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By Christopher Huber
The only close call Laura Bachman has had in her job with the Seattle Mariners was on opening day at Safeco Field April 14 — her first game on the field as a ball girl.
It was the 10th inning and the Mariners and Angels were tied 2-2. Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt laid down a bunt toward third base and Angels’ relief pitcher Scot Shields threw the ball wide past first, nearly hitting Bachman at her post along the wall.
The right fielder tried to argue that she interfered, Bachman said, but the game was already over.
Betancourt drove in Franklin Gutierrez to win the game 3-2 for the Mariners.
That was the only legitimate action she saw all game.
“On the first day I didn’t get any foul balls,” she said.
Bachman, a recent Eastlake High School graduate, is one of 11 ball girls on staff with the Mariners organization in 2009.
She works most home games, alternating between on-field duty and various other jobs around the park, including collecting tickets.
Though she spends most of her shifts being on alert for a stray ground ball.
“It’s really cool because the players talk to you sometimes. The opposing teams talk to you a lot,” Bachman said about being on the field with famous players. “It’s really cool walking right next to Ken Griffey Jr. or Endy Chavez.”
She was hired for the rare job after Eastlake head softball coach Al Leaverenz recommended her to the Mariners.
Bachman completed tryouts and a lengthy application and interview process before ever donning a Mariners uniform, she said.
“I love watching baseball and I love the Mariners, and I thought it would be really cool to be on the field,” she said.
Ball girls are part of the team’s fielder program, which takes about 30 applications per year from area high school and college softball players, said Garrett Cook, event services manager.
“Laura is one of the younger ones that made it,” he said.
They don’t just look for strong fielding skills, Cook said, but the girls must have solid customer service skills, as well.
When they’re not fielding ground balls on the field, the girls are interacting with the fans in many capacities around Safeco Field.
Bachman and Cook said the Mariners stress having the best ball girls in the majors.
“If you’re going to do something, you might as well be the best at it,” Cook said. I like watching the girls on the field make a good play and then they show it on ESPN or Fox.”
Eastlake fielded four ball girls in 2008, so Mariners officials knew she came from a top-notch softball program, said Cook.
“We’ve had a lot of success from that program,” Cook said.
Bachman said the most challenging part of being a ball girl is anticipating the ball.
“It’s all really fun, but it really is really nerve-wracking sitting on the stool, waiting for the ball to come. It’s really scary just sitting there,” she said. “Ichiro tends to hit a lot of foul balls so I want to stay on my toes when he’s up.”
Other than hanging out with pro baseball players, Bachman said she enjoys the fan interaction, as well.
She’s had to field some hard ground balls in the first half of the season.
While most are routine, one turned into an error.
“You kind of just stick your glove down and pray you get it,” Bachman said. “I haven’t got any really hard ones. I’ve only made one error; it was bad. It was funny.”
Bachman will work at home games this summer until she leaves in the fall to start college at Ohio University.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
The only close call Laura Bachman has had in her job with the Seattle Mariners was on opening day at Safeco Field April 14 — her first game on the field as a ball girl.
It was the 10th inning and the Mariners and Angels were tied 2-2. Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt laid down a bunt toward third base and Angels’ relief pitcher Scot Shields threw the ball wide past first, nearly hitting Bachman at her post along the wall.
The right fielder tried to argue that she interfered, Bachman said, but the game was already over.
One of the perks of being a ball girl, Laura Bachman gets her own baseball card. Courtesy Seattle Mariners
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By Christopher Huber
Sammamish golfer Jordan Windsor wasn’t satisfied with the way he drove the ball June 24 at West Seattle Golf Course. But he executed enough decisive putts throughout the 18-hole Junior World Championship qualifier to help him tie for third in the 16-17 age group with a 75-stroke finish on the par-72 course.
“It’s definitely on the better side of what I’ve played,” he said after the match.
On the par-5 fourth hole, Windsor sunk a 40-foot putt for birdie, he said. Though he did attribute some of his setbacks to numerous 2-putt holes.
“It’s mostly putting that got me,” he said. “(But) it was just putting that saved the round.”
Windsor and fellow Sammamish resident Li Wang each advanced to the next round of the Junior World qualifier tournaments. They will play July 1 in Tumwater for a chance to play in the championship in San Diego.
In addition to being a step, for some, toward the Junior World tournament, the June 24 match at West Seattle also served as the qualifier for the Washington Junior Golf Association District 2 Championship, which will be held July 20-21 at Willows Run Golf Course.
Wang barely made the cut for the next round of Junior World qualifying. He shot a 77 and waited nervously near the score booth to learn if he would make the eighth spot. By the time his opponents finished the round, he had made the cut for Tumwater via tiebreaker.
“I usually shoot under,” he said. “My swing got off a little bit.”
Wang’s 77 also earned him third place in the 14-15 age group in his quest to make the district championship.
In the 16-17 age group, Jack Quinton and Alex Taylor, both of Sammamish, missed the cut for both tournaments, but shot 86 and 89 respectively. Andy Zweig finished with 99 strokes and Cutter Boit shot a 104.
Sammamish youth Jack Strickland and Christopher Kobak barely missed the cut for the district championship, shooting an 82 and 83 respectively.
Kobak was just three-over going into hole No. 9. That’s where he putted for eagle and went to just one-over-par on the front nine. He hit plus-11 on the back nine.
“It was kind of just a bad break on the back nine,” Kobak said after the 18th hole. “I hit some good shots out there but it just wasn’t working out for me.”
In the boys 12-13 category, Brian Mogg, of Sammamish, qualified for the district tournament with a third-place, 80-stroke finish. Robert McCoy finished with a 98, Logan Nash and Colin Boit shot 107 and 105 respectively. Eastlake High School golfers Dana Mydland and Tera Stenhouse missed the cut in the girls 16-17 group, shooting a 90 and 98 respectively.
Mersadie Tallman, of Issaquah, placed third in the girls’ 12-13 match. Her 101-stroke finish was good enough to move on to the district championship at Willows Run.
The Tumwater Junior Worlds qualifier will feature 54 youth golfers competing for the top four spots. They will play at Junior Worlds in San Diego later this month.
The WJGA State Championship runs July 29-31.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Sammamish golfer Jordan Windsor wasn’t satisfied with the way he drove the ball June 24 at West Seattle Golf Course. But he executed enough decisive putts throughout the 18-hole Junior World Championship qualifier to help him tie for third in the 16-17 age group with a 75-stroke finish on the par-72 course.
“It’s definitely on the better side of what I’ve played,” he said after the match.
Mersadie Tallman, 12, of Issaquah, tees off on the 10th hole June 24. Photo by Christopher Huber
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By Christopher Huber
They didn’t have it in the bag, but going into last weekend’s Battle of Bothell, the Issaquah Silver fifth- and sixth-grade lacrosse team was confident about its chances of winning the tournament championship.
The boys, some from Sammamish, some from Issaquah, had won it in 2008 and looked to capitalize on its player experience and disciplined conditioning.
They did, and after easily winning the first few rounds on the waterlogged North Creek playfields, Issaquah Silver out-shot and out hustled Beaverton, Ore. in a 7-3 championship victory.
“In the early rounds it was pretty easy, but it started getting a little harder. In the championship round it was pretty tough,” said standout 5/6 attackman Jordan Greenhall. “Beaverton, they had a couple of really strong middies that were really good.”
The annual Battle of Bothell tournament featured 62 teams from around the Northwest, including dozens of local teams and some from Oregon and Canada, with players ranging in age from fifth- to eleventh-grade.
Parents and players gathered at the North Creek Playfields June 19-21 to enjoy a weekend of lacrosse.
In the end, the teams had played 107 games combined, said tournament coordinator Stan Kosick. It was the first year Battle of Bothell had rain.
“We started out real strong,” said Silver 5/6 coach Scott Johnston. “We dominated ground balls and we dominated faceoffs, which was the main thing.”
Greenhall said his team got out to an early 3-0 lead and bolstered it with three more before halftime. They led 6-2 at the break. Sam Britt held strong in the goal in the second half.
“Sam played really well,” Greenhall said. “He made lots of saves.”
But, as it had throughout the day June 21, the weather intervened and forced an early decision. Issaquah became the repeat Battle of Bothell 5/6 champions, winning 7-3 on account of lightning.
“It was just really fun and exciting to win again,” Greenhall said.
He scored one goal and had two assists and four ground balls in the final match. Teammate Tyler Johnston had a game-high three goals with two assists and two ground balls.
“The tournament’s a blast,” Johnston said. “These kids all worked hard and they deserved it. The one thing our kids were is well conditioned kids.”
The Issaquah High School Purple crew managed to win its way to the final in Bothell, but lost 6-3 to annual powerhouse Lake Oswego, Ore. The game got a late start due to thunder and lightning storms.
“Part of it was we came out pretty flat and we just couldn’t finish,” said midfielder Nate Bean. “They reset well. “(We) didn’t move the ball quick enough and they recovered really well.”
Although the high schoolers didn’t repeat a Battle-of-Bothell win in 2009, Bean said it was still nice to play in the final. Being a post-season, mostly for-fun tournament, there was less pressure to win.
“Whenever you get to the top of anything it’s always nice. It was thrilling, but I want to call it fun,” Bean said. “I think it’s such a big deal because it’s a summer kickoff.”
The Issaquah Youth Lacrosse league fielded other teams as well, including the 7/8 purple, gold and green teams. The Eastlake and Sammamish lacrosse leagues also fielded teams.
“It’s a great tournament, I think because you get to play against other teams from Oregon and teams from around Seattle. It’s pretty fun,” said eighth-grader Nick Mauzy after the tournament. “It’s great that they can get all the teams to come down here.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
They didn’t have it in the bag, but going into last weekend’s Battle of Bothell, the Issaquah Silver fifth- and sixth-grade lacrosse team was confident about its chances of winning the tournament championship.
The boys, some from Sammamish, some from Issaquah, had won it in 2008 and looked to capitalize on its player experience and disciplined conditioning.
Issaquah 5/6 Silver standout attackman Jordan Greenhall sets to fire a scoring shot against Maple Valley. Photo courtesy Charles Mauzy/IYL
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By Christopher Huber
Before each road game, St. Louis Cardinals’ rookie pitcher Blake Hawksworth has to wear a pink Hello Kitty backpack as he crosses the field from the clubhouse to the bullpen.
He fills it with water and Red Bull drinks for the relievers during the game. But he gets some stares from people in the stands.
“You get some comments from the crowd,” Hawksworth said about the long stroll to the bullpen. “It’s a rookie initiation type deal. You don’t put up a fight and you just do it.”
As the newest addition to the Cardinals’ active roster, Hawksworth, a 2001 Eastlake graduate, has to put up with some new-guy initiation antics while settling into the team’s ranks.
Not only does he have to wear the bright backpack in front of the opposing team’s fans, he fulfills other clubhouse chores that veterans once handled.
Hawksworth made his major league debut for the Cards June 6 at home against the Colorado Rockies.
The 6’3” right-hander faced Colorado’s power-hitting all-star Todd Helton as his first batter, which he thought was cool and nerve-wracking at the same time.
“My first game, it was nerve-wracking. When the phone rings and you start warming up, you start to mentally prepare and breathe. The fans have never really bothered me. It’s just the atmosphere at Busch,” he said of performing in a venue as grand as Busch Stadium. “That was great. To come in and throw strikes, it was a lot of fun.”
He forced Helton into a ground out.
Hawksworth’s debut was a rough one. He pitched two innings, with one strikeout and one walk, but allowed four runs on three hits, including a home run off the bat of Clint Barmes.
Drafted by the Cardinals organization out of high school in 2001, he’s waited seven years for the chance to pitch in the majors and is reveling in the opportunity.
“It’s an exciting time for me and my family. It’s taken a little longer than I first anticipated, but … looking back I definitely wouldn’t have changed a thing,” Hawksworth said. “To go through that struggle was good for me.”
He’s battled some nagging injuries in the past few years, but now is as healthy as ever and confident about his game.
Knee and shoulder problems hampered what some scouts considered would have been an earlier rise to the top for Hawksworth, according to MLB.com.
After a year with Bellevue Community College, he officially signed with the Cardinals in 2002.
“This year has been by far my healthiest year since 2006, overall,” he said. “My health, Lord willing, is not an issue. So now it’s just remaining confident and maintaining that belief in yourself.”
Despite enduring the necessary initiation period, Hawksworth said he has found himself mostly at home with the young team.
He played ball with numerous Cardinals teammates while at Triple-A Memphis.
“I haven’t been here that long, but it feels like I’ve been here for a while because I’ve settled in,” Hawksworth said. “I was able to walk in the clubhouse and I know a lot of these guys personally off the field.”
They play the game the same, he said, but he noticed great differences between the minors and the majors in other aspects.
“Just the way they take care of you, everything is just pretty much better, from the field to the uniforms to the food to the accommodations, just down the line,” he said. “People say there’s nowhere else to play but the big leagues.”
While at Triple-A Memphis in 2009, Hawksworth went 5-4 with a 3.92 ERA and 51 strikeouts, according to Memphis Redbirds statistics.
He was a Midwest League All-Star in 2003. In 2006 he was a Florida State League All-Star and also received the Pitcher of the Year award from the Cardinals organization.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to be in the big leagues. But I feel extremely blessed to be on this platform, just to be able to give more,” Hawksworth said.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Before each road game, St. Louis Cardinals’ rookie pitcher Blake Hawksworth has to wear a pink Hello Kitty backpack as he crosses the field from the clubhouse to the bullpen.
He fills it with water and Red Bull drinks for the relievers during the game. But he gets some stares from people in the stands.
Blake Hawksworth delivers a pitch during a spring training game against Florida. Contributed
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By Christopher Huber
Skyline High School graduate Jared Lemke spent most of his second term in school breathing a sigh of relief. While many of his friends pored over the tantalizing decision of which college to attend, Lemke knew he was headed for Central Washington University in the fall.
He recently signed his national letter of intent to play for the Wildcats.
“I felt like it was the place for me,” he said about the good feeling he had after a visit to Ellensburg with his parents. “I really like it over there.”
Lemke, a 6-6, 230-pound pitcher for the Spartans, considered playing for other colleges, like Washington State University and Western Oregon University. But Central’s athletic department helped him with his decision when it offered him a full-tuition scholarship to play for them, he said.
“I’ve known for while and I think it was really relieving on me,” Lemke said. “All my friends were kind of freaking out saying, ‘I don’t know.’”
He said he won’t know his role as a freshman until the season begins in the fall, but for now he just has to concentrate on playing summer ball for the Lakeside Senior American Legion team.
“As far as I know, they might be looking for me to pitch this year,” Lemke said in speculation.
Lemke spent four years on the Spartan varsity roster and is in his third season for the American Legion club.
He went 3-2 as a starter for Skyline in the spring and estimated his total record was 13-5 in high school.
He said he is considering entering in the construction management program at Central.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
Skyline High School graduate Jared Lemke spent most of his second term in school breathing a sigh of relief. While many of his friends pored over the tantalizing decision of which college to attend, Lemke knew he was headed for Central Washington University in the fall.
He recently signed his national letter of intent to play for the Wildcats. Read more
By Christopher Huber
McAuliffe second-grader Lauren Segat pulled off a feat she’ll probably be telling people about for years to come. She executed a rare triple play June 1 in an Eastlake Little League AA softball game at Blackwell Elementary School.
“The fans, we all were going bonkers,” said team parent Lauren Lee
Early in the game, Segat was playing second base for the Beavers. With runners at first and second base and no outs, the 7-year-old caught a pop-fly, tagged second base and threw to first-baseman Alysha Lee to get the runner from first.
Parents from both teams erupted in cheers, Wendy Segat, Lauren’s mother, said.
“We were all really blown away,” Wendy Segat said of her daughter having the presence-of-mind to see the play through.
Lauren said at first, she didn’t know what all the celebration was about. She just did what coach Paul Lee had taught her: tag the base when you catch the ball and throw to first. It was just second nature.
“I didn’t really realize that I made a triple play,” Lauren said. “I’m like, ‘wow, why is everybody cheering for me?’ I was like really proud and I’m glad that I did it.”
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. ent on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
McAuliffe second-grader Lauren Segat pulled off a feat she’ll probably be telling people about for years to come. She executed a rare triple play June 1 in an Eastlake Little League AA softball game at Blackwell Elementary School.
“The fans, we all were going bonkers,” said team parent Lauren Lee
The AA Beavers executed a triple play. From left to right: Back Row/Standing - Karly Pridmore, Ashlyn Roberts, Grace Curtis, Malia Lakman and Kailey Mohamed. Front Row/kneeling - Belle deOliveira, Alysha Lee, Kelsey Nay, Lauren Segat. Photo contributed
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By Christopher Huber
All Yankees first baseman Trevor Thacker-Beach wanted was to hit the ball.
It was the bottom of the 6th inning and his Sammamish Little League Majors-level team was tied with the Pirates, 2-2.
It was their final chance to make something happen. Yankee Blake Sypher had hit in the tying run on a zero-out double and stood on third, with another runner on first.
The pitch came and Thacker-Beach plunked the ball to shallow right field, easily scoring Sypher to win the SLL Majors Championship.
Final score: 3-2 Yankees.
Sypher pumped his fist in the air as he trotted to home plate and Yankees fans erupted in victorious cheers.
“I was just thinking about a hit,” Thacker Beach said after league organizers presented the Yankees with the championship trophy. “I was looking to drive it pretty far.”
The Majors (ages 11 and12) was just one of three little league championships held at Beaver Lake Park June 13. Hundreds of parents and family members attended throughout the day to watch their sluggers play in the final tournament of the spring baseball season.
The annual event, which began about 10 years ago, organizers said, features teams from Tee Ball- to Majors-level in 13 games spanning the entire day.
“The Championship Saturday is a big part of our league and it’s kind of the culmination of the season,” said league president Jim Dimlow.
The mood was festive, as children and their parents enjoyed watching lots of baseball under a 70-degree sun.
“It’s really rewarding,” said tournament director Jeff Shomaker. “It’s a great day to get families out and the kids together.”
Sypher, who played second base and pitcher, said he had a good feeling about Thacker-Beach’s at-bat. This was also the first time he scored a winning run.
“I knew Trevor was going to hit it,” Sypher said. “It was exciting. It’s the first time I’ve ever won.”
Although the Pioneer, Coast and Majors teams played for league bragging rights, the younger players were in it for some good-ole fun.
Each Tee Ball team played jamboree-style games and every player received a medal in the end.
The Coast Rays beat the Braves 9-4 and the Pioneer Rangers beats the Cubs 7-3.
Between games June 13, Dimlow presented the sportsmanship awards to the Instructional-level Red Sox and Mets and the Rookie-level Giants and Athletics for their perfect scores from coaches in sportsmanship throughout the season.
Dimlow also announced the inception of a new award for service to Sammamish Little League. The league created the Brian Armstrong Award to honor the memory of Armstrong, a league vice-president who recently died from cancer.
“It is fitting we announce this award at this time because Brian was our VP of Rookie and Instructional over the last two season and felt that if the Sammamish Little League taught these kids one thing it should be sportsmanship,” Dimlow said in the speech.
Each year the league will honor an adult volunteer who exemplifies Armstrong’s spirit of service. Armstrong’s wife, Kim Armstrong, received the 2009 award.
Reporter Christopher Huber can be reached at 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.sammamishreview.com.
All Yankees first baseman Trevor Thacker-Beach wanted was to hit the ball.
It was the bottom of the 6th inning and his Sammamish Little League Majors-level team was tied with the Pirates, 2-2.
It was their final chance to make something happen. Yankee Blake Sypher had hit in the tying run on a zero-out double and stood on third, with another runner on first.
Yankees pitcher Blake Sypher winds up to deliver the pitch in the top of the sixth inning June 13 against the Pirates. Photo by Christopher Huber
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Pitcher Sean Teague has a lot to be happy about these days. Not only is his two-seamed fastball proving to get batters out when it counts — he pitched a perfect game April 23 — but also he was just drafted by the Florida Marlins.
The 2004 Eastlake High School graduate was chosen in the 25th round of the Major League Baseball draft, June 9 and 10. Teague will likely play with a minor league affiliate of the Marlins. Read more
Upon first acquaintance with Seattle Pacific University track and cross-country phenom Jessica Pixler, you might not get a sense of how good she really is. She will tell how she absolutely loves to run — she trains up to three times a day in the summer months — but she won’t tell you she won four national titles in three sports this past school year.
The 2006 Eastlake High School graduate gives immense credit to her extended support group of family, trainers and coaches for her abounding success on the trails and track. But it’s been such an integral part of her life for long enough that she’s a natural at it.
“I’ve come to really love running, and it’s become a spiritual experience for me,” Pixler said.
Jessica Pixler races through the rain on her way to a third-place finish (20:30.99) in the elite-level Invitational Women’s 6K at the annual Sundodger Invitational Sept., 2008 at Seattle’s Lincoln Park. Photo by Andy Towell, SPU
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Kimi Pohlman has done great things with a softball in the past few years. Last year she was a senior on the Eastlake High School softball team that won the 4A state championship and this year she had another winning season. As a freshman on the University of Washington team, the Sammamish resident helped the Huskies win the national championship.
“It hasn’t really hit me yet,” Pohlman said. “People keep saying congratulations so it’s starting to sink in,” Pohlman said.
Kimi Pohlman, of Sammamish, helped the Huskies win a national title a year after helping the Wolves win a state title. Photo courtesy University of Washington Athletics
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