BRITTANY STYGER
Kentlake
Grade: Junior.
Sport: Fastpitch.
DERRICK DAIGRE
Kent-Meridian
Grade: Junior.
Sport: Track & Field.
AIESHA GOODLOW
Kentwood
Grade: Senior.
Sport: Track & Field.
First came the jam, and then came the throw.
Behind a pitching gem by Nikole Weber and the defensive play of the year by center fielder Erin Crowley, Kentlake hung on to beat Puyallup 3-1 for the South Puget Sound League title on Friday evening at Service Club Ballfields in Kent.
A familiar face will be taking over the Kentwood High boys basketball program this fall.
Kent-Meridian product Brian Davis, 29, was announced on Thursday as the new Kentwood coach. Davis, who graduated from Kent-Meridian in 1998, also has ties to Kentridge, where he assisted under current Charger coach Dave Jamison (2000-2006).
Second best?
Not this year.
After consecutive second-place finishes in the South Puget Sound League North Division, the Kent-Meridian boys track & field team jumped another hurdle on Thursday afternoon at Kentwood High.
The pitching was there for the Kentlake High baseball team this past weekend.
A lack of timely hitting, however, bit the Falcons once again.
Right-handed ace Doug Christie served up a gem on Friday night, dominating Curtis 4-2 in the opening round of the South Puget Sound League tournament, but the Falcons weren't able to continue the momentum as they were eliminated by Jefferson on Saturday, 3-2.
It’s not yet panic time for the Kentwood High baseball team.
But after Saturday’s 10-6 loss to Puyallup in the South Puget Sound League championship game, there is some head scratching going around.
Despite home runs from Austin Voth, Taylor White and Bryant VanEngelenburg, the sixth-ranked Conquerors were unable to overcome a fast start by the No. 1 Vikings.
ZHITAYA GARRETT
Kent-Meridian
Grade: Senior.
Sport: Track.
Accomplishment: Garrett ran the lead-off leg of Kent-Meridian's sprint medley relay team and also anchored the Royals' 4 x 100 relay team at this past weekend's Oregon Relays in Eugene.
STEFAN BANGSUND
Kentwood
Grade: Sophomore.
Sport: Soccer.
Accomplishment: Bangsund, a midfielder, turned up the offense, netting a pair of goals in a 2-0 victory over Auburn last week.
Favorite class: Social Studies.
NIKKI SKINNER
Kentwood
Grade: Senior.
Sport: Tennis.
Accomplishment: Skinner, playing No. 2 singles, helped the Conquerors wrap up the SPSL North by knocking off Kentridge's Vicky Tran 6-1, 6-1 en route to a 3-2 team victory. The win helped Kentwood improve to 8-0 in league competition.
KATIE LAKE
Kentridge
Grade: Sophomore.
Sport: Track & Field.
CORY HAMADA
Kentridge
Grade: Senior.
Sport: Baseball.
Accomplishment: Hamada went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI in a 14-0 victory over Kent-Meridian.
Favorite class: Leadership.
The gymnasium at Kentwood High is filled with championship banners.
In fact, the nearly 30-year-old building is the home of title banners from virtually every sport — except one.
It has been a long road for Kentwood's girls track & field team, one that has not included a South Puget Sound League North Division title.
On Thursday, the Conquerors finally got it done.
The Seattle Thunderbirds selected defenseman Jared Hauf, from Calgary, Alberta, with their first selection in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.
"We are excited to select Jared Hauf in the first round. He is an imposing presence on the ice and we believe can grow to be a top defenseman in t he WHL," said T-Birds General Manager Russ Farwell.
Hauf is 6’4 and 175-pounds and played for the Calgary Bronks Bantam AAA team this past season. He appeared in 33 games and had four goals and 13 assists for 17 points with 72 penalty minutes.
In the second round, with the 26th overall selection, the T-Birds took defenseman Taylor Green from Port Coquitlam, BC.
“We have added another imposing player on the blue line,” said Farwell. “Green has tremendous potential to develop into an outstanding player. His skating and hand skills are what make him so exciting and at 6’6 the upside was too much to pass up."
Green is 6’6 and 210 pounds and he played with the Port Coquitlam Tier 1 Bantam team this past season. He appeared in 42 games and had 12 goals and 38 assists for 50 points with 54 penalty minutes. Green played in 10 playoff games and had seven assists.
The T-Birds had two selections in the third round of the draft. With the 48th overall pick the team selected right wing James Neil from White Rock, BC. Neil, at 6’0 and 165-pounds, played with the Semiahmoo Ravens Bantam AAA team last season.
T-Birds Scouting Staff comment on Neil: “James Neil has tremendous offensive upside. He has a strong shot, handles the puck very well in tight areas and is tough to take the puck from. He sees the ice well and has the ability to make plays for others."
Things fell apart for the Kentlake High fastpitch team a year ago.
This spring, they've come together.
Kentlake (15-1 in league, 19-1 overall) entered Thursday in its customary position, atop the South Puget Sound League North Division standings and staring at another potential league crown. It's a strong move for the Falcons, who finished fourth last season after winning four-straight SPSL North titles.
The race for the South Puget Sound League North Division girls tennis crown won’t be going down to the wire this season.
Kentwood saw to that last week, upending league-rival Kentridge 3-2 in a pivotal SPSL North tennis match.
His name wasn't called during the NFL draft two weeks ago.
But that doesn't mean Aaron Boyce won't be suiting up for an NFL team in the near future, once he is officially pronounced 100 percent healthy.
RODNEY GREILING
Kentwood
Grade: Junior.
Sport: Soccer.
ALEXIS ENGMAN
ALEXIS ENGMAN
Kentlake
Grade: Sophomore.
Sport: Fastpitch.
