Posted in Little League, Softball on April 12, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The weather may not quite feel like summer yet, but little league ball is in full swing.
Baseball and softball players from Central Whidbey have taken to the diamonds at Rhododendron Park, as shown in the photos above by Justine McGranahan, featuring her daughter Katrina.
Want to see your sluggers featured here? There’s a thing called a camera. You take photos with it. You send them to me. Life flows on. It’s that simple.
Posted in Girls Tennis, Softball, Track on April 11, 2013| Leave a Comment »
No tennis to watch, maybe, but Ken Stange will always be here to dance for you. So, there’s that.
Look outside and it’s a fairly nice day on Whidbey, yet two thirds of the scheduled sporting events for today have been cancelled.
High winds, which have thrown off the schedules of the ferries running from Port Townsend to Keystone (yes, I said KEYSTONE!!), prevented Chimacum from making it to the Island for a girls’ tennis match. This is the second time this match has been bumped by weather.
Beating them, however, is the Wolf softball squad, which has been denied a chance to play Cedarcrest for the third time. Coupeville went all the way to Duvall March 21, only to be turned away after it had arrived by a host coach afraid of melting in a few sprinkles.
That game was rescheduled to be part of a doubleheader yesterday, Wednesday, April 10, but the Wolves never got on the bus because of rainy days in Duvall. Bumped to today and … same result.
The twinbill has now been shoved to Monday, April 15, when the weather report shows sunshine and clouds in Duvall.
Wolf track is on its way to Sultan right now, however, because track ain’t afraid of no weather.
Along for the ride and expecting to compete in his throwing events is Caleb Valko, with five staples still in his head after slamming a basketball rim off his noggin last week.
They’re just a little tougher in track.
Posted in Girls Basketball, Happy birthday, Softball, Volleyball, Where are they now?, Whidbey's Best on April 11, 2013| 3 Comments »
“I played a little ball. Why? You feelin’ lucky, punk? Well, do you?”
The greatest basketball player in Coupeville High School history turns 29 today.
She wasn’t the tallest, or the biggest, didn’t have the greatest hops and wasn’t the best pure shooter this school has seen. But she didn’t need any of that.
She was a killer, cold-blooded, slice you off at the knees and leave you crying while she smiled the smallest of smiles. Off the court, she was among the nicest people to ever walk the face of the Earth, but on the hardwood she never stopped coming.
People looked at her, with her baggy shorts, slight build and (occasional) pigtails poking up skywards and thought she was a ballgirl, or, at best, a freshman they could easily steamroll.
Then the ball got tipped and she went after them like a wild dog let loose. She was relentless and that attitude carried to her teammates throughout her hoops career.
The greatest run of any sport in Wolf history was put together by girls’ basketball starting in the late ’90s, from Tina Lyness and Brianne King to the Black ‘n Blue sisters (Lexie and Brittany), which put up just about all of the banners that are in the CHS gym.
And at the heart of that run was lil’ Ashley Bagby-Ellsworth, tending counter at Videoville and charming customers by day and ripping out and feasting (metaphorically) on the hearts of her b-ball opponents by night.
She was something to see.
There were talented players before her (Marlene Grasser, Emily Vracin, Misty Sellgren) and there have been talented players in the red and black since she graduated.
There is even one coming (Coupeville Middle School 7th grader Mia Littlejohn, who attacks like she just stepped off a playground in Jersey) who so closely resembles Bagby-Ellsworth, it’s scary and enthralling, all at the same time.
But, no matter what they did in the past, or what Littlejohn and others will do in the future, the words Magic Johnson spoke to Larry Bird on his retirement night still linger, just with a name change.
“Ashley, you only told me one lie. You said there will be another Ashley Ellsworth-Bagby. Ashley, there will never, ever be another Ashley Ellsworth-Bagby.”
Posted in Fashionable Fans, Softball on April 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »
“Has anyone seen Bishop?!?” (John Fisken photos)
“Umm…”
“They’ll never find me in here. All your sweet, sweet cocoa is mine!!”
“NOT THE COCOA!!!!!!!”
Some day Aimee Bishop is probably going to hit me.
Until then, I give the world what it wants, and what it wants is more pictures of the former Wolf athletic star turned mom and part of the brain-trust that keeps CHS athletics humming.
I’m just the voice of the people.
Posted in Softball on April 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »
No softball gets past Madeline Strasburg!
McKayla Bailey threatens to throw out her back, while the batter quietly prays.
Madeline Roberts is so fast, she beats the throw to third by a solid minute.
Haley Sherman will throw a fool out if they try to run on her gun.
Having snagged the ball, Bessie Walstad makes the throw to catch a runner.
4-0 with me there. 0-4 when I’m not.
The Coupeville High School softball squad just plays better when the ink-stained wretches of the sports reporting world are in attendance.
With Friday’s home game pitting the Wolves against ATM being the last time this season CHS has baseball and softball home games scheduled at the same time on the same day, I will face my final quandary of which side of the street to pick. And, to be fair, I should choose baseball.
Both Coupeville squads have four more home games after that, but on different days, so those days will be easy.
But Friday it’s conflict city and it’s baseball’s turn. My touch is golden with the diamond men, as well, to the tune of a perfect 2-0.
UNLESS softball parents want the presence of the unbeaten scribe enough to try and bribe me. If so, baked goods can be delivered to 145 N. Sherman.
Until then, I offer you some photos from Monday’s come-from-behind win over South Whidbey, courtesy of John Fisken.
If you like what you see, head over to http://www.cascadeathletics.com/index.php?act=view_gallery&gallery=3989&league=2&page=1&page_name=photo_store&school=24&sport=0&tab=2 and consider purchasing a print or two.
If you use the coupon code EB39894962 before Tuesday, April 23, you’ll get a 15% discount.
Money you could re-purpose into baked goods. Just saying…
Keepin' News Independent
Whidbey Pest Control
Aleesha Cleveland
Harmony Veterinary Service
All Work Guaranteed
Keeping You Organized!
ABC Doula Service
Sherman's Pioneer Farm
Drawing Room Plans
Bayleaf
Cascade Custom Homes & Design
Coupeville Chiropractic
CK Electric Services, Inc.
Allure Salon and Spa
Island Jenn - Photographer
Harada Physical Therapy
Bailey Dirtworks
Karen Huff
Kapaws Iskreme, The Local Treat!
Cascade Motorcycle Safety
Coupeville Sports 