!); below, action on the field at Hiawatha:
(This and next 2 photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
We stopped by for a bit of the early action. According to the Schmitz Park Facebook page, the Foxes won. Lots of family and friends out to cheer for both teams.
The SP page also notes: “The score ranges from 49 to 42, 42 to 35, it was a close game with back-and-forth touchdowns. We forgot to assign an official scorekeeper.”
But you know the saying – “it’s not whether you win or lose …” The Foxes and Leopards are hoping to make this a tradition, trophy and all, with another faceoff as soon as late spring.
Just announced: West Seattle Little League registration is open for next year, and change is in the wind:
2014 is shaping up to be an exciting year for West Seattle Little League. A new division of play called Double-A Rookies is being introduced and is specifically designed for 8 year old kids moving up from Coach Pitch before playing in the Minors. This division will continue the focus on education and development, and will introduce players to pitching, hitting against kid pitchers, more advanced defensive play, and umpires calling balls and strikes.
Also new for 2014 is a revised Little League rule regarding residency and boundaries. Now children that attend schools within the West Seattle Little League boundaries will be able to play in our league even if they live outside the boundaries. This is a wonderful rule change that will enable friends from our schools to play baseball together even though they may live in different parts of West Seattle.
And finally, WSLL is honored to have been selected as the host league and site for the 2014 Washington State Little League 11-12 year old All-Star Tournament. The tournament will take place in early July at Bar S Fields. This promises to be an outstanding culmination to the 2014 season with 13 of the best teams in Washington coming to West Seattle to battle for the opportunity to represent the state at the NW Regional Tournament. Many of you may recall our “neighbors” from Lake Sammamish who advanced all the way to the National Semifinals in Williamsport, PA, last year.
To learn more about WSLL and to register for the 2014 season, please visit the league’s website at: westseattlelittleleague.com or contact us at playeragent@westseattlelittleleague.com.
Wednesday night at West Seattle High School, it was the Wildcat girls’ turn to host Lakeside, whose varsity left with a 42-39 win. Above, that’s WSHS’s Charli Elliott in the foreground, fighting for control of the ball. Here are the game stats, via our partners at The Seattle Times; leading scorers for head coach Sonya Elliott‘s WSHS team were Gabby Sarver with 14 points and Lydia Giomi with 12. Friday night, they are on the road at Rainier Beach.
High-school basketball season has begun in earnest, and the boys of West Seattle High School hosted Lakeside tonight. The Lions left with the win, 57-48, though the Wildcats had been on top at halftime, 28-25. Our partners at The Seattle Times have the stats; Ruslan Burduzha led West Seattle scoring with 18 points, while DeAndre Love and Malachi Cain had 12 each. (That’s Cain in our top photo, #21, with Spenser Elder, #10.) This was the first Metro League game of the year for head coach Keffrey Fazio’s 2013-14 WSHS varsity squad; its first game, non-conference, was a home-court win over Kent-Meridian, 72-58. Next up, the Wildcats visit Rainier Beach on Friday.
High-school basketball season is about to tip off, and Chief Sealth International High School is getting a double jump on it this weekend. First of two big events was tonight’s 2nd annual Nels Enquist Alumni Game, first one organized by new athletic director Ernest Policarpio. Above, the women’s game featured alums vs. current varsity players; the alums won, 44-30. The men’s game, with alums comprising both teams, went into overtime after tying at 69-all with 13 seconds to go.
The minute-and-a-half overtime ended with the blue squad victorious, 75-70. Sealth head coaches Katie Jo Maris and Colin Slingsby lead their teams into the regular season soon, but first, the boys host a Jamboree tomorrow afternoon/evening in the Sealth and Denny (next door) gyms, with participants including West Seattle High School and, from White Center, Evergreen – the schedule’s in our preview.
Chief Sealth International High School is hosting two big basketball events: Friday night (November 29th), it’s the second annual Nels Enquist Alumni Game, 6 pm at the Sealth gym, admission $5 (12 and under/free). Then on Saturday (November 30th), the 13th annual Sealth Jamboree features 13 varsity and JV teams, including West Seattle High School as well as Sealth. Here’s the full lineup:
Admission for the Jamboree is the same as regular-season admission – $6/adults, $4 students. Varsity games are in the Sealth gym on the southeast side of the campus, 2600 SW Thistle; JV games are in the Denny gym on the north side of the two schools’ shared campus, 2601 SW Kenyon.
The weather at Southwest Athletic Complex was clear and cool as the girls-soccer teams from Denny International Middle School and Madison Middle School took the field Friday for the second “Battle of West Seattle.” Madison won again this year, 2-0.
The West Seattle Soccer Club sponsors the “Battle” – as you might guess from that brightly striped scarf beneath the trophy:
It’s a “perpetual” trophy, engraved with each year’s winner, who gets to keep it until the other team takes the title!
P.S. We dropped by for just a few photos, but you can see dozens in this gallery by goalWA.
(WSB photo from 2012)
The West Seattle Soccer Club sends word of a big match tomorrow afternoon, and you’re invited:
This Friday (November 22nd), the Madison and Denny International MS girls-soccer teams will be competing in a friendly match for the rights to take home the 2nd annual ‘Battle of West Seattle” trophy. This is a perpetual trophy, with the winner’s name engraved on the trophy and placed in the winning school’s trophy case until the next season’s match. In the short time the West Seattle Soccer Club (WSSC) started and sponsored this event, it has become a source of pride for each school. There is a similar ‘Battle’ for the boys’ teams in the spring.
Kickoff is 3:45 pm at SWAC (across from Sealth HS). The game officials are WSSC volunteers. The teams were scheduled to meet earlier this fall, but the game was forfeited. This time, both teams should be at full strength and are eager to square off.
Last year, Madison won, 2-1 – who will it be this year? See for yourself tomorrow; forecast calls for more sunshine!
Congratulations to West Seattle High School sophomore Gabby Carufel, who qualified Saturday night for 3A state competition in the 100-yard backstroke. The report and photo are from Gabby’s proud mom Danette Carufel. The girls’ championships begin Friday night with preliminaries at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
It’s playoff time for many fall sports – and last night, we stopped by Southwest Athletic Complex as Metro League girls-varsity soccer teams including West Seattle High School played post-season games. The Wildcats – winners of so many shutouts during the regular season – were held scoreless by Seattle Prep, 2-0.
Their postseason continues Thursday; we’re still checking on schedules.
P.S. We appreciate time/place info on any and all playoff games involving other schools and sports; postseason schedules aren’t as easy to track down! editor@westseattleblog.com – and good luck to all!
Thanks to Seth Leaptrot for sharing the photo and word of West Seattle’s newest champions:
I am very proud to announce that West Seattle’s SWAC Cougars Junior football team, after an amazing 8-0 record in the regular season, have finished their season as the UNDEFEATED Greater Seattle Youth Football and Cheer CHAMPIONS!!
They finished the season on Sunday with a perfect 10-0 record, capped by a nail-biting championship game against the Beacon Hill Cowboys. The Cowboys led for the entire game, and were up by as much as 12 points, but the SWAC Cougars persevered, with a come-from-behind victory in the closing minutes of the 4th quarter, and winning the championship with a final score of 19-18. On behalf of the entire SWAC organization, I would like to congratulate all the SWAC Junior players and coaches for their hard work, perseverance on the field, and a phenomenal season!
At Memorial Stadium on Saturday night, Chief Sealth International High School got off to a fast start against Bishop Blanchet – but had subsequent trouble handling the ball.
From a 7-7 tie, Sealth’s opponent did the rest of the scoring. Final score was Blanchet 36, Sealth 7.
With everything else happening today – there was post-season high-school football too. In one of three games involving local teams, West Seattle High School played a 4 pm game at Memorial Stadium downtown; final score, Lakeside 41, WSHS 14.
For some fall sports, the playoffs are just beginning. Golf is ahead of the game; the Metro League golf tournament was last week, reports parent Kristin Gibson, who says two West Seattle High School boys-varsity players finished in the top 23, Bailey Fuentes and Zach Gibson (shown above in the photo she shared), and qualified for the state tournament May 28-29 of next year at Tri-Mountain Golf Course in Ridgefield. She also reports that Tony Flores finished 37th and Joe Mitchell 45th. Congratulations to the WSHS golfers!
| Comments Off on West Seattle sports: AC Seattle says it’s returning, expanding