SPORTS Port Orchard
Friday, March 28, 2014 • Port Orchard Independent
For results of Wednesday’s SK-CK boys soccer game, go online WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM
Wolves put last year in rearview mirror SK coaches, players want focus on present By CHRIS CHANCELLOR Sports Editor
There were no dramatic scenes. Second-year South Kitsap coach Marcus Logue simply wrote a message on the chalkboard that offered a reminder to anyone who might reflect on last year when the Wolves finished as the Class 4A state runner-up. “Keep life simple,” Logue said. “Because all you’re going to do thinking about last year is overcomplicating things.” That does not mean there are not parallels between the teams. The middle of the lineup — first baseman Tyler Ludlow, catcher Tyler Pinkerton, right fielder Tanner Paulson and third baseman Mac McCarty — provide the Wolves with power in the Nos. 3-6 spots in the order. All are seniors except for McCarty, a junior. “We’ve just got to make sure our one and two [hitters] are getting on base so
Dannie Oliveaux/Staff Photo
Senior first baseman Tyler Ludlow is among several returning hitters who figure to give the Wolves formidable power in the middle of the lineup. we can move them around,” said Logue, referring to infields Logan Knowles and Cooper Canton. The Wolves’ offense prowess was on display when they scored 17 runs in their first two games. But the bats slowed
Wolves bank hopes on youth By CHRIS CHANCELLOR Sports Editor
Rebuilding is not in his vernacular. That means South Kitsap boys soccer coach Cory Vartanian is relying on his players to mature. And quickly. “We’re young from a very strong, skillful sophomore class that we have and we’re young with a lot of our returning seniors and juniors … with their playing experience,” Vartanian said. The composition of the roster is in stark contrast to last year when a veteran-laden squad led the Wolves to the West Central/Southwest Bi-District Tournament, where they lost 4-0 against Mount Rainier. That team finished with a 7-6-2 record. But that team had other issues. Vartanian became the program’s fifth coach in six seasons in 2013. “It was a talented group, but I believe they had a new head coach every single year,” he said. “At that age, you’ve been through so many different changes I think it would be hard for anyone to come in and tell you what to do. There was a lot of individual play last season on our team.” Vartanian said he has seen a difference in his team’s first four matches of the season. He believes that stems from providing some consistency at South. Before Vartanian was named the Wolves’
To reach us: Call Chris Chancellor at (360) 876-4414; fax to (360) 876-4458; or email sports@ portorchardindependent.com
coach, he guided the school’s juniorvarsity program in 2012. During that season, he worked with some players who now are upperclassmen. “That senior class knows who I am,” Vartanian said. “They know how I manage. They know what I expect. They know what ticks me off and makes me happy. I think that helps.” Even though South features an inexperienced roster, Vartanian elected not to ease the team’s nonleague schedule. The Wolves opened March 17 with a 5-0 loss at Inglemoor. Vartanian said his team outshot the Vikings during the first half, but still trailed 3-0 at the intermission. “In my opinion, they’re a top-four team in the state,” he said. “They capitalized on every single mistake. They put away everything.” Vartanian now is looking for consistency. He said his team did not prepare well for their league opener, a 2-all tie March 19 at Stadium, but they recovered Friday with a 3-0 win against Olympia. Senior midfielder Aaron Weathington scored all of his team’s goals during that contest. The biggest issue with Weathington, Vartanian said, is for him not to place too much pressure on himself. “I told him I just want him to play free and be yourself,” he said. Weathington is not the only senior midfielder who has gained Vartanian’s
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2014 SKHS Baseball Schedule Date Opponent Time Today at Stadium 3:45 p.m. Monday at Central Kitsap 4 p.m. Tuesday Bellarmine Prep 4 p.m. April 7 Yelm 4 p.m. April 12 at Newport 3 p.m. April 14 Gig Harbor 4 p.m. April 16 Stadium 4 p.m. April 18 Timberline 4 p.m. April 19 at Olympia 1 p.m. April 21 Central Kitsap 4 p.m. April 23 at Bellarmine Prep 4 p.m. April 24 at Olympic 4:15 p.m April 28 at Yelm 4 p.m. Coach: Marcus Logue (21-6), second year Key returners: IF/P Logan Knowles, sr.; 1B/C Tyler Ludlow, sr.; OF/C Tanner Paulson, sr.; C/1B Tyler Pinkerton, sr.; RHP/OF Conner Sharp, sr. Key departures: RHP Josh Johnston, graduated; 3B/1B Jesse Moore, graduated; OF/RHP Tom Simpson, graduated; LHP Kellen Traxel, graduated; SS Kevin Whatley, graduated; 2B/OF Cody Wolfe, graduated; RHP Michael Wood, graduated. Key newcomers: IF/P Cooper Canton, jr.; IF/P Mac McCarty, jr.
March 19 when they lost 5-1 against Puyallup at Heritage Park. “The velocity was a lot faster than what we’ve seen,” Logue said. “We were trying to be perfect and a little bit more selective when we just need to go after it.” The game also provided some SEE BASEBALL, A10
COLLEGE
SCOREBOARD
SK grad Hartmann placed fifth at NCAAs Duke University’s Conner Hartmann, a 2011 South Kitsap graduate, placed fifth at 197 pounds during Saturday’s NCAA Wrestling Championships in Oklahoma City. He became only the second Blue Devils’ wrestler to earn All-American status by finishing in the top eight. Heavyweight Konrad Dudziak finished second in 2009 and fourth the following year. Hartmann, a redshirt sophomore, defeated No. 10 Jace Bennett of Cornell in his opener. He then beat No. 7 Travis Rutt of Oklahoma, 6-0, to advance to the quarterfinals, where he lost to No. 2 J’Den Cox of Missouri, 5-1. But Hartmann rebounded Friday night with a 4-0 win against Pittsburgh’s Nick Bonaccorsi to secure a top-eight finish. He then capped that night with a 4-2 overtime victory against No. 11 Nathan Burak of Iowa. On Saturday morning, Hartmann suffered a 4-3 setback against No. 4 Scott Schiller of Minnesota that dropped him into the fifth/sixth-place match against No. 14 Chris Penny of Virginia Tech. Penny, who injured his shoulder in his previous match, took a medical forfeit, as Hartmann finished the season with a 28-11 record.
BASEBALL
2014 SKHS Boys Soccer Schedule Wolves pound Olympia in league opener
Date Opponent Time Today Bellarmine Prep 7 p.m. April 5 Davis Noon April 10 at Gig Harbor 7 p.m. April 18 Clover Park 6 p.m. April 22 at Yelm 7 p.m. April 24 Stadium 7 p.m. April 28 at Olympia 7 p.m. May 2 at Central Kitsap 7:15 p.m. May 6 at Bellarmine Prep 6:45 p.m. May 8 Gig Harbor 7 p.m. May 12 Yelm 7 p.m. Coach: Cory Vartanian (7-6-2), second season. Key returners: D Dalton Burkett, so.; MF Ben Figueroa, so.; F Kristian Hernandez, so.; MF Andrew Hollis, sr.; MF Aaron Weathington, sr. Key departures: GK Jaxom Beverage, graduated; D Connor Bitterman, graduated; D Austin Hammer, graduated; F Cameron Harris, graduated; MF Daniel Henry, graduated; F Bryton Owen, graduated. Key newcomers: None.
attention. He said Andrew Hollis has exceeded expectations. “He’s already played phenomenal,” Vartanian said. “Against Inglemoor, I couldn’t give him enough confidence. That’s how strong he played in the back.” Sophomores Dalton Burkett, Ben Figueroa and Kristian Hernandez also are expected to play significant roles after they saw varying varsity minutes a year ago. SEE SOCCER, A10
South Kitsap scored its most runs of the season during Monday’s 10-2 win against Olympia in its Class 4A Narrows League opener. Senior right fielder Tanner Paulson led the Wolves (4-2 overall, 1-0 league) with three hits. Monday At South Kitsap 10, Olympia 2 Olympia 200 000 0 - 2 5 3 S. Kitsap 010 009 x - 10 12 0 Leading hitters-Brandon Neal (O) 2-3 RBI, Leif Hanson (O) 2-3 RBI, Tanner Paulson (SK) 3-4 2 RBI, Hunter Riley (SK) 2-3 2 RBI, Tyler Ludlow (SK) 2-4 2 runs RBI, Drew Dickey (SK) 2-4 RBI. Saturday Decatur 6, at South Kitsap 4 Decatur 013 011 0 - 6 10 1 S. Kitsap 120 100 0 - 4 6 3 Leading hitters-Zimmerman (D) 4-4 2 runs, Cooper Canton (SK) 1-1 2 runs, Conner Sharp (SK) 1-2 run RBI, Logan Knowles (SK) 1-3 run. Friday At South Kitsap 9, Graham-Kapwosin 4 GK 103 000 0 - 4 10 2 S. Kitsap 300 006 x - 9 7 0 Leading hitters-Miller (GK) 4-4, Tyler Ludlow (SK) 2-4 2 RBI, Logan Knowles (SK) 1-3 2 runs, Austin Hackman (SK) 1-1 2 RBI, Cooper Canton (SK) 1-2 run RBI.
March 19 At Puyallup 5, South Kitsap 1 S. Kitsap 000 000 1 - 1 3 0 Puyallup 140 000 x - 5 5 1 Leading hitters-Hunter Riley (SK) RBI, Jordan (P) 2B 2 runs 2 RBI, Stump (P) 2B RBI, Rawson (P) 2B RBI. March 17 South Kitsap 8, at Rogers 0 S. Kitsap 001 070 0 - 8 8 0 Rogers 000 000 0 - 0 3 5 Leading hitters-Mac McCarty (SK) 3-5 RBI, Drew Dickey (SK) 1-1 2B 3 RBI, Tyler Pinkerton (SK) 1-2 2 runs RBI. March 14 South Kitsap 9, at Peninsula 2 S. Kitsap 010 053 0 - 9 8 0 Peninsula 002 000 0 - 2 5 2 Logan Knowles, Mac McCarty (4), Cooper Canton (7) and Tyler Pinkerton. Zach Ringer, John Ringer (5), Mitch Gourley (6) and Tyler Bickert. Leading hitters-Tyler Ludlow (SK) 2-4 2 HR 4 RBI, Knowles (SK) 1-3 HR 2 RBI, McCarty (SK) 1-3 HR 2 RBI.
BOYS SOCCER
Weathington helps SK to first league win South Kitsap senior Aaron Weathington scored all of his team’s goals as the Wolves won their 4A Narrows opener, 3-0, Friday against Olympia. South (1-1-2 overall, 1-0-1 league) continued 4A Narrows play Wednesday night against Central Kitsap. Monday At Peninsula 1, South Kitsap 1 (No details reported) Friday At South Kitsap 3, Olympia 0 First half-None. Second half-1, South Kitsap, Aaron Weathington, 50th minute; 2, South Kitsap, Weathington, 60th; 3, South Kitsap, Weathington, 70th. March 19 At South Kitsap 2, Stadium 2 First half-1, Stadium, Franco Corral, 15th minute. Second half-2, Stadium, Austin Yon, 50th; 3, South Kitsap, Kristian Hernandez (Aaron Weathington), 65th; 4, South Kitsap, John Anchick (Hernandez), 72nd. March 17 At Inglemoor 5, S. Kitsap 0 (No details reported)
Give em’ A BRAKe