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Archive for the ‘Softball’ Category

Crystal Crump

Crystal Crump

Crystal Crump is a three-sport athlete, but Coupeville will only see her in two.

The Port Townsend High School senior-to-be swims, plays basketball and wraps the school year with her favorite sport, softball.

Since the Wolves don’t field a swim squad, though, they’ll have to wait until the winter to go toe-to-toe with the busy, talented Redhawk.

When they do meet her, CHS players and fans will find a young woman with a positive, make-it-happen personality.

“As an athlete, I think some of my greatest strengths are working hard and pushing through when things are challenging,” Crump said. “I always work to keep a positive attitude and motivate others to do the same.

“Being that I will be a senior next year I want to work on becoming even more of a leader to the younger kids.”

Crump has set a goal of qualifying for districts during her swim season, a sport in which you largely compete as an individual, especially during the postseason.

When she picks up her basketball and, later, her softball gear, she hopes to write a beautiful swan song to her final year of high school life.

“In basketball, I want to maintain a positive attitude and have fun,” Crump said. “For softball, I also want to have fun, but I want to play to the best of my ability.

“Softball is by far my favorite sport because I love being outside,” she added. “I also enjoy the technique that is required, and, of course, the sunflower seeds are the best!”

Playing three sports enables Crump to grow as an individual, while also building friendships with her teammates.

She then passes on some of those lessons when she works in Building Futures, her school’s mentoring program for young children.

“I like the feeling of belonging to a team and the relationships that are built through them,” she said. “I also like to challenge myself to keep getting better.”

While she plays sports year-round, there is far more to Crump than just athletics.

She loves to hike, is teaching herself the guitar and works for Dogspaw, a dog grooming business in Port Townsend. At school, Crump enjoys her language (English and Spanish) and science classes.

Before the new school year starts up, she will travel to Eugene for a five-week trail restoration program, which will allow her to enjoy her love of hiking and backpacking while helping to clean up trails in national parks.

Through it all, she treasures her family and friends, who provide her with the support necessary to pull off a busy, successful life. One person, in particular, is near and dear to her.

“My guardian, Shannon, has been a great support to me,” Crump said. “I wouldn’t be where I am at today without her. She is amazing!”

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Breeanna Messner (John Fisken photos)

Breeanna Messner, always popular with the people. (John Fisken photo)

Breeanna Messner (Robert Bishop photo)

Messner and the tools of her trade. (Robert Bishop photo)

Wolf seniors (l to r) Haley Sherman, Breeanna Messner and Madeline Roberts. (John Fisken photo)

  Wolf seniors (l to r) Haley Sherman, Messner and Madeline Roberts during their run to the state tourney, the school’s first trip in softball in 12 years. (Fisken photo)

Breeanna Messner is the Al Gore of 2014.

The recent Coupeville High School graduate took the popular vote, but was denied the ultimate crown when the people behind the throne made their selection.

Messner, a four-sport (volleyball, cheer, basketball, softball) star for the Wolves, held off Lakewood’s Kiana Smith to win the public voting for the Everett Herald’s Female Prep Athlete of the Year.

She won 506-464 to best a 23-woman field that included athletes from big-name schools like King’s and Glacier Peak.

But the Herald editors selected Lynnwood basketball superstar Jasmin Edwards, who collected 223 votes in the popular vote, as their top athlete.

It was the same on the boys side of the battle, as Garrett Stich of Snohomish topped Hunter Bingham of Monroe in polling, only to see Bingham be tabbed as the Athlete of the Year.

Coupeville’s Ben Etzell was nominated for the boys’ award.

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Madeline Nordberg with her great-grandparents.

Chimacum softball star Madeline Nordberg with her great-grandparents.

With Coupeville leaving the 1A/2A Cascade Conference and joining Port Townsend, Chimacum and Klahowya in the 1A Olympic League this fall, now is a great time to learn a bit about some of the players who will face off with the Wolves in the future.

Madeline Nordberg is a daddy’s girl. Sort of.

The Chimacum High School junior-to-be is a two-sport star for the Cowboys, but she credits a large part of her success as a softball player to her father.

“The person who had a big impact on me throughout the years is my dad,” Nordberg said. “He has been by my side helping me get better, coaching me in softball.

“He’s the reason I started playing sports and the reason why I succeed in sports also,” she added.

Nordberg also plays hoops for Chimacum (“My athletic goal for next year is … staying in the whole game for basketball without being taken out!”), where she usually patrols the post.

But it’s softball that claims her heart.

“My favorite sport is softball, because I’ve been playing it since t-ball,” Nordberg said. “It has been my life!

“I’ve gotten far in it, all the way to Arizona,” she added. “That’s my talent.”

She considers herself a strong thrower on the diamond, but would like to work more on pitching.

Whether she’s on the softball diamond, shooting hoops or playing other sports, Nordberg thrives on the chance to stay active.

“I enjoy sports because I get to be able to get exercise and also get to go out and do things,” she said.

Away from the spotlight of sports competition, Nordberg enjoys music and time spent with her friends and family.

“Apart from sports I guess I just hang out with friends, and I listen to country!”

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"That's called a fastball, sister! Good luck hittin' it!!" (John Fisken photos)

“That’s called a fastball, sister! Good luck hittin’ it!!” (John Fisken photos)

The rocket launcher comes up firing.

“Oh, you better run!!”

"You're not gonna find the ball after I launch it!"

“You’re not gonna find the ball after I launch it!”

Stone cold killers on the diamond. Every one.

Stone cold killers on the diamond. Every one.

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“How far am I going to hit it? How far can you run? Well then, a foot past that!!”

Miss Intense

Miss Intense gives the stink eye to the batter.

"I have taught you well."

“I have taught you well.”

They’re so fast on the base-paths, all you see is a burst of color from their socks as they zing past you.

So that’s why the Central Whidbey Little League minors softball squad sponsored by Ebey Bowl goes by the nickname the Pink Blurs.

Coached by Mimi Johnson and Katy Wells, the squad is a holy terror on the diamond, but also highly photogenic. The pics above are courtesy travelin’ photo man John Fisken.

If you want to see more, head to the link below. A percentage of any purchases goes to fund college scholarships for Coupeville High School student athletes.

http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf3551603026

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Madeline Roberts begins her school journey.

Madeline Roberts begins her school journey.

Senior Night for softball, with Roberts joined by mom Lisa Edlin (left) and lil' sis Ally. (John Fisken photo)

  Senior Night for softball, with Roberts joined by mom Lisa Edlin (left) and lil’ sis Ally Roberts. (John Fisken photo)

One day away from graduation.

As the Coupeville High School Class of 2014 prepares for their Friday night walk, take a quick look back at the first day of kindergarten, courtesy of future Wolf softball star Madeline Roberts.

Is she pointing to her name on the wall, or already showing how she’ll one day play defense, spearing liners over her head at shortstop?

I’m going with choice #2.

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