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Archive for the ‘Softball’ Category

Marenna Rebischke-Smith patrols center field for the high-flying Venom. (John Fisken photo)

   Marenna Rebischke-Smith patrols center field for the high-flying Venom. (John Fisken photo)

Rebischke-Smith lashes a base hit.

Rebischke-Smith lashes a base hit.

Don’t ask her to beat up on people, and we’re good.

Marenna Rebischke-Smith enjoys athletics, just not ones that involve her having to elbow people in the face.

“My favorite sport is softball, because it doesn’t involve a lot of physical contact,” she said. “I tried basketball, but didn’t like it because I had to push people.

“I like softball because you can take your anger out on inanimate objects instead of other people.”

Rebischke-Smith, who will be a freshman at CHS in the fall, builds on that, embracing her teammates and pulling them close.

“I enjoy the fact that you have a whole other “family” out on the field,” she said. “I like that you can count on that family to have your back.”

This spring she played center field for the Venom, a Central Whidbey Little League Juniors softball squad which went a sparkling 13-3.

Now playing All-Stars with another team, she’d like to keep the softball express going in high school.

“My whole juniors team had a big impact on me,” Rebischke-Smith said. “I hope to play with them again in high school; they are all very fun and friendly.”

As the season played out, she became a much-more aggressive hitter at the plate, while also making some web gems in the outfield, chasing down balls on the fly several times.

Still, like any good player, she is always looking to improve her game.

“I am definitely not as great as some of my teammates I had in juniors,” Rebischke-Smith said. “But I would like to work to get better and hopefully be as good as they are, if not better.

“I believe I have a pretty strong hit when I have something to hit for, but I would like to improve my hit to have a great hit every time I go up to the plate.”

When she’s not practicing or playing, Rebischke-Smith likes to play the guitar and hang out with friends.

A solid student as well (“my goal for freshman year is to have fun and get my work done and not have to take summer school”), she looks to those she lives with for support and guidance.

“I would say that my dad helped me a lot,” Rebischke-Smith said. “He is always there to help me with my homework and play catch with me; he is really great.

“My mom helped too, even though she works a lot in Seattle. She has been to every one of my games and supported me.”

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(Renae Mulholland photos)

   Souvenir ball in hand, the fastest base stealer in town zings by, almost too fast for the camera to catch. (Renae Mulholland photos)

Velvet-voiced PA man Moose Moran lets loose with his best Vin Scully impression.

  Velvet-voiced PA man Moose Moran lets loose with his best Vin Scully impression.

Softball mom Suzan Georges commands the grill.

Softball mom Suzan Georges commands the grill.

Savina Wells, sporting the day's most memorable outfit, picks up her game ball. (Paula Peters photo)

   Savina Wells, sporting the day’s most memorable outfit, picks up her game ball. (Paula Peters photo)

(Mulholland photo)

   Photos within photos. Karen Carlson’s snappy camera work was on display to be appreciated by all. (Mulholland photos)

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Shenanigans. Undoubtedly, shenanigans.

(Peters photo)

   Yellow Jackets (l to r) Sofia Peters, Gwen Gustafson and Maddie Georges celebrate an impressive season. (Peters photo)

Another successful season in the books.

While All-Star play still looms ahead for some teams, Central Whidbey Little League put an official bow on the 2016 campaign with a barbecue Saturday at Rhododendron Park.

Mementos were handed out, players, coaches and volunteers were honored and hot dogs were grilled in massive quantities.

In between the mustard and the game balls, a slew of CWLL moms snapped pics, some of which are seen above.

Thanks to all, those who provided photos this year, and those who sent me scores and updates.

I appreciate it.

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(John Fisken photos)

   “So help me, you touch that barbecue before I get over there and you’ll be talking to my bat, Mr. Spanky. Just sayin’…” (John Fisken photos)

out

   Like a Norman Rockwell painting come to life. We shall call it “The Big Punch-Out.”

Scout Smith

Scout Smith unleashes the full fury of her laser-like throwing arm.

crush

   The Coupeville Crush celebrate their undefeated season with dignity. Always dignity.

One day only. Saturday, Saturday, SATURDAY!!

I know, it’s barely mid-June, the first day of summer is not until Monday, and yet season finale fever is raging all across little league land.

Central Whidbey calls it quits Saturday, with a shindig at Rhododendron Park.

The festivities kick off at 11 AM.

After honoring coaches, volunteers and players, CWLL will cap things with a barbecue.

And, if I’m lucky, everyone with a camera or phone will be snapping pics left and right and then sending them to me.

Just remember — it takes a village to give David enough stuff to keep Coupeville Sports hoppin’ during the off-season.

Be that village.

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Jae LeVine (John Fisken photos)

   Jae LeVine savors the sweet, sweet taste of chasing down a wayward runner. (John Fisken photos)

Jae shares a moment with Kayla Rose early in their volleyball careers.

Sharing a moment with Kayla Rose early in their volleyball careers.

throw

“Run … on me?!?!?!? FOOL!!!!!!!!!”

Jae "Flash" LeVine

Jae “Flash” LeVine — she’s kind of a big deal.

Bad things happen, for a lot of reasons, and terrible people get a lot more of the headlines than they deserve.

We can’t ignore the terror, the tragedy and the stupidity of the world around us, but one of the best ways to deal with it is to embrace that which is good.

To savor triumph, to reward kindness and effort, to celebrate the wonderful people who light up the world around them, instead of dampening it.

Which is why it is so nice to spend today talking about Joltin’ Jae Levine, who, in words, action and spirit, is a truly remarkable young woman.

It would not matter if she had never played a sport; she would still be one of my favorites.

Jae, who celebrates a birthday today, is a medical miracle, a fighter who has never backed down from her battle with serious heart issues, yet has never been defined by her health.

Instead, the woman of 1,000 nicknames (Mighty Mite, JaeBird and the current favorite, Flash) has always been defined by her sunny nature, the sweetness of her spirit, the way she lights up every room she enters.

Whether on the stage, as part of the CHS theater troupe, pounding on the drums like John Bonham or gunning down runners from second base for the Wolf softball squad, LeVine is a winner.

But it’s the small moments which make her a legend.

The way she slides along the bench, creeping up on a teammate having a bad game, suddenly bear-hugs them, then is gone again almost before they register what happened, leaving behind only a Cheshire Cat grin hanging in the air.

You know that moment on an oppressively hot day, when suddenly an unexpected cool breeze ripples past, and suddenly the world becomes an entirely new, happy place?

Jae is that breeze, come to life.

She picks up other people’s spirits with a smile, a quiet zinger or two, or just her mere presence.

Now, I can’t tell you Jae’s perfect. I’m sure, like everyone, she has her bad moments.

But, having been around her for the last four years, I can say, without a doubt, she is one of the most entertaining, truly lovely people I have met in the world of prep sports.

There is such a genuine sweetness to how she operates on a daily basis, such an embrace of joy, that it is truly awe-inspiring.

So, ask me, do I play favorites?

Of course I do.

And Jae LeVine is up there in that top 1% of my favorites.

When she’s at bat, I am, internally at least (have to maintain at least some journalistic integrity), rooting as hard for her as I do for anyone.

I want to see her succeed and I am thrilled when she does.

Because it’s karma coming back her way, and that is beautiful to see.

She offers hope, love and friendship to the world, a whip-smart wisenheimer who is one of the strongest, kindest young women you will ever meet.

Happy birthday, Miss LeVine; I hope your dreams come true and you have the chance to spread the gospel of Jae far and wide in the coming years.

We are so lucky here in Coupeville to have you be even a small slice of our lives, and I hope you always know how much we all think of you.

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(Mimi Johnson photo)

   They call them the Crush, cause that’s what they did to other teams all season long en route to an 18-0-1 record. (Mimi Johnson photo)

(Renae Mulholland photo)

  One of many, many runs Central Whidbey scored this season. (Renae Mulholland photo)

Kyle Van Velkinburgh, who whacked three hits in the championship game, gets photo-bombed by her fan club. (Dustin Van Velkinburgh photo)

   Kylie Van Velkinburgh, who whacked three hits in the championship game, gets photo-bombed by her fan club. (Dustin Van Velkinburgh photo)

Izzy Wells (left) and Abby Mulholland cap their season with sweet treats. (Mulholland photo)

   Izzy Wells (left) and Abby Mulholland cap their season with sweet treats. (Mulholland photo)

They crushed them until the end.

Capping an unbeaten season, the Central Whidbey Little League Majors softball squad swept through the Bill Sparks tournament, adding a tourney title to an already impressive season.

By the time the Coupeville Crush were done winning three of three in tournament action, it had finished the year with an 18-0-1 record.

“I am so proud of these girls,” said coach Mimi Johnson. “What a great season!”

Central Whidbey put the cherry on top of the sundae, holding off North Whidbey Purple 14-10 in the title game, held at Skagit River Park.

The Crush exploded early, raining down a five-spot in both the first and second inning.

Izzy Wells, Coral Caveness and Abby Mulholland eked out walks in the opening frame, with Kaela Meffert and Kylie Van Velkinburgh delivering “well-placed hits.”

The runs kept coming in the second, with Meffert taking one for the team to kick things off.

After she was plunked, Wells and Jill Prince walked, while Caveness and Audrianna Shaw whacked base hits.

The Crush almost got more, but North Whidbey somehow ran down a bomb to left off the bat of Sofie Martin, before doubling the runner off of third.

It didn’t matter, though, with Wells reaching double digits in strike-outs from the pitcher’s circle, and the Crush bats remaining hot.

Coupeville scraped out a run in the third, using a bit of everything.

Stella Johnson led off with a solid base knock, her cousin, Thora Iverson, walked, Bam Ries reached on an error and Kenna Somes walked.

North Whidbey crept back into the game in the fourth, a rarity against a Crush team which ten-runned most of its foes this season.

“Their at bat was almost my emotional undoing,” Mimi Johnson said with a laugh. “I don’t like games being this close!”

The Crush never actually lost the lead, though, and continued to put up runs in every inning.

Iverson, Ries and Shaw delivered base hits in the late innings, Anya Lavelle got plunked and Martin stole home to take away some of their coach’s stress.

It was a team effort across the board, with Van Velkinburgh finishing with three hits and five RBI, while the Crush defense was on target.

Mulholland ran down a “beautiful long shot to center field,” while Prince was a vacuum at first, letting nothing past.

The game, the tourney and the season ended in high style, with Wells (and her flame-throwing arm) gunning down the final two hitters.

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