Weep salty tears of regret — but just don’t light them on fire.
A little later than last year, but it’s here.
The Island County Sheriff’s Department has issued a burn ban, which goes into effect Wednesday, June 30.
So, you’ve got five days left to pay tribute to the one true fire god, Beavis, before you have to shut it down.
Posted in Not sports? Tough! | Tagged Beavis and Butthead, burn ban, fires, Island County Sheriff, June | Leave a Comment »
Oak Harbor waters call out to a rower. (Photo courtesy CeCe Aguda)
They’re sailing into new waters.
Rowing on Whidbey, a non-profit group dedicated to life on the water, launched in 2018, with an extra push earlier this year.
Now the group, headed up by champion sculler CeCe Aguda, is attempting to work out a plan with Oak Harbor city officials to install a storage shed for its boats at Windjammer Park.
The shed would sit near the boat ramp, be fenced and blend into the surroundings by having a similar look to a kitchen shelter already at the park.
Aguda plans to bring her proposal to the Oak Harbor City Council during a June 30 workshop.
Rowing on Whidbey was established to create a way for local rowers of all skill levels to get out on the water without having to leave Whidbey Island.
“There is no facility here for rowing, so if you want to row team boats (as in not just a single by yourself) you have to drive to Bellingham, Everett, or Seattle,” Aguda said in March.
“I commuted to Seattle for two years, 2-3 times a week, to train at Pocock Rowing Center,” she added. “When I spoke with people on the Island about rowing, they wanted to see a local club so they could row here too.
“So I started working on it!”
While Aguda is a gold-medal-winning rower who competed in college, the club is welcoming to anyone.
Women or men, young or old, experienced or not, there is opportunity for all.
“Novices are welcome,” she said. “We have boats that are stable that they can learn on, and coaches with experience in teaching the skills.
“Competitions are available at all levels – juniors through masters. And from local regattas geared toward novices, to national and international competitions.
“It all depends on what an individual wants to do,” she added. “Competing by members is NOT required. Recreational rowers who just want to learn, get some exercise, and commune with seals are welcome as well.”
For info on the club, email rowonwhidbey@gmail.com, or pop over to the club’s website at Rowing on Whidbey (rowonwhidbey.org).
Posted in Rowing | Tagged CeCe Aguda, Pocock Foundation, Rowing, sculls, Windjammer Park | Leave a Comment »
Savina Wells is one of seven Coupeville girls on the Whidbey Island Inferno All-Stars. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Madison McMillan and Co. are ready to come out swinging. (Jackie Saia photo)
One island, ready to thump on everyone else.
North and Central Whidbey are teaming up for the next round of little league Juniors softball competition.
With seven players from each league, the Whidbey Island Inferno All-Stars are a well-balanced squad, with hopes of making it all the way to the state tourney.
“This is a really solid team with strong pitching, hitting, and depth at each defensive position,” said coach Fred Farris. “It is going to be a lot of fun watching these girls compete this post season.
“Special shout out to North Whidbey manager Shelly Ryder and Central Whidbey coaches Shawn Calkins, Bella Blazek, and Philip Brotemarkle for all their time and efforts for helping get this team ready for the post season.”
The Inferno host a combined South Skagit/Sedro-Woolley/Burlington team in a best-of-three showdown this weekend, with the winner advancing to the big dance.
All games are at Rhododendron Park in Coupeville, with Game 1 at 11 AM Saturday, June 26, and Game 2 at 3 PM the same day. The concession stand will be open.
If a winner-take-all Game 3 is necessary, it will be June 27.
The District 11 champ travels to Vancouver for the state tourney, which kicks off July 10.
The Inferno roster:
Taylor Brotemarkle (CW)
Haylee Burleigh (NW)
Teagan Calkins (CW)
Mia Farris (CW)
Jada Heaton (CW)
Payton Ludemann (NW)
Katie Marti (CW)
Madison McMillan (CW)
Adyson Morales (NW)
Lilly Norman (NW)
Ramona Ryder (NW)
Layla Suto (NW)
Loto Tupu (NW)
Savina Wells (CW)
Manager:
Fred Farris (CW)
Coaches:
Kim Brotemarkle (CW)
Tim Norman (NW)
Posted in Little League, Softball | Tagged Central Whidbey Little League, district tourney, Savina Wells, Softball, Taylor Brotemarkle | Leave a Comment »
Coupeville grad Joey Lippo sports a llama on his baseball cap this summer. (Photo courtesy Connie Lippo)
It’s a fulltime job.
Coupeville High School grad Joey Lippo is out of school, but still at work on the diamond.
Fresh off his first season of playing baseball for the University of Maine at Presque Isle, the former Wolf is spending a chunk of his summer hefting a wood bat in the Cascade Collegiate League.
The six-team conference gives NCAA and NAIA players an opportunity to play a 24-game schedule from June 11-August 8.
Lippo, along with UMPI teammate Bailey Corley, suits up for the Lynnwood Llamas, who are 6-0 after opening with three-game sweeps of the Salem Salamanders and Seattle Sea Turtles.
Other teams in the CCL include the Snoqualmie Chinooks, Portland Prairie Dogs, and Burlington Barn Owls.
League opponents gather at one central location, such as Hoquiam, each weekend during the eight-week season.
The season is capped with a weekend of postseason play the first week of August.
The Llamas feature a 22-man roster, with players plucked from schools such as Iowa Wesleyan, Air Force, UMPI, and Everett and Lower Columbia Community Colleges.
Lynnwood opened by sweeping the Salamanders 5-1, 10-3, and 7-1, before keeping its win streak alive with 8-6, 7-2, and 9-6 victories over the Sea Turtles.
Lippo is fourth on the team in hitting, smacking the ball at a .364 clip, while playing error-free ball in center field.
He’s also pitched in one game so far this season, scattering two hits in a relief appearance.
Posted in Baseball | Tagged baseball, Cascade Collegiate League, CHS Wolves, Joey Lippo, summer ball, University of Maine at Presque Isle | Leave a Comment »
Sarah Wright
She’s a star on, and off, the field.
Coupeville High School grad Sarah Wright, now a softball player at Tennessee’s Sewanee: The University of the South, was named to the 2020-2021 Southern Athletic Association’s Academic Honor Roll.
To qualify, athletes had to record a grade point average of 3.25 or higher.
Wright was one of 264 Tigers across 21 SAA-sponsored varsity sports to earn the honor.
Sewanee’s softball team set a program record, with 11 players landing on the honor roll.
Through two pandemic-altered seasons on the diamond, Wright has shown she can be as successful in college as she was in high school.
The former Wolf hit .407 during her sophomore campaign, collecting 11 hits, including two doubles, while driving in five runs.
Through 26 career games at Sewanee, Wright sits with a .309 batting average, 68 at-bats, 21 hits, including two home runs and two doubles, and 12 RBI.
She has walked nine times, come around to score six times, and anchored the Tigers with her quick glove and explosive throwing arm behind the plate.
Posted in Softball | Tagged academic honors, Sarah Wright, Sewanee: University of the South, Softball, Southern Athletic Association | Leave a Comment »
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