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Archive for the ‘Softball’ Category

   Chelsea Prescott covers the bag during a softball game last spring. (John Fisken photos)

Prescott, seen here during a volleyball camp, is an athlete for all seasons.

If there’s a sport to be played in Central Whidbey, it’s a fair bet Chelsea Prescott has played it.

The Coupeville Middle School 8th grader frequently operates in a whirlwind, often charging from basketball court to diamond (be it softball or baseball), all while juggling multiple pieces of equipment and different uniforms.

Through it all, her energy never seems to flag and she remains at the forefront of local athletes who will take the step up to high school this fall.

At the moment, Prescott is playing left field and pitching for Central Whidbey’s Babe Ruth baseball team, but she plans to jump back to softball next spring.

“Although I love playing baseball, I’ll switch back to softball for my high school years,” Prescott said. “Go Wolves!”

On the basketball court she can fill the hoop up with the best of them, leading CMS in scoring the past two seasons.

But it’s volleyball, where the high-flying ace once ripped a serve off of an opponent’s face (it went for a winner), which has begun to captivate Prescott.

“I really enjoyed playing volleyball for Whidbey Fury, going to the tournaments,” she said. “We traveled all over, got to see a lot of places with great friends, and we also took third-place at the PSR tourney!

“Although I have been playing baseball and softball since I was four years old, I think volleyball has become my favorite sport, because the action doesn’t really stop,” Prescott said. “I love that it keeps me active, lets me be part of something bigger than myself — hashtag teamwork — and I’m pretty competitive.”

Prescott has height, speed and a strong work ethic.

Which doesn’t mean there aren’t areas she’d like to improve, as you discover if you ask her about her strengths and weaknesses.

“Funny question, because “strength” is the area I want to work on,” Prescott said. “Practice hard, play hard, but have fun!”

In the (brief) moments she’s not playing a sport, she enjoys “listening to country music, reading manga and playing with my boy Bentley,” her faithful canine companion.

As Prescott has pursued her many athletic endeavors, parents Josie and Cory have been with her every step of the way, something the young star deeply appreciates.

She also hails those who help guide her development.

“First and foremost, my parents for always supporting me,” Prescott said. “All my coaches — Kevin McGrenahan, Ron Wright, Scott and Mimi Johnson, Steve Hillborn, Heidi Wyman, Dustin Van Velkinburgh, Ryan King and Bob Martin.

“And a special thanks to the best umpire in the league, Jim Wheat, for all of his words of wisdom.”

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   Melody Wilkie, seen here in an earlier game, whiffed 11 Wednesday. (John Fisken photo)

The often wild and wacky world of little league took another spin down crazy lane Wednesday night, and the detour stung Central Whidbey.

The facts are murky, but let’s take a stab at figuring this out.

When Anacortes showed up to Coupeville’s diamond for a Juniors softball tilt, it either did, or did not, depending on who we believe, have nine rostered players as game time approached.

If it did not, the game would never have started, at least as an official contest, as little league rules stipulate a full nine to each side at first pitch.

Thankfully (for Anacortes), it produced a ninth girl who, depending on which story we believe, had either A) forgotten her uniform or B) didn’t have a uniform cause she’s not even on the team in the first place.

There was little doubt she was the most skilled player on the field, even playing in (rather suspiciously) Chuck Taylor high-tops.

Taking balls at short, she commanded the field in a way most little league players simply don’t.

Perhaps because, even though the Anacortes coach only gave up her first name, a quick internet search easily confirms she’s a seasoned travel ball vet and high school freshman.

Age-wise, no issue, as depending on birthdays, high school freshmen can, and do, play juniors softball.

Of course, if our mystery girl (who can’t hide in the age of the internet) wasn’t on the roster in the first place, and quite possibly isn’t even signed up for little league itself, that could, and should, have been an issue.

Especially once she ripped a bunch of hits, made several web gems and sparked Anacortes to a 17-11 win.

While, of course, remaining on the field for the full game even after two other players who actually had legitimate uniforms arrived slightly late to join the visitors bench.

Central Whidbey, which failed to properly retaliate by stealing away any Coupeville High School players who might have been wandering by, did rally for seven runs late to tighten the game up.

A single from Coral Caveness, her second of the game, set up Melody Wilkie for the biggest hit of the game for the home squad.

Wilkie, who whiffed 11 Anacortes hitters in the pitcher’s circle, jacked an RBI double to straight-away center off of “Chuck Taylor Girl,” who closed the game as a pitcher after also playing short and first.

It was a frozen rope of a hit for Wilkie, one legitimate moment in an (allegedly) illegitimate game.

Central Whidbey also pulled off some sweet defensive plays, all from players really on their roster.

First-baseman Jill Prince made a gorgeous running snag on a foul pop-up falling fast to the Earth in front of her, while Taylor Fifield had back-to-back gems in the fourth.

On the first play, she took command, calling off Wilkie at the last second while pulling in a high fly ball over second.

A moment later, Fifield went to her right, snared a hot grounder, whirled and dropped a throw right on the money into Prince’s waiting mitt.

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Three-sport star Anya Leavell. (Photo courtesy Sarah Leavell)

“Sports make me feel good about myself.”

Whether it’s volleyball, basketball or softball, Coupeville 7th grader Anya Leavell embraces the opportunity each sport presents, both as a way to stay fit and a way to express herself.

“I enjoy being an athlete because I feel thrilled and excited before and during my games,” she said. “I love having to look forward to something.”

While she enjoys softball, where she’s currently playing for a Central Whidbey Little League juniors squad which has a home game Wednesday (6 PM) at the CHS diamond, the other two sports are her passion.

“Basketball and volleyball are my favorite sports because I’m super competitive,” Leavell said. “Basketball makes me feel good about myself because I feel accomplished every time I make a basket.

“I also love volleyball because it’s kind of a calmer sport that settles me down,” she added. “It’s like a stress reliever.”

Leavell, who enjoys indie and pop music (“It gets me in a good mood”) and Tim Burton flicks (“I like an eerie movie”), already has height and natural skills.

Now she wants to take the advice she gets from her coaches, mesh it with hard work, and see just how far it can eventually carry her.

“My goal for my high school sports career is to earn my spot as a true star athlete and team leader and to work on staying positive,” Leavell said.

Like all young athletes, her game is a mixture of strengths and areas she’d like to hone.

“My strengths would be my defense and stealing in basketball,” Leavell said. “Something I should work on would be to keep my head up if I make a mistake. I can always work harder to fix it.

“My volleyball strength is serving, but I need to work on not being so hard on myself,” she added. “My softball strengths are hitting and trying new positions.”

As she finds her groove in each sport, Leavell has received guidance from a number of coaches, something she embraces.

“My SWISH basketball coach, Coach V (Dustin Van Velkinburgh), has helped me improve my basketball skills so much and I am grateful for him,” she said. “My softball coaches, Mimi (Johnson) and Connie (Lippo), boost my confidence in making me a better player.

“I’d also like to thank my school basketball coach, Coach (Megan) Smith, for helping me learn new plays and helping me be part of the team.”

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   Name a sport and CMS 7th grader Audrianna Shaw has played it. (Submitted photo)

Boredom is not part of Audrianna Shaw’s daily routine.

The ever-busy Coupeville Middle School 7th grader jumps between four sports (she plans to trim it down to three by high school) and enjoys them all.

“I like being an athlete because with practices and games you can never be bored and you can always stay fit,” Shaw said.

She plays volleyball and basketball through CMS, as well as youth soccer and little league softball, with plans to shed volleyball once she hits CHS (since it would conflict with soccer in the fall).

Put her on the softball diamond, where she swings a strong bat and wields a slick glove at third for the Central Whidbey Adrenaline juniors squad, and she comes into her own.

“My favorite sport has always been softball,” Shaw said. “It’s my favorite because of the competitive nature and how you must rely on teammates for success.”

As she assesses her skill-set, she’s realistic but firmly set on becoming the best she can be.

Most of all, she wants to be part of a group which leaves behind its own solid piece of the Wolf legacy.

“As of right now I don’t think I have strengths,” Shaw said. “I would like to work on all areas so I can be a very well-rounded athlete.

“You know the banners hanging in the gym for all the sports?,” she asked. “I want my team and I to have one hanging up there someday.”

Away from the field or court, Shaw “loves listening to music, relaxing and hanging out with my friends in my spare time,” while also staying focused on “keeping my grades up.” Math and history are her favorite classes.

Whether in the classroom or playing a sport, she draws support from friends and family, something for which she’s very grateful.

“My mom has always been there to drive me to games and practices. She has always been there to cheer me up if we lost and motivate me,” Shaw said. “Also my teammates, because they are always very supportive.”

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   Abby Mulholland (left) with cousin, and Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Famer, Kendra O’Keefe. (Renae Mulholland photo)

Abby Mulholland is part of Coupeville sports royalty.

Her relatives, whether they played as an O’Keefe (or, back in the day, simply as a Keefe), are stocked full of Wolf legends, many of whom are enshrined in the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame.

It’s a big legacy, but one the eternally-upbeat Mulholland is eager to live up to as she prepares to start her 8th grade year at Coupeville Middle School in the fall.

A three-sport star (volleyball, basketball and little league softball), Abby is a young woman for all seasons, but hoops will always have a slightly larger piece of her heart.

“My favorite sport is basketball because of the fast pace, teamwork and adrenaline,” Mulholland said.

“I enjoy the challenge of competition and I believe in teamwork.”

She has “a decent basketball shot,” which uncle Ryan O’Keefe, noted hardwood sage, is helping her perfect, and Mulholland is always eager to fine-tune her skills, regardless of the sport.

“Areas to work on are jump spiking, serving, my speed … my goals are to make it on varsity (in high school) and continue these sports,” she said. “To cheer on my teammates and just have fun.”

Mulholland has a strong support crew and she’s grateful for the many different ways in which they help.

“My dad, who shoots around with me and helped with my basketball shot; Miss (Casie) Dunleavey helped me with serving,” Mulholland said. “Izzy Wells and Genna Wright helped with my confidence, and my mom is my biggest cheerleader.

“(Little League) coach Mimi Johnson inspired me to do better.”

When she’s not playing a sport, Mulholland enjoys her history class and playing trumpet, as well as drawing, photography and trips to Disneyland.

Favorite movies include The Sandlot, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and the Pirates of the Caribbean series and she makes her parents, radio station veterans, proud by enjoying a wide variety of music, from Queen to The Chainsmokers.

While she’s still young and her athletic career stretches far ahead of her, one thing is for sure — on the playing field or off, Mulholland is solid gold.

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