The Prep Beat

Sequim’s Ryleigh Zbaraschuk and Bailey Rhodefer were named co-MVPs of the Olympic League.

Four Wolves were named to the first team while coach Mike McFarlen was named the coach of the year. Port Townsend earned the sportsmanship award.

All-Olympic League

Co-MVPs — Ryleigh Zbaraschuk, Bailey Rhodefer, Sequim

Coach of the year — Mike McFarlen, Sequim

Sportsmanship — Port Townsend

First team — Pitcher: Makayla Bentz, Sequim. Catcher: Jazmine Royal, North Kitsap. 1B: Alexas Besand, Sequim. 2B: Gabbi Garcia, Kingston. SS: Hannah Grubb, Sequim. 3B: Mackenzie Willeford, Bremerton. OF: Sam Gorham, Olympic; Jennifer Reitan, Kingston; Columbia Raupt, Sequim. Util.: Emma Keller, North Kitsap.

Second team — Pitcher: Sarah Steinman, Port Angeles. Catcher: Kayla Gascoyne, North Mason. 1B: Mackenzie McMurrin, Kingston. 2B: Raelyn Lucas, Port Angeles. SS: Maddy Hinrichs, Port Angeles. 3B: Ashlee Reid, Port Angeles. OF: Dove Lucas, Port Angeles; Melissa Lewis, Sequim; Carly Gouge, Port Angeles. Util.: Kimber Bolin, North Mason.

Honorable mention — Megan Lee, Gen Polizzi, Port Townsend; Julie Johnson, Alyssa Gascoyne, North Mason; Adia Roberts, Jaimie Berry, Olympic; Kinsey Reed, Shelby Muhleman, Bremerton; Tori Kuch, Haley Gray, Port Angeles; Shelby Lott, Olivia Kirsch, Sequim; Allison Hilse, Madeline Glad, Kingston; Samantha Moore, Madison Wood, Klahowya; Miranda Holt, Taylor Knutsen, North Kitsap.

The Senior All-Star baseball doubleheader is Thursday at Gene Lobe Fields at the Fairgrounds.

The two seven-inning games begin at 4 p.m. The top 10 players are nominated for the All-State series in Yakima.

There’s also a softball All-Star game that begins at 3:30 p.m. It is a one-game, nine-inning format. The American All-Stars, coached by South Kitsap’s Jessica Cabato, include players from South, Bremerton, Olympic, North Kitsap and Sequim. National All-Stars are from Bainbridge, Central Kitsap, Kingston, North Mason, Klahowya and Port Angeles. The National team will be coached by Dan Haas of Olympic College.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. Active military and kids under 12 are free.  (more…)

The final softball leaders are in and we had nearly full participation this year.

South Kitsap’s Hannah Spohn came in as the area’s top hitter, averaging .620 during the regular season. She also led in RBIs with 26. Port Angeles’ Sarah Steinman had an ERA of 1.50 with 48 innings pitched while Katie Raben of Bainbridge pitched 70.33 innings and had an ERA of 1.69.

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The 2A boys session is underway at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. Klahowya finished eighth in the 200-yard medley relay while Thor Breitbarth, a freshman from North Kitsap won the consolation finals (ninth) of the 200 freestyle in one minute, 57.05 seconds.

For the first time in the 2A class, medals will be given to the top eight finishers.

Kellen Meyers finished third in the 50 freestyle, posting a personal-best time of 22.33 seconds. Meyers was also sixth in the 100 free. Teammate Quaid Williams finished seventh in the 100 with the 100 backstroke coming up.

Also, Austin Clement of Sequim, the defending state diving champ, finished a disappointing ninth.

In the consolation finals of 200 free relay, North Kitsap battled hard with Selah all four legs. The Vikings led by a small margin for three legs before Selah came from behind to out-touch NK at the wall. NK finished 10th. Great swim in 1:37.57. Selah was 1:36.98.

In the backstroke, Williams finished fifth with a best time of 56.85. It was a very fast race with the top three swimmers going 54 seconds or better.

The 2A session is over and Archbishop Murphy won the team title. Klahowya finished just out of the top 10 in 11th, its best finish.

UPDATE: The 3A session has started the Bainbridge 200 medley relay finished fifth in 1:39.73. Spencer Alpaugh, who has dropped an incredible amount of time from yesterday’s prelims and his entry time will be up next in the 200 IM.

Alpaugh finished fifth in 1:56.38 in the IM. He also placed seventh in the 500 free in 4:47.59.

The Spartans’ 200 free relay won the consolation finals in 1:31.08. CJ Waite also won the consol finals of the 100 breast in 1:00.93.

Bainbridge finished eighth in the team standings. Lakeside of Seattle beat Mercer Island 274-271 to end the Islanders six-year stranglehold on the championship.

The 4A session starts at 6:30 p.m.

UPDATE: In the 4A, South Kitsap’s Damien DeRego finished eighth in 22.57 in the 50 free.

In the 100 free, DeRego placed seventh in 49.22.

That’s it from Federal Way. Swimming is done for the year.

Klahowya’s Kellen Meyers is in the running for his first championship at the Class 2A boys state swimming and diving championships.

Meyers posted the third-fastest qualifying time in the 50-yard freestyle in 22.56 seconds Friday in the morning preliminaries at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. Top seed Alec Banard of Arbhbishop Murphy touched the wall in 21.92, ahead of Will Burgett of Prosser in 22.23.

Meyers is also seeded seventh in the 100 free.

Saturday’s finals begin at 10 a.m.

Quaid Williams of Klahowya is fifth in the 100 backstroke. He’s also seeded sixth in the 100 free.

Klahowya’s 200 medley relay also qualified for the finals.

UPDATE:

Bainbridge’s Spencer Alpaugh is seeded fourth in the 200 individual medley in the 3A session.

Also, former islander Todd McCarthy, who now swims for Bellevue, is the top seed in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke. The 3A finals are at 2:30 p.m.

The peninsula will be well represented at the Class 2A West Central District boys swimming and diving championships at Hazen High (Renton) Friday and Saturday. Saturday’s finals are at 11 a.m.

Olympic’s Craig Boekenoogen (200-yard individual medley), Klahowya’s Kellen Meyers (50 free) and North Kitsap’s Yorick Aban (100 butterfly) are all seeded first in their respective events.

Klahowya’s Quaid Williams is seeded second in the 100 free and 100 backstroke. Among other top three seeds, NK’s Ian Christen and Thor Breitbarth are second and third in the 500 free; Breitbarth is seeded seed in the 200 free; Meyers is also seeded third in the 100 free; and Sequim’s Austin Clement, the defending 2A diving champion, is the top seed. Klahowya’s 200 free relay and NK’s 400 free relay are seeded first and second, respectively.

The top six placers advance to the state meet Feb. 15-16 in Federal Way.

Bainbridge will be at the 3A SeaKing District meet Friday and Saturday as well. The swim meet is at Mary Wayte (Mercer Island) and the diving is at Juanita (Kirkland).

The top six also qualify for state.

NOTE: The post was updated to reflect a change in the venues for 2A and 3A due to a reporting error.

In a pre-season coaches poll, Olympic League coaches predicted Port Angeles would win the league title, North Kitsap would finish a close second, followed by Kingston, Olympic and Sequim.

Turns out league coaches aren’t that far off.

Port Angeles (13-1) is in control of the No. 1 seed, and league championship, with two games remaining in the regular season. Olympic and Bremerton are now tied at 11-3, thanks to Oly’s win over Bremerton Friday night, and one of those two teams will wind up with the two seed.

North Kitsap (9-5) is two games behind with two games left. Kingston (6-8) is hanging onto the fifth seed, despite losing to NK. NK can still claim the third seed, but would need some help.

What to watch for:

Tuesday: The game of the night will be North Kitsap at Olympic. NK needs to beat Oly if it wants to gain that third seed. The Vikings would also have to beat NM and need Oly to lose to PA Friday. … Kingston (6-8) will help itself if it can keep winning. The Buccaneers face Klahowya. … Port Townsend (6-8) is still in the hunt for a 1A district berth, but faces a tough task in playing PA.

Wednesday: Central Kitsap (6-4) hosts Gig Harbor (5-5) in a Narrows League game that could affect seeding into the 4A district. CK is currently third and GH fourth. The top four seeds are in.

Friday: The key game will be Port Angeles at Olympic, but again it depends on what happens Tuesday. Olympic could be looking at a two seed, but more than likely are going to wind up as the third seed. …  Bremerton has the inside track for the second seed with a win against Kingston.

South Kitsap and Klahowya are both hosting wrestling tournaments Saturday. Competition at both events begins at 10 a.m.
At South Kitsap, the Wolves will be joined by Central Kitsap, Peninsula, Olympia, Yelm, Kentlake, Evergreen (Vancouver) and Mountainview (Vancouver).
At Klahowya, the Eagles will be joined by Olympic, North Kitsap, Bremerton, Sultan, Cascade Christian, Fife and Sumner.

Klahowya girls soccer coach Troy Oelschlager said this week that senior midfielders Ashley Mjor and Brittany Robinson have committed to play next season at Whitworth University in Spokane. The Pirates went 10-8-2 last season.
Katlyn Sargent, who graduated from Klahowya in 2012, has committed to play at Central Washington. Sargent, who played at Olympic College last year, is Oelschlager’s stepdaughter.

The Olympic League standings are coming into order with Port Angeles the only remaining unbeaten team.

PA (10-0) is trailed by Bremerton (9-1), Olympic (7-3), North Kitsap (5-3) and Kingston (4-5) in the top five spots.

Top performers:

Jewel Johnson had a game-high 26 points in Port Townsend’s loss to Olympic. … Oly’s Ashli Payne had 25 points and Olivia Wiliams chipped in 19. … Bainbridge’s Grace Kenyon had 25 points in the Spartans win over Nathan Hale. … Eboni Harpes had a double-double, 12 points and 13 rebounds, in Bremerton’s win over North Mason. Sawyer Kluge had 19 points in the win… NK’s Kristin Brown also had 18 points and 12 rebounds in the Vikings win over Klahowya. Rebekah Baugh had eight assists and 18 points for NK. … Maddie White led CK with 20 points and Taylor Krouse had 19 in the Cougars overtime loss to Olympia.

What to watch for:

Thursday: The annual tilt between rivals Evergreen Lutheran and Crosspoint takes place at 6 p.m. in a Sea-Tac League game at the Chico school.

Friday: The big OL match of the night will be between North Kitsap and Bremerton. Both teams are coming off convincing wins and NK remembers losing at home to the Knights earlier in the season. … CK (3-2) will look to rebound from its overtime loss to Olympia but will travel to Yelm (4-2) to take on the Tornados. … Bainbridge (6-4) continues the tough portion of its schedule when it takes on Holy Names (10-2).