Our game of the week is North Kitsap’s 2A West Central District playoff game between North Kitsap and Orting. That game is slated to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. and you can view it by clicking this link.

2A WCD playoffs

Franklin Pierce 60, Bremerton 7 (Final): Franklin Pierce’s Jayman Stokes returned a Bremerton fumble for a touchdown as the Cardinals lead in the Knights early and went on to beat Bremerton and end its season.

North Kitsap 44, Orting 21 (Final): Multiple turnovers helped NK take a big lead on the Cardinals and the Viking defense is posting a shutout for most of the game as the Vikings secured a berth into the 2A state tournament.

Steilacoom 29, Olympic 14 (Final): Mason Quitevis had a 4-yard TD run to give the Trojans a quick lead over the Sentinels and Oly’s defense produced two INTs, but it wasn’t enough as Steilacoom came from behind for the win to eliminate the Trojans from the postseason.

Non-playoff games

Central Kitsap 17, Bethel 14 (Final): Cougars win their season finale at Silverdale Stadium.

Bainbridge 0, vs. Roosevelt 0 at Nathan Hale: Score not reported

North Mason 8, Tenino 6 (Final): The Bulldogs score late and win their season finale late.

Shorewood 0, at Kingston 0 (1st qtr): Score not reported

Port Townsend 49, Charles Wright 7 (Final): The Redhawks blew out CWA and will face La Center in a 1A state game next week.

Klahowya 57, Chimacum 0 (Final): The Eagles won their seventh game by shutting out the Cowboys at Silverdale Stadium in their season finale.

West Sound teams will be on the volleyball court starting Thursday as they vie for berths to the state tournaments.

Among them is the ninth-ranked team in the state, North Kitsap. The Vikings earned a first round bye in the Class 2A West Central District tournament and face the winner of the River Ridge/Washington match. The tourney is at Franklin Pierce and begins Friday. NK’s match is at 7 p.m. A win, and NK plays in the semifinals at 5:15 p.m. Saturday. The district finals is at 7 p.m.

Kingston takes on Franklin Pierce at 5:15 p.m. Friday and Olympic plays Orting at the same time. If Kingston and Olympic win they will play at 8:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Losses in the first round for both teams means they face loser-out matches at 1:45 p.m. Saturday. There are six berths available.

The SeaKing District 3A tourney begins Thursday as Bainbridge takes on Redmond at Lakeside HS at 5:30 p.m. That is a loser-out match. If Bainbridge wins, the Spartans play Lakeside in the quarterfinals ta 7:30 p.m. The SeaKing has seven berths to state.

In the 3A WCD/Southwest tourney, Central Kitsap plays at 3:30 p.m. Friday against Kelso at Yelm HS. If the Cougars win, they play at 9 a.m. Saturday. A loss, and its a loser-out game at 7:30 p.m. Friday against the loser of the North Thurston/Bethel match.

Crosspoint Academy already secured its spot to the Bi-District 2B tournament this week. The Warriors, as the No. 1 seed out of District 2, faces the winner of  Friday Harbor/Darrington match at 11 a.m. That tourney is Nov. 5 at Stanwood HS.

Like Crosspoint, the Klahowya Eagles have been waiting to open the 1A WCD tournament. The Eagles are the No. 2 from the Olympic League 1A. Klahowya hosts Seattle Christian (6-8) at 6 p.m. Thursday in a loser-out match.

I knew the dance was coming, I just didn’t know who was going — until now.

West Sound volleyball teams have finally settled on who is headed to the playoffs and now the real fun begins.

Here’s a look at who is playing on Saturday and what’s at stake for each team;

South Kitsap: In the South Puget Sound League 4A, the Wolves (6-9) are in a loser-out match against Graham-Kapowsin (6-9) at 9 a.m. at Sumner High. If South wins, it will play a fifth/sixth seeding game at 5 p.m. against the winner of the Sumner/Olympia match. The West Central District tournament begins Nov. 4 at Kentwood High School.

Central Kitsap: The Cougars (5-9) open the South Sound Conference 3A tournament against North Thurston (9-5) at 9 a.m. at Capital High School. Timberline (10-4) takes on Shelton (4-10) in the other 9 a.m. game while Gig Harbor (14-1) and Capital (11-3) earned first-round byes. The 11 a.m. matches will pit the lowest-remaining seed against Gig Harbor while Capital will take on the highest-remaining seed. The losers of the 9 a.m. matches play for fifth/sixth seed at 1 p.m. Losers of the 11 a.m. matches play for third/fourth seed at 1 p.m., and the winners of the 11 a.m. matches play at 3 p.m.

Yes, I know that sounds confusing, but for CK fans know that your team plays at 9 a.m. and then possibly at 11 a.m. (if they win) and at 1 p.m. (if they lose the 9 a.m. match). The Cougars are only playing for seeding into the West Central/Southwest District tournament, Nov. 4-5 at Yelm High School.

Bainbridge: The Spartans (9-8) lost to Roosevelt Thursday in the Metro League 3A tournament, 3-2, but are already assured of a SeaKing District berth Nov. 3-5 at Juanita and Lakeside High Schools. Bainbridge plays Ballard at 1 p.m. at Chief Sealth HS. A win and Bainbridge would play at 3 p.m. for fifth/sixth. A loss and they would play for the seventh/eighth seed at 5 p.m.

Olympic League 2A: The Kingston Buccaneers (8-8) face Sequim (12-2) at 9 a.m. A win for Kingston and it will play the winner of the North Kitsap/Olympic match at 3 p.m for first/second seed. A loss and the Bucs play at 1 p.m. for third/fourth seed. The NK Vikings (13-1) are the OL2A champs, again, and play Olympic (7-9) at 11 a.m. The loser of that match plays at 1 p.m. against the loser of the Sequim/Kingston match for third/fourth seed. The winners play at 3 p.m. for first/second. The tournament is at North Kitsap HS.

Klahowya: The Eagles (7-7) have already secured their seeding into the West Central District 1A tourney as the No. 2 from the Olympic League 1A. Klahowya hosts Seattle Christian (6-8) at 6 p.m. next Thursday in a loser-out match.

Crosspoint Academy: The Warriors (7-7) have also secured their spot to the Bi-District 2B tournament next week. Crosspoint, as the No. 1 seed out of District 2, faces the winner of the Friday Harbor/Darrington match at 11 a.m. That tourney is Nov. 5 at Stanwood HS.

On Monday the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Executive Board voted to increase the number of teams at each state basketball championship site from eight to 12 and approved the use of a Rating Percentage Index (RPI).

The updated format, which will go into effect for the 2016-17 season, will keep regional sites for the first round. Final tournament sites are staying the same with 4A and 3A at the Tacoma Dome, 1A/2A at the Yakima Valley SunDome and 2B/1B at Spokane.

The RPI system will be used to seed the 16 teams that qualify for the first round (regionals). The system will not be used in the qualification to regional sites, only for seeding purposes after the qualifying teams are in place. The State Basketball Format Committee will continue to refine the details of the RPI system, the WIAA said in the release.

The WIAA said each district will continue to control its respective tournaments to determine the 16 teams for each classification.

You can find an example of the new 16-team bracket here.

The board voted on the changes after garnering feedback from administrators and coaches around the state via an online survey, and from different communities. The format chosen was the most popular with 71 percent in favor of using an RPI to seed tournaments.

It can be hard to tell in these first few games just how a team will play out the season, but I had a feeling about South Kitsap. Based on who the Wolves had coming back, good coaching — which they have in C.J. Scott — and unmistakable talent in libero Tia Lawrence South is my dark horse to make the playoffs and could very well — with some luck — make state.

I kind of judge all teams on how well they play against Kitsap’s best team, North Kitsap, and the Wolves beat the Vikings 24-22, 25-20, 23-25, 26-24 in a non-league match Thursday. Now I know SK (2-0) plays in the 4A classification and NK in 2A, but honestly that doesn’t matter considering how good the Vikings (1-1) have been under Tim French.

South Kitsap was down 21-14 in the final game before coming back to win it. Lawrence, an All-Narrows second team nominee last year who had 31 digs, certainly impressed NK’s French.

“There were balls that were normally points for sure (that Lawrence dug),” he said. “It was fun to watch her actually. There was nothing too good for her. Teams where Bri (Duchemin) just crushes it and (Tia’s) like, ‘OK. I got that.’ Their whole team played really good defense.”

High praise indeed.

Also, CK opened South Sound Conference play with a loss to Gig Harbor on Thursday. Game scores were 25-20, 25-17, 25-13. Katie Downey led CK with nine assists, Lily Campbell had 11 digs and Courtney Anderson added five kills.

Upcoming games to watch: Olympic travels to Sequim on Tuesday in an early season duel between two teams that will be contending for the playoffs. … Central Kitsap heads to Yelm for a South Sound Conference match. Familiar opponent in new league, but likely results won’t change as CK should win this one. … Wednesday Bainbridge hosts Ingraham in Metro League play. Good early test for the Spartans. North Kitsap is back in action against Bremerton. The Knights finished second in the OL2A, right behind the Vikings.

Also, be sure to read our season preview in Wednesday’s edition as I take a look at the two-time Olympic League 1A champion Klahowya Eagles. The previews also includes our team-by-team previews and players to watch.

The Bainbridge Spartans hired Austin Hurt, a Spartan alumnus, as their new golf coach. Hurt takes over for Joe Lanza, another Bainbridge grad.

Hurt, an island native, graduated in 2006 and played varsity all four years. Hurt won the Class 3A state title for the 2004-05 season and played collegiately at Washington State University. He graduated in 2010 and is an assistant golf pro at Wing Point Gold and Country Club.

Hurt also won the Washington State Men’s Amateur in 2009 by setting a course record 65 at the Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman

The National Federation of State High School Associations approved four rules changes from the softball committee at its June meeting in Indianapolis.

Rule 3-2-15 states that all equipment must be inspected by the umpire and is to be put outside the dugout/bench prior to the start of games. The committee agreed that placing all equipment in one location at one time is a more efficient method for inspections.

In Rule 3-2-1, the committee added inclement weather as an exception to the uniform rule for state associations.

The committee also approved new language to Rule 3-2-7 to reinforce the solid color undergarments requirements.

“We felt if was important to standardize the colors of the undergarments not only to reinforce the solid color requirements similar to other NFHS sport rules, but also because it can be a distraction and create a possible safety concern,” said Sandy Search, NFHS director of sports and staff liaison for softball.

In Rule 3-6-7, which states players and substitutes cannot enter the game unreported. The penalty was revised to state the head coach is restricted to the dugout/bench for the remainder of the game only for a second violation.

The committee also revised Rule 1-5-2c by eliminating the description of the taper’s surface. The change brings the federation in line with other rules codes concerning the same issue.

Bainbridge senior Jack Frickleton was one of nine lacrosse players named to the U.S. Lacrosse High School All-Americans list in Washington on Wednesday.

Frickleton, who plays the attack position, had 44 points for the Spartans this season, 31 goals and 14 assists.

State champion Bellevue lead the way with three selections, while Issaquah had two, followed by Eastside Catholic, Skyline, Mercer Island and Bainbridge each with one.

Bainbridge’s Morgan Lassoff was named to the All-Metro League softball team.

Lassoff, a sophomore, was named as an outfielder.

Sophomore pitcher Sara Colley was named to the All-Mountain Division team and Maddie Loverich, a sophomore catcher, and Malia Peato, a freshman shortstop/pitcher were honorable mention.

All-Metro League

MVP — Gabby Wenn, West Seattle, sr.

Coach of the year — Rick Geving, Roosevelt

Team sportsmanship — Seattle Prep

Pitchers: Lauren King, Ballard, jr.; Kayla Ferguson, Roosevelt, jr. Catcher: Kaela Jackson, Garfield, sr. 1B: Emma Atkinson, West Seattle, sr. 2B: Maddie Iem, Eastside Catholic, jr.; SS: Lucy Mead, West Seattle, so. 3B: Harper Brown, Eastside Catholic, fr. OF: Sarah Buchanan, Seattle Prep, sr., Megan McAllister, Ballard, jr., Juliana Lynch, Holy Names, sr., Morgan Lassoff, Bainbridge, so. DH: Hannah Schubert, Ballard, sr.; Util.: Karina Diekema, Seattle Prep, sr.

All-Mountain

Pitchers: Katie Erikson, Seattle Prep, jr., Sara Colley, Bainbridge, so. Catcher: Sam Hemmert, West Seattle, sr. 1B: Madison Burmester, Seattle Prep, so. 2B: Morgan Cameron, Ballard, sr. SS: Caroline Sonnen, Eastside Catholic, jr. 3B: Taylor Danielson, Ballard, jr. OF: Brynn Snodgrass, West Seattle, jr., McKenzie Spires, Eastside Catholic, fr., Jessica Irvine, Holy Names, jr., Cammy Stukel, Seattle Prep, sr. DH: Abi Kirsten, Eastside Catholic, sr. Util.: Halina Tracey, Holy Names, jr.

Honorable mention

Bainbridge — Maddie Loverich, so., catcher; Malia Peato, fr., SS/P.

Here is a look at the upcoming district baseball tournaments and the matchups for West Sound teams.

Class 4A West Central District

Who: South Kitsap (11-9) vs. SPSL 9

When: Saturday, 4 p.m. at Bellarmine Prep

Berths available to state: Six

Outlook: South Kitsap, the defending 4A champions who finished second at state in 2013-14, dropped five consecutive games to finish the regular season and took fourth in the Narrows League 4A. It was the first time South Kitsap lost five straight since going 0-5 to start the 2010 season. The Wolves need to win three straight loser-out games to return to state. South Kitsap won’t learn its opponent until after the completion of the South Puget Sound League tournament on Friday.

Continue reading →