The Prep Beat

Spring Break is simply the calm before the storms stop.
Now that April is here, the frequent rain that constantly disrupt spring sports in March should (hopefully) start to dissipate and things can get serious.
The next month will be crammed — seriously, each weekday has dozens of events scheduled — with high school kids playing baseball (or fastpitch), kicking soccer balls, hitting tennis or golf balls or finding a track and field event to keep themselves busy.
Here’s a few random story lines to follow during this spring season:

Spring Break is simply the calm before the storms stop.
Now that April is here, the frequent rain that constantly disrupt spring sports in March should (hopefully) start to dissipate and things can get serious.
The next month will be crammed — seriously, each weekday has dozens of events scheduled — with high school kids playing baseball (or fastpitch), kicking soccer balls, hitting tennis or golf balls or finding a track and field event to keep themselves busy.
Here’s a few random story lines to follow during this spring season:
This could be a big spring up North.
The soccer team is in first place. The fastpitch team, which made it to state last year, is tied for first. The two-time league champion baseball team, which struggled some early, is showing signs of life after knocking Gig Harbor out of first place earlier this week.
Then there’s the golf teams. The girls team has won the last two Bridge Division titles and advanced to state. They should be in the hunt to do it all again this year. The boys team is also very strong and should make a push for state.
And there’s a lot of talent on the track, led by a young group of sprinters. Coach Dave Snyder promised there was enough talent to make a run at the league’s best. Greg Ottele (100), Will Cameron (800) and Dak Kongela (1,600) are all among the state leaders in their event.
South Kitsap’s Stephanie Davison is trying a different sport. After winning the last two Class 4A state singles titles in tennis, you’ll now find the University of Texas-bound player with a golf club in her hands. Davison’s not a bad golfer. Just a thought, but has anybody made it to state in two separate spring sports?
Bainbridge plays its golf in the fall, but the state tournament is in the spring. The Spartan boys, who are the defending state champs, will be sparsely represented at state this year. Austin Hurt won the district title as his team finished fourth. Jamie Niell also qualified. The girls, who won the Metro League title in the fall, will play their district tournament in May.
Who will emerge as a state track champion? There have been multiple Kitsap champions in recent state meets. So far this year, there aren’t many near the top of the state leaders. But Bainbridge seems to have a few contenders. Bevan Taylor has the second-best mark in the state in the 800 for the 3A classification and Hilary Pritchett is third. Bainbridge’s 1,600 relay team, which is always in the hunt for a state title (and won one in 2004), has the top time in Class 3A.
I’m very interested to see who wins the Bridge Division baseball title.
Central Kitsap and Gig Harbor emerged as the early leaders. South Kitsap and Port Angeles have pulled into the race. And don’t count out North Kitsap.
The key series could well be in late April, when the Cougars and the Tides clash.
Also convoluted is the Bridge fastpitch race. SK, CK and NK are all undefeated with Gig a game back.
In soccer, North and South are clearly the class of the league, leaving everybody else to battle for the remaining two playoff spots.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 7th, 2006 at 5:44 pm by nathan joyce and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.