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Posts Tagged ‘Ben Etzell’

Ben Etzell, during his days as the Wolf ace. (John Fisken photo)

Ben Etzell, during his days as the Wolf ace. (John Fisken photo)

(Ryan Coleman photo)

The Johnnies rush Etzell (4) after the last out. (Ryan Coleman photo)

Ben Etzell slammed the door.

A day after his former Coupeville High School baseball teammates had their season end, the one-time Cascade Conference MVP earned the save Sunday as Saint John’s University won the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics Conference tournament title.

Storming back through the loser’s bracket, the Johnnies became only the second team in 16 years to lose their tourney opener and come back for the title.

To do it, and earn an automatic invitation to the NCAA D-III playoffs, Saint John’s (26-14) had to win twice Sunday at Veterans Field in Minnetonka.

They did just that, toppling Saint Thomas 9-6 in the morning and 5-1 in the afternoon.

With the Johnnies clinging to a 3-1 lead with one out in the eighth inning in the nightcap, Etzell pulled off his best Mariano Rivera.

He induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning, then set the Toms down in order in the ninth, with one of the outs coming his favorite way, via the punch-out.

During his freshman year, he has pitched in seven games, including the last three days.

Over 10 innings, Etzell has struck out seven while walking three and is 1-0 with two saves and an ERA of 2.70.

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Birthday trio (clockwise from top) Micky LeVine, Mitchell Losey and Ben Olson. (John Fisken photos)

   Birthday trio (clockwise from top) Micky LeVine, Mitchell Losey and Ben Olson. (John Fisken photos)

Some days just have more magic about them than others.

March 28 is one of those days, if you’re a CHS Wolf fan, with at least three current athletic stars having been born on this day.

Freshman Ben Olson, junior Mitchell Losey and senior Micky “Two Fists” LeVine all claim today as the day they shot into the world, one eye already set on claiming a spot among the elite.

Olson, a rampaging beast on the basketball court and baseball diamond, is one of those kids who grew up in the video stores I once worked at — Videoville and David’s DVD Den — and it’s still a bit odd to see him now being old enough to play high school sports.

But he’s a good guy, a solid older brother to my former video store “assistant manager,” the irrepressible Daniel Olson — now a 6th grade hoops whiz himself — and a talented athlete.

Losey is a vital link in a family that boasts a rich Wolf heritage that includes numerous former and future CHS athletes such as dad Scott and younger brother Shane.

Whether crackin’ helmets on the football field or flying around the track oval, Mitchell is a gutsy, hard-working dude who also, unlike a lot of male high school athletes, is willing to vamp a bit for the camera from time to time.

And then we have the real MVP, the two-fisted terror of the soccer pitch, Miss LeVine.

In reality, she is among the sweetest, most laid-back young women you will meet, a devoted big sis to Jae and Izzy and a Twitter prankster of the finest quality.

On the playing field, she is nimble, she is quick, she can be a deadly scorer, and, here is where the nickname comes in, deeply committed to protecting her teammates.

While playing select ball, a rival team tried to rough up a couple of her soccer sisters.

At which point the serene LeVine popped her knuckles and offered to drop kick all their rears, two at a time, and then take out the ref for aiding and abetting the harassment.

Do not mess with the petite one, for her heart is bigger than your whole body.

United by a birthday and their athletic contributions to their school, the trio are among the best and brightest Cow Town has to offer.

To all three of you, happy birthday.

And, if anyone is thinking about messing with your birthday cake, let ’em know, “Two Fists” don’t play that game.

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Ben Etzell throws the high, hard cheese during his high school days. (John Fisken photo)

Ben Etzell throws the high, hard cheese during his high school days. (John Fisken photo)

College and facial hair.

College and facial hair.

Ben Etzell is perfect, so far.

The former Coupeville High School baseball standout, the MVP of the Cascade Conference his senior season, has pitched in one game as a freshman at Saint John’s University, and he collected the win.

Coming on in relief against Newbury College in a game played in Ft. Myers, Florida, Etzell hurled 1.1 innings, scattering four hits and sealing the victory for the Johnnies.

The NCAA D-III school, now 5-4 on the season — with five different pitchers having recorded a win — opened its season in Florida, and now, after a break, is off to Arizona for multiple games.

The Johnnies finally return home to Minnesota Mar. 28, hoping the warm weather will come with them.

Though, to be fair, late March in Minnesota is still a time many locals refer to as “yep, still ice fishin’ season, eh.”

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Pertinent info.

Pertinent info.

Spring beckons.

Central Whidbey baseball and softball players between the ages of 5-14 can register in-person for a new season the next two Saturdays or on-line right now.

The league has produced a team that won a state junior baseball title and numerous players who went on to star at Coupeville High School.

If you want your youngster to follow in the footsteps of CWLL legends like Jake Tumblin and Ben Etzell, get crackin’.

All the info you need to know is in the photo above, so scroll back up there.

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Ben Etzell (3) during his days on the CHS diamond. (Shelli Trumbull photo)

Ben Etzell (3) during his days on the CHS diamond. (Shelli Trumbull photo)

If you can spare a buck or two, you can help a whole bunch of people.

Former Coupeville High School baseball star Ben Etzell, now a freshman at Saint John’s University in Minnesota, is planning to take part in a campus-wide event to raise funds to support St. Jude’s lifesaving mission of finding cures and saving children.

Students will be pulling an all-nighter Friday, Nov. 7 to draw attention to St. Jude’s work and Etzell needs to raise $100 to reach his fundraising goal and participate.

He’s almost halfway there, but could use a push from Wolf fans.

To see more and help him out, jump over to:

http://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR?px=2953345&fr_id=20369&pg=personal

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