SPORTS Port Orchard
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Seniors select college destinations Thirteen South Kitsap seniors announced their college plans during a signing party Wednesday morning at the high school. Soccer, which usually has the most players partake in the celebration during the spring signing period, again dominated the gathering. Chelsea Foster (Shoreline Community College), Annie Santa-Cruz (Olympic College), Kira Stanley (Corban College in Oregon) and Emily Wilkins (Olympic) were among South’s girls soccer players who announced their college destinations. On the boys side, Aaron Weathington said he will play at Olympic. The Wolves’ baseball program featured four players who announced where they will play next season. They included Logan Knowles (Navy), Tanner Paulson (Treasure Valley Community College in Oregon), Tyler Pinkerton (Everett Community College) and Kody Wilson (Olympic). The school’s other four seniors that selected colleges included Caulin Bakalarski (basketball, Eastern Oregon); Li’i Kalima (football, Mississippi State); Alyssa Soete (crew, Portland); and Hannah Spohn (fastpitch, Washington University in Maryland).
SPORTS BRIEFS
FASTPITCH
Wolves end losing streak Drew Camacho went 4 for 5 and hit a pair of home runs to help South to an 18-7 win that ended a four-game losing streak for the Wolves Tuesday at Central Kitsap in Class 4A Narrows League play. Kendall Clausen and Hannah Spohn also hit home runs and had three hits for South (4-4 overall, 1-4
WWW.PORTORCHARDINDEPENDENT.COM league). Tuesday
South Kitsap 18, at Central Kitsap 7 (No line score reported) Leading hitters-Drew Camacho (SK) 4-5 2B 2 HR 2 RBI 4 runs, Shelby Reyes (SK) 2-4 2 RBI 4 runs, Hannah Spohn (SK) 3-5 HR 5 RBI 4 runs, Kendall Clausen (SK) 3-5 HR 4 RBI 2 runs. Monday
At Bellarmine Prep 6, South Kitsap 5 (No line score reported) Leading hitter-Maddy Watson (SK) 2-4 2B.
BASEBALL
Wolves washed out South’s game against Stadium on Wednesday at Heidelberg Park in Tacoma again was postponed because of rain. No makeup date has been scheduled. The Wolves remained undefeated in 4A Narrows League play with a 3-2 victory Monday against Gig Harbor. Mac McCarty, who struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings, also had three hits. South (10-3 overall, 7-0 league) hosts Timberline at 4 p.m. today. Monday
At South Kitsap 3, Gig Harbor 2 Gig Harbor 001 001 0 - 2 6 0 South Kitsap 003 000 x - 3 6 3 Leading hitters-Barnett (GH) 2-3 RBI run, Mac McCarty (SK) 3-3 2B 2 RBI run. Saturday
At Newport 1, South Kitsap 0 (No details reported)
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Friday, April 18, 2014 • Port Orchard Independent
Many still unhappy with state basketball format
— the basketball tournaments brought in $467,153 after expenses, according to a report on the WIAA’s website. That accounted for 47 Nalin Sood said he’s coaching today because percent of the non-profit organization’s excess revenue from all 20 state tournament events. of an experience he had nearly 25 years ago. At the time, Sood was an assistant coach on That excess helps fund tournaments such as the Mountlake Terrace High School boys bas- golf and tennis, which lose money. “I want to be careful and say it wasn’t a defiketball team that reached the 1989 Class AA state tournament. The Hawks lost their first cit,” Colbrese said. “We just weren’t making the kind of money game at what was that we needed and then a 16-team, fourwe could see the day state tournament continual downward at the Tacoma Dome. “We looked at a lot of different tick.” They rebounded options. Do we go to single The biggest finanfrom that initial loss cial benefit came to Chief Sealth, won eliminations? Coaches said, ‘No. We from cutting costs three straight games don’t want a single-elimination state associated with the in the consolation tournament. We want to stay with state basketball tourbracket and wound a double-elimination.’ So, we went naments. up placing fifth. Before the change, “I remember with the first round at regional sites. the WIAA rented standing there, and ... I know there are a lot of people the Tacoma Dome I was two years out (4A/3A tournaof high school and I that want to go back to the 16-team ments), Yakima thought, ‘Wow! This tournament but it doesn’t pencil out.” Valley SunDome is the most unbeliev(1A/2A) and able experience I’ve – Mike Colbrese, WIAA Spokane Arena ever had in athlet(1B/2B) for two conics!’” said Sood, now secutive weeks — one week for each classithe head coach at Mountlake Terrace. Today, that experience would be impos- fication. Each tournament ran for four days. sible. A loss in the first-round of the state Under the current format, the state tournaments all take place the same week and tournament would end the Hawks’ season. Four years ago, the Washington require just a three-day rental. “We’re realizing a few more dollars, but the Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) modified the state basketball tournaments, significant difference is we cut our overhead shifting first-round play to “regional” sites in half,” Colbrese said. The Washington Interscholastic Basketball throughout the state. The move reduced the number of teams advancing to the Tacoma Coaches Association (WIBCA) has proposed Dome and other state-finals venues from 16 ways to try to alleviate the financial concerns, to eight. It’s a move that didn’t sit well with including an offer to lobby businesses for additional sponsorships for the state tournaSood and many of his fellow coaches. “There’s a lot of us that believe the 16-team ments. “If it’s money, how much is it?” Lake Stevens state tournament is what’s best for the studentathlete, the fan, parents, the student body, the girls coach Randall Edens said. “Give us a bands, the cheerleaders and the communities chance, as a coaches association, to go out and ...,” Sood said. “And in our surveys, our dis- get sponsors and get it done.” Colbrese said adding sponsors is not that cussions, our communications, that’s what we keep getting back from everybody. Everybody simple. “The difficulty, of course, is to get more corwants the 16-team state tournament.” porate sponsors you’re going to diminish the Everybody, that is, but the WIAA. With attendance at the state basketball tour- value of our two title sponsors (Les Schwab nament dwindling — attendance dropped Tires and the Dairy Farmers of Washington) 33 percent from 1997 to 2010 according to and we need to stay loyal to them,” he said. WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese — “To bring in more corporate sponsors would the organization decided something had to diminish the value and visibility of them.” According to Sood, who is the reigning be done. “We looked at a lot of different options,” WIBCA president, the regional format means Colbrese said. “Do we go to single elimina- 1,152 student-athletes over all classifications tions? Coaches said, ‘No. We don’t want a see their seasons end after the regional round single-elimination state tournament. We want and miss out on the final week of the state to stay with a double-elimination.’ So, we tournament. The WIBCA sent out a statement after the went with the first round at regional sites. ... I know there are a lot of people that want to go final regional games Saturday night expressback to the 16-team tournament but it doesn’t ing sympathy to the “96 basketball teams whose seasons were cut short of s t a t e pencil out.” by the regrettable regional format.” Cutting costs See full The press release then The dip in attendance was alarming because the basketball state tournaments gen- went on to list the 96 teams story on the website erate more revenue than any other sport. In from across the state that 2012 — with the regional format in place lost in the regional round. By DAVID KRUEGER Daily Herald Writer