"Golden moments: Senior Games continue around South Sound" -- July 30, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

A checkers table sat just inside the Jubilee Lodge's glass doors. Jazzy music buzzed through the dining hall, catching the taps of several shoes. Waiters set baskets of rolls on a food table already topped with chicken, salad, coleslaw, beans and cookies.

"Out of the red, white and blue tables," a man spoke through a microphone, "the red tables go first."

More than 150 seniors rose from their tables and formed a food line longer than a tractor-trailer. But these seniors were different. They didn't flash diamond necklaces or slick ties. Instead, gold, silver and bronze medals hung around their necks.

The 2006 Washington State Senior Games continued Saturday, featuring track and field, 3-on-3 basketball, tennis, racquetball, pickleball, badminton, billiards, bowling, soccer, rowing, softball and dance.

The Lakewood Community Center hosted the pickleball tournament. Dozens of seniors and spectators filled the bleachers at the center. The squeaks of tennis shoes from players' constant jukes and body movements echoed sounds similar to a high school basketball game.

Mark Friedenberg stood alongside one of the courts, yelling out the scores in between serves. He wrote "The official pickleball handbook," a book which was published in 1999 and now has a second edition.

Friedenberg said pickleball may be the fastest growing sport among seniors

"A lot of seniors have told me that this game saved their life," he said. "Why? Because they had a sedentary life. They were playing checkers or shuffleboard."

Friedenberg wrote in his book that pickleball will be a part of the Senior Olympics one day.

Pickleball's main draw is its 44-feet by 20-feet court, a size much smaller than tennis courts, where younger legs have the advantage of covering more space

"Anybody can play this game -- you see all kinds of people out here, tall, thin, heavy -- it doesn't matter," Friedenberg said. "It really saves lives. A lot of seniors are active now. It's great."

Unlike track and field, biking and other sports, pickleball can be played cheaply. Regular paddles cost about $55, and wooden paddles about $12. The pickleballs cost as little as $1 each.

Another positive is its loose dress code.

"It's not like tennis, where you have to be prim and proper," Friedenberg said. "Everybody is wearing anything they want."

Roles were reversed at Tumwater High School throughout the track and field events.

Students tracked scores, served refreshments and paced the flow of events while seniors sprinted, threw and wheezed.

Grunts flailed across the field from the shot put event as three sprinters received medals inside Tumwater's red track. About 200 feet away, parallel to the shot put, were a rainbow of javelins speared in the ground.

Javelin throwers pranced forward to launch their poles from a strip of trimmed grass, halfway surrounded by lawn chairs and coolers.

One of the javelin hurlers, Gary Stenlund, competed in the 1968 Olympics.

Fresh out of high school, where he set a junior world record by throwing 240-feet 101/2 inches in 1959, he headed to college where he drank excessively -- so much that he doesn't remember the Olympics experience.

"It's kind of a blur for me because I was a raving alcoholic," he said.

But he stopped drinking in 1982 and now runs a coffee farm in Costa Rica, where he makes his home. That same year he started the javelin masters.

"I've made the full circle," he said. "Right now, if I tripped and hurt myself and I couldn't throw the javelin, it's OK."

Perry Dolan, Washington State Senior Games president, said he enjoys seeing people getting off their couch, getting active and "by golly, winning some medals."

"Most people that turn 50 don't want to admit that they're seniors. It's just an age. You get your AARP card. Nobody wants their damned AARP card. I got mad when I got mine," he said. "But I got a discount at my hotel."

"Senior talent on display...Competition gets under way in Washington State Senior Games" -- July 29, 2006

By Caleb Breakey
The Olympian

Two poles support a sign in Capitol Forest, engulfed by the bark and branches of countless alders. With middle-aged mountain bikers swirling about the trees, decked with helmets and spandex, the sign seems to bear a double meaning.

Its first sentence reads, "On this hill you can see the start of a new and healthy ..."

While the sign refers to a forest reclamation of the Washington Department of Natural Resources, its initial words seem to illuminate the core of the 2006 Washington State Senior Games, which kicked off Friday with mountain biking, tennis and hammer throwing.

The sign's first sentence must end, "generation of talented senior athletes," to fully encapsulate the games.

The participants flashed hearty, fresh talent throughout the day.

"These are serious, dedicated, challenging people who are continuing to participate," said Jack Kiley, president of the Puget Sound Senior Games, which presents the Washington State Senior Games. "They can compete in local competitions, but once a year on an age basis, they can compete with their peers and see how good they are. That's what we provide."

Kiley said the games appeal to both serious athletes and people who just look for fun and companionship, such as Ron and Judy Larson, who play tennis.

Spanning five tennis courts, an oval shaped dome towered over the heads of half a dozen senior tennis players at The Valley Athletic Club in Tumwater. A large fan blew into the open space above Judy and the other players, and a string of 44 fluorescent lights hung from metal chains, lining the courts from end to end.

Ron, 67, looked through the tennis lounge's 10 windows which overlook the courts, watching Judy swat a left-handed, overhand serve.

Dressed in a pink tank top and black shorts - short, grey hair topping her head - Judy, 70, lobbed a shot over the heads of her opponents, scoring a point in her doubles match.

"That's my baby," Ron shouted from the lounge as Judy raised a clinched fist, revealing a sarcastic smile as the couple caught each others' eyes. "Wow, topspin. She doesn't hold back."

The Larsons, who met at the club 15 years ago and married three years later, won their respective doubles tennis championships in last year's games, and now hang gold medals on their home's mantle.

Ron said the shiny decorations awe some of their company, and that he likes his chances at adding more awards.

"Our grandkids are so impressed," he said.

This year marked a first for the mountain biking event and hammer throw, which took place at Centralia High School. The scheduled morning kayaking event was cancelled because not enough people registered.

Bob Lawson, 71, who competed in the hurdles and high jump in high school, won the first flight in the hammer throws.

"When you can't run or jump, you throw," Lawson said. "There's just not enough competition for people to throw hammers."

Todd Taylor, 59, competing in the 60-64 age group, threw upwards of 170-feet in the hammer throw. He said the gritty event simply fits him -- tough and grueling.

"It's kind of that Braveheart, medieval kind of 'rah!' he said. "Throw something heavy."

After he had thrown the hammer 174-feet -- his goal was 190-feet -- Todd walked back to where his wife, Joyce, was sitting.

"It must be going uphill," Joyce said as he approached.

"No, I must be going down hill," Todd joked.

Lawson said the hammer throw event should grow next year, especially since it had 17 entrants in its first go-round.

"People just have to find out that there're opportunities," he said. "When people hear that they had this up here, they'll get mad and say, 'Oh, why didn't I do that?' "

"Mariners fans play GM," -- July 28, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

Seattle Mariners general manager Bill Bavasi said making trades means balancing "talent for talent, money -- can you afford the guy -- and then fitting the guy into the makeup of your club."

With that in mind, Mariners fans are playing general manager as Monday's trade deadline approaches -- surfing Web sites for trade rumors, bantering with friends about the teams' needs and screaming bloody murder over previous trades that went sour.

Fans remain adamant about finding a savior for the Mariners' season, but Bavasi said he doesn't try to oversimplify the trade process.

"You target the guy you think might be available," Bavasi said last week. "In our case, we're trying to push as many deals to the edge as we can and not push and finish them until we figure out if we're good enough for them."

Bavasi said no formula gauges how much time trades consume, but the next four days guarantee many hours that fans' thoughts will be on how to improve the Mariners.

Here's what some fans at Safeco Field said:

"Another starting pitcher," Richard Hernon of Seattle said. "If they would just get consistent with pitching with what they have they'd be fine, or consistent offense with what they have and they'd be fine. June showed that if you get some consistency that you're going to win. It would be nice to have a hard throwing lefthander."

"Bring up the younger players," Lew West of Seattle said. "Give them a chance to play; see what they can do. Who knows? Find out which ones are hitting. Don't sacrifice the future."

"A cleanup hitter who can drive some runs in," Mike Mcauliffe of Seattle said. "Someone who can get up there with guys on base and get a hit."

"I don't think they should bring up the younger players," Angela Scheneman of Portland said. "They are doing fine as they are."

Talking about trades is one thing, being a part of one is another.

Eduardo Perez, whom the Mariners acquired from the Cleveland Indians on June 30, said players can't take trades personally -- it's just business.

Even though he said moving is a hurdle for his family, the right-handed hitting Perez said he's optimistic about coming to Seattle.

"It's fun because you know that another organization wants you," he said. "You have value. That makes it fun, and it's also fun when you trade up a lot of positions on your games behind (in the standings)."

Seattle is 31/2 games out in the AL West. Cleveland trails by 231/2 in the Central.

Perez said when he walked into the Mariners' clubhouse and suited up with "Mariners" on his chest, he became a part of a family -- one that is closer to a championship than his previous team.

"We're in this business to win games," he said. "Right here, we're closer to it than we were over there."

Mariners on deck

Seattle Mariners at Cleveland Today-Sunday, Jacobs Field
Today: Felix Hernandez (9-8, 4.76) vs. Jeremy Sowers (2-3, 5.12), 4:05 p.m. (FSN).
Saturday: Jarrod Washburn (4-10, 4.58) vs. Jake Westbrook (7-6, 4.44), 4:05 p.m. (KSTW-UPN11).
Sunday: Joel Pineiro (7-8, 5.72) vs. Cliff Lee (9-8, 4.78), 10:05 a.m. (FSN).

About Cleveland (44-56): The Indians' .287 team batting average is second in the major leagues to Toronto's .294. Catcher and first baseman Victor Martinez has hit safely in 21 of his last 24 games, batting .374 with one home run and 12 RBIs. Designated hitter Travis Hafner has hit five grand slams this year, which is a club record and one shy of the major league record. He has hit safely in 25 of his last 32 games, batting .316 with 11 home runs and 28 RBIs. The Indians have scored nine or more runs in a game 21 times, which is a major league high.

About the Mariners (49-52): Catcher Kenji Johjima's .293 batting average ranks second among all Seattle catchers for a single season. Dan Wilson hit .297 in 2002. Third baseman Adrian Beltre has a combined 30 extra-base hits in June and July (21 doubles, three triples, six home runs) after collecting just nine the first two months of the season. With five games remaining in July, Yuniesky Betancourt leads the Mariners with a .370 batting average and 27 hits this month. Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki has a club-high 12 runs scored and Richie Sexson has six home runs in July. Raul Ibanez has tacked on 15 RBIs this month.

Caleb Breakey, The Olympian

"Olympia team captures senior softball crown," -- July 28, 2006

Olympia team captures senior softball crown
BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

Second Wind, a senior softball team from Olympia, won the men's 50 AA division at the SSUSA Western National Championships on Sunday in Reno, Nevada.

Coached by player Frank Agnello, the team pounded out an average of 17 runs per game over the three-day tournament on the way to an 8-1 record.

The team advances to the SSUSA national championship game and the SSUSA World Championships on Sept. 7-10 in the Seattle area.

The 15-player squad, sponsored by the Chehalis tribe's Lucky Eagle Casino, includes an engineer, software consultant, teacher and coach.

After winning its first three games and being seeded No. 1, Second Wind lost its fourth game, forcing it into single elimination play. But the team rallied for five consecutives victories, taking the final two games against Shawn Montee Timber of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to win the tournament.

"We held a couple opponents to seven runs," Agnello said. "Seven runs in slowpitch softball is atypical."

The team's pitcher, Mike Maiuri, who Agnello said is "the most natural fielder that people have ever seen at the senior level," batted third and hit .750 for the tournament.

Outfielder Ric Doer Flinger, who at 51 is one of the team's youngest players, hit .740. More than half of the team's players are older than 55, Agnello said.

"Ric is a kid in our group," Agnello said.

Craig Everhart, who Agnello said carried the team offensively, hit four home runs over the three-day span.

Shortstop Bill Moore, the team's No. 2 hitter, hit close to .800 and turned several double plays that took "the wind out of the opponent's sails," Agnello said.

Designated hitter Tom Linehim, who hit .650, provided a game-winning hit on the first day of the tournament.

"Women grab their clubs" -- July 27, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

Lacey -- B.J. Williams doesn't want to play golf with the latest British Open winner - not on Tuesdays, at least.

Williams would rather be teeing off with the 29 other women in her Ladies Golf Club at The Golf Club at Hawks Prairie, where she said competition is choice and socialization guaranteed. It's one of at least eight women's golf groups at South Sound courses.

"I don't want to play with Tiger Woods, because it would be very embarrassing," Williams, the Hawks Prairie women's club president, said with a laugh. "We're recreational enough that we like to compete, but we never make any money at it. Our (reason) is for fun."

The Hawks Prairie women's club uses 3- to 30-stroke handicaps so that its members can play in tournaments throughout the year, which are put on by associations such as the Tacoma Women's Golf Association.

While Williams said the club is about friendships, she added, "we have some darn good golfers, too."

About half of the club's golfers play in tournaments, but Williams said its members aren't obligated to play golf competitively.

The club, whose members typically are 40 years old or older, plays at 9 a.m. Tuesdays on two 18-hole golf courses at Hawks Prairie, the Links Course and the Woodlands Course.

Each week, the club heads to the course and plays a game, such as low putts, low net or low gross, Williams said. They also play in a club championship for women at Hawks Prairie.

That's enough competition for some of the club's members.

"Just the fact that you're in a group and playing an organized, every-Tuesday event - that is competing in itself," Williams said. "Then if you want to go a step farther and compete in a club championship or something, that's a choice."

Dian Cox, president of the Tumwater Valley Municipal Golf Course Ladies Golf Club, said her club draws names to pair the members into teammates for a day.

The Hawks Prairie Ladies Club's Tuesday morning golf turns into lunch or a Coke in the afternoon, when the club chats about grandchildren, jobs or what they did on the weekend.

Karen Fuller, co-president of the Delphi Ladies Golf Club, said members of her club have known each other for several years and meet for breakfast instead of golf when the weather turns sour.
Williams, who played 94 rounds of golf last year, said more women would join a club if they knew what it entails: friendship, socialization and an improving golf game.

"Some women have tried golfing but really don't have friends who golf," she said. "Every Tuesday, I can get up in the morning, and if I want to go play golf, I know that I'm going to find friends to play with. You end up playing more golf than if you just sat around and waited for a call."

Members of the Hawks Prairie Ladies Club practice and know the rules of the game, Williams said, noting that joining such a club isn't the place to start for beginning golfers.

Knowing the rules and etiquette of golf is an "honor thing" - respecting the game and other players - she said.

Williams, who's played golf for six years, said several of the club's members are retired.

"Even if you retire at 60 or 65, you can pick up golf if you want to," she said. "You're not going to beat someone that's 30 years old, but you can certainly golf, and you can certainly golf competitively."

Lynn Nielsen, president of the Capitol City Golf Course Ladies Golf Club, said her club has golfers of all abilities and ages.

"There's always a golf game out there and people to play with," she said. "Good friendships and socialization and a chance to compete. If they can hit the ball reasonably down the fairway, we would like them to come join us."

"Seattle closer uses mental toughness" -- July 24, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

SEATTLE -- Seattle Mariners closer J.J. Putz knows how Dr. Jekyll feels when anger evokes Mr. Hyde's tempered persona.

The hard-throwing right-hander has a beast of his own inside him.

"A switch goes on in the ninth inning," Putz said. "I'm usually a passive guy, but when I come into a game, I hate everything. I guess that's how I get myself psyched up. All I see is the mitt, and I want to pound the mitt as hard as I can."

The Mariners handed Putz the closer's job after the team split ties with Eddie Guardado in June.

Putz, who owns a 2-0 record and 2.47 ERA this season, said Guardado's mentoring bolstered his mental toughness.

"You knew coming into the game that you were in for a battle when you stepped in the box versus Eddie," Putz said. "He's going to give you everything he's got. Here comes my fastball, see if you can hit it."

Mental toughness is the hardest part of baseball, Putz said, and that's where Guardado was helpful to the Mariners' 6-foot-5, 250-pound stopper.

Putz, who regularly hits the upper-90s on the radar gun, explained the ups and downs that closers face:

"There are games where you feel like you could hit a gnat in the (rear end)," he said. "Next thing you know, you're giving up two runs and the lead is gone. You're like, 'How the heck does that happen?' "

In other games, Putz said he doesn't have a clue where the ball is going, yet it results in a 1-2-3 inning.

The Mariners' ninth-inning man said every player catches a break from time to time, whether it's a good defensive play behind him or an opposing player's miss at a pitch over the middle of the plate.

"That's the weird thing about this game, nobody is ever perfect," he said. "Even in a perfect game, I guarantee the guy hasn't thrown the ball everywhere he wanted to. He got away with some."

Putz said closers have little room for error and need to make adjustments between every pitch, as opposed to starting pitchers who adapt to hitters over several innings.

He craves to pitch against the league's premier hitters, naming Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Vladimir Guerrero and Hank Blalock.

"You want to face the best, because they bring out the best in you," Putz said. "Those are the ones you want. That's what you live for."

Reliever Mark Lowe, who's dazzled the Mariners by posting a 1-0 record and striking out eight in 72/3 innings, said Putz welcomed him and showed him his pitching routine.

The Mariners bullpen is a tight-knit, collective unit from the first guy to the last, Putz said.

Starter Gil Meche said he feels comfortable handing the game over to Putz in the late innings, especially because of the closer's dominating fastball.

"When you got a guy coming out of the pen who's more of a spot guy, the margin for error is not as big as a guy throwing 95-96," Meche said. "That's a good thing to see at the tail end of the bullpen, guys who can blow fastballs by people and not have to worry about so much control."

The Mariners' hard-throwing bullpen draws comparisons to the 2001 group of relievers that included Kazuhiro Sasaki, Jeff Nelson and Arthur Rhodes. However, manager Mike Hargrove said comparing the two bullpens is like comparing "apples and oranges" because each hurler's pitching style is different.

Hargrove said his favorite bullpen option is a power arm, and that several managers share his opinion.

Still, closers who only throw fastballs usually aren't successful, said Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, who homered off Putz with two outs in the ninth inning on Sunday to tie the game at 8.

"That's what has developed J.J. into the role he's in -- the development of his other pitches," Varitek said. "I don't think hard throwing has everything to do with it. J.J. has a split, curveball and slider. Just a hard thrower in this game doesn't necessarily matter."

The 23-year-old Lowe, who's clung to Putz's knowledge since making the jump from Double-A to the big leagues, is already imitating the monster inside Putz.

"When you go in there, you have to know you're better than anybody who steps foot in that box," he said. "It's just confidence, knowing you're better than them."

"Lester returns home to face M's...Red Sox rookie pitcher from Tacoma still learning but is off to 5-0 start" -- July 23, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

SEATTLE -- The adage, "So close, yet so far" never seemed so true.

Boston Red Sox pitcher and Tacoma native Jon Lester lacks something, but it rests a mere 30 feet from his locker.

Experience.

Seven chairs, a garbage can and two fluorescent lights span the 30-foot pathway -- a beeline from Lester's locker to Red Sox ace Curt Schilling's locker.

"Anything you can pick up, whether it's the smallest thing or the biggest thing, it helps you," Lester said. "You can just watch (Schilling) pitch -- the way he prepares and the knowledge he has."

Lester, a Bellarmine Prep graduate who will take the mound against the Mariners this afternoon, finally is home.

This weekend marked the first time the 6-foot-2, 190-pound left-hander slept in his own bed in the summer since he was selected by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft.

"I haven't had much time," said the Sox's 2005 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. "I went home (Friday) night after we got in and spent time with my grandfather and uncle. It was just nice to be around the hometown and obviously be back in Seattle."

Lester, who owns a 5-0 record and 2.38 ERA, set aside 50 tickets for friends and family today.

The Red Sox's No. 3 starter began his career throwing mostly fastballs but now mixes several off-speed pitches in with his dominating heater.

"A little bit of everything," he said. "Some days it's curveball, some days it's cutter. Every day is different, figuring out what's working that day."

Two minor league sports psychology coaches for the Red Sox, Bob Tewksbury and Don Kalkstein, helped the 22-year-old develop pitching routines and mental toughness.

Tewksbury and Kalkstein taught him both a pre- and post-pitch mindset, along with a workout regime and five-day pitching routine, Lester said.

The southpaw's overall presence on the mound improved this year.

"That's come a long way," he said. "Those guys have just helped out tremendously on the development side of it."

Lester said his coach at Bellarmine Prep -- Rick Barnhart -- asked him about his pitching poise.

"Is it just a face, or are you actually that comfortable?" Barnhart questioned.

"I told him it was more or less a face," Lester said. "I try to act that way, but at times ... you're not too comfortable."

The 2005 Eastern League Pitcher of the Year pitched a career-high 1481/3 innings over the span of 26 starts last year, including three complete games.

Lester's ability to pitch deep into games branded him an "innings eater" in the minor leagues.

"That means you're working hard and staying healthy," he said. "That's the biggest thing as a starter and that's what you want."

The lefty said his parents, John and Kathie, supported him in every sport he played.

Lester's father recalled traveling to Fenway Park to watch his son's first game. The Lesters were joined by friends from Ohio and, every now and then, Lester's father leaned close to the friends and said, "Is that my kid out there?"

Probably with a pat on John Lester's knee, his friends responded, "It is."

People told Lester that his son "has talent," but he knew reaching the big leagues takes much more -- something he knew Jon had.

"It's a lot more than just talent; it's what's in here," John Lester said, pointing toward his chest. "He's always been tough."

The rookie pitcher said his parents get more nervous than he does when he struts out to the mound. Kathie Lester even screams at the TV screen when she watches, yelling for him to strike out the opponent.

John Lester said he gets too nervous to watch his son's games live on TV.

"I won't watch it when he pitches," he said. "I sit out in the garage and I drink Coke out there. (Kathie) comes after innings and gives me updates."

Jon Lester, who has struck out 37 and walked 29 in 451/3 innings this season, impressed the Red Sox's coaches with his ability to pitch out of jams, his father said.

Especially awed is Boston manager Terry Francona.

While Francona said guessing whether Lester could become a pitcher the caliber of Schilling is a bit of a leap, the manager likes what he sees from the youngster.

"Tremendous amount of maturity," he said. "Learning how to pitch in the major leagues in the middle of a pennant race isn't an easy thing to do, but I think he's handled it really well."

Francona told Lester repeatedly to "pound the strike zone" when he joined the Red Sox in June. Lester will win games so long as he throws strikes, the Boston manager said.

"When he throws strikes, he's going to have success," Francona said. "He's not a kid who's coming up once, and then going to go back. He's a keeper."

"Jones working hard to remain with Mariners...Rookie gets extra practice in outfield" -- July 22, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

SEATTLE -- Mariners rookie center fielder Adam Jones got some advice from Tacoma Rainiers manager Dave Brundage before trotting out to the "405" sign at Safeco Field: "It's easy to get there -- it's tough to stay there."

Jones, who doubled and had an RBI against the Red Sox last night, said he's running with Brundage's words.

"There's more work to do now than before," he said.

Jones, a converted shortstop, meets with Mariners first base coach Mike Goff every day before games to work on defense.

Goff pushes Jones to work on ground balls, hits over his head and fly balls from various angles.

"Just try to get as much work as we can in a reasonable amount of time so he doesn't wear me out for batting practice," Jones said.

Experienced outfielders take their eyes off high, deep fly balls to get to the ball quicker, whereas young outfielders fear taking their eyes off the ball, Goff said.

The more Jones looks at the ball, the less ground he covers. The 20-year-old must learn to put his head down, sprint and pick the ball up toward the end of his route, Goff said.

Still, the first base coach said Jones' ascent as a center fielder has been "remarkable" because he's roamed outfield grass for only 10 months.

Jones' athleticism and skills learned at shortstop -- footwork and throwing accuracy -- might put his name among elite outfielders someday.

Goff said Jones' range, arm and accuracy mark him as an "above average" outfielder, the same label Goff gave to Ichiro Suzuki, Vladimir Guerrero, Vernon Wells and Mike Cameron.

Jones' arm particularly impresses Goff.

"You're going to see this kid cut some loose, along with accuracy," he said.

While Goff said the young center fielder has to work, improve and develop -- learning something new every day -- he likes Jones' shot at becoming the next Gold Glove fielder to patrol center field at Safeco.

"There's no doubt," Goff said. "He's a glider, he's smooth to the ball, (and) he covers tremendous ground with strides, like a Cameron. It's just a matter of time."

-------------------------------------------------------------------
SHORT HOPS: Jeremy Reed, who suffered a broken right thumb against Colorado, was expected to miss four to six weeks. While the thumb "feels good," Reed said it would be a week or two before he's updated on his injury timetable. ... Before the game, Willie Bloomquist charged a practice ground ball and, while running toward home, picked the ball and threw a no-look throw across his body to first base. Bloomquist then trotted back to second base with a grin. ... Ichiro Suzuki was hit by a pitch during the fifth inning by Red Sox started Kyle Snyder. Later, Mariners reliever Jake Woods knocked David Ortiz to the ground. Mariners reliever Emiliano Fruto also dropped Manny Ramirez with a wild pitch over the All-Star's head in the eighth inning. Nothing arose between the teams from the erratic pitches.

Famous: it's not my article, but read this closely

By DAVID ANDRIESEN
P-I REPORTER

The biggest media star at Safeco Field on Friday afternoon was Red Sox rookie left-hander Jon Lester, the Tacoma native off to a 5-0 start since being promoted.

A crowd of reporters gathered around him on the infield dirt after his workout, and one asked which big leaguer he'd most like to face.

"Griffey," the 22-year-old said. "Hopefully he hits a home run off me. That would be kind of cool."

Boston manager Terry Francona might not be crazy about that answer, but who can blame Lester for idolizing Ken Griffey Jr. the way all his Tacoma contemporaries did growing up?

"I think he was every kid's favorite growing up," Lester said. "I remember him in the Kingdome, crashing into walls and hitting home runs."

Lester, a graduate of Bellarmine Prep, will start Sunday against Seattle's Jarrod Washburn, and he'll have a cheering section of about 50 family members and friends.

His parents picked him up at the airport on Thursday night and took him home.

"It was nice to have him," dad John Lester said. "It was kind of like he never left."

The senior Lester has been following his son's big season, but not too closely.

"His mom (Kathie) will watch on the MLB (TV) package, and I sit in the garage and drink Coke and listen," he said. "After every inning she comes out and gives me a report. I will not watch. I get too nervous.

"I quit smoking five years ago, and I'm surprised I haven't taken it up again."

************************************************

Anyway, after letting you read the whole article, I'll tell you. I was the reporter who asked Lester the question.

"Ex-coach praises hardworking Hawks...Meneely explains his decision to leave River Ridge after one season" -- July 21, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

Brian Meneely quivered a bit as he gathered his River Ridge High School boys basketball team in the Hawks' gym.

It was early June, and Meneely was preparing to tell his players that he was taking the coaching job at Kamiakin High School in Kennewick about one year after committing to the Hawks.

"I was dreading it. I didn't want to disappoint the kids that I felt worked really hard and deserved better," Meneely said. "To have to tell kids that you're leaving and are not going to be able to fulfill your end of the commitment -- that's not an easy thing to do."

Meneely said River Ridge, which finished last season 7-13 overall and 3-13 in the Pacific-9 League, has hungry, hardworking basketball players who shoot more hoops than kids in the eastern part of the state.

The Hawks' passion to win breeds a competitiveness that leads to success, he said.

"I sure hope that my kids here work as hard as the kids at River Ridge did," Meneely said.
"Those kids work extremely hard, and they listen and they do everything that you ask."

Meneely said he couldn't refuse being close to family and coaching in his hometown.

The new Kamiakin coach said he balanced two main aspects in his decision -- his commitment to River Ridge and the coaching job with the Braves.

The pendulum swung toward coaching Kamiakin because Meneely "just wasn't sure if (the job opportunity) would ever come again."

"It's just home," he said. "I have people on my staff now that I've known for 10 or 15 years of my life. It was a chance to go home and be around my family and do something that I love with people that I really care about."

The 25-year-old coach, a 1999 Kennewick graduate, said things started to sink in when he returned from Kamiakin's team camp this year. About 20 people Meneely knew from his youth congratulated him and said they wanted to watch his boys play.

"That was like, 'Wow, this is really cool,' " Meneely said. "I know everybody here."

Steve Biehn, an assistant principal at Kennewick when Meneely suited up for the Lions, said home lured Meneely.

"That was the draw, to get back to family and friends," he said. "They're a very close family."
The Kamiakin coaching job fits Meneely perfectly -- an opportunity that may not come again, Biehn said.

Still, the former Kennewick principal said Meneely faced heartache throughout the transition from River Ridge to Kamiakin.

"It's always difficult to leave a situation, and I'm sure it's difficult on the people he built relationships with, because he's the kind of kid who builds relationships," Biehn said.

Kamiakin approached the Lewis-Clark State College graduate about the job after Braves coach Dennis Rose resigned May 10.

Meneely said he wasn't pursuing another coaching job while with the Hawks.

"It wasn't like I was on the Internet everyday looking for jobs, that wasn't the situation at all," he said.

A former Kennewick basketball player, Meneely said he got close to the basketball players at River Ridge, pouring his heart into the Hawks' basketball program.

"I was hired to come in and help that program and get it going in the right direction, and I don't think that I achieved that," Meneely said. "That was the difficult part, having to leave before I even had a chance to do what I was hired to do."

With the experience gained from coaching at River Ridge -- having been through starting a program and now recognizing problems in advance -- Meneely said he's more comfortable in his new position.

The Braves coach said he'd use that experience to keep Kamiakin's foundation intact.

"You learn things and try things and see what works," Meneely said. "I got a chance to do what I love in my hometown around my family."

"St. Martin’s camp lends power to young baseball potential...13- to 16-year-olds get crash course in game’s fundamentals" -- July 20, 2006

By Caleb Breakey
Lacey Today (Weekly insert in The Olympian)

Bats, balls and gloves spot the finely trimmed grass between home plate and the third-base dugout at Saint Martin’s University’s baseball field.

A team of eight boys — wearing non-matching t-shirts or jerseys — crouch into ready positions while playing defense. Another group of young men strap batting gloves on, take a few practice swings and step to the plate against Jake Gamble, a sophomore baseball player for the Saint’s baseball team.

The 6-feet-2-inch right-hander winds up and delivers a slow, overhand pitch to one of the young batters, who swings and misses.

“Got him with the knuckleball,” Gamble shouts as he steps back onto the mound, proud of fooling the hitter. “Oh, nasty (pitch).”

Gamble and Saint’s head coach Joe Dominiak led this group of about 20 players through the Saint Martin’s Baseball Academy for 13- through 16-year-olds during a four-day baseball camp last week.

Dominiak said the camp focuses on building each player’s character and confidence — making them believe in their abilities.

“Attitude is the main portion of the game,” Dominiak said. “You can have the best skills as an athlete, but if you don’t have the attitude to go with it, you’re not going to make it. You can have a great attitude, and not as good skills, and that’s going to carry you farther.”

A typical day at camp includes several offensive and defensive drills in the morning, then lunch, followed by team defensive drills and an hour of scrimmage in the afternoon.

Michael Rosen, 13, said he usually just tries to make contact with the ball when he’s at the plate. However, the camp emphasized a different approach — “Think, every time I go up (to the plate), get a hit,” he said.

Paying attention and not trying to do things his own way was the key for Josh Aase, 13, who learned batting fundamentals such as stepping toward the mound when the pitcher is winding up.

Andrew Brown, 15, said the camp taught him to always stay positive, even after making an error.

Brown also picked up some batting tips.

“Loading — getting back on your back leg and driving through the ball,” he said. “It transfers more power through your swing.”

Sitting on a chair in front of the third-base dugout, his elbows resting on his knees, Dominiak told the players in the dugout that he keeps a file on them — a “recruiting log” that includes notes on each player.

Many of the players at camp won’t begin high school until fall 2006, so Dominiak shared tips on how to impress high school coaches and nail down a spot in a starting lineup.

“If you make the C team, you make the C team. If you make JV, you make JV. If you make varsity, congratulations. Whatever team you make, play the game hard,” he said. “Coaches will notice you.”

Saint’s junior pitcher Tip Wonhoff, a valedictorian scholarship winner, has a full-ride scholarship to Saint Martin’s University.

Dominiak used Wonhoff as an example while talking with the baseball camp players, relaying that just being an athlete doesn’t pay the bills — an education is needed.

“Roughly 30 grand a year is what he gets,” Dominiak said. “(Multiply) that by four, and it’s $120,000 worth of education. Besides being a pitcher, he gets to go to school here for free. That’s huge.”

The Saint’s team grade point average was 2.19 when Dominiak took over as head coach eight years ago. The teams’ grades have rocketed to a 3.22 GPA since then.

Dominiak said 1,500 players get drafted by major league teams each year, and that only 2 percent of those players reach the big leagues, “so if you don’t have your college degree or a GPA to get a degree, what are you going to fall back on?”

Keeping sharp throughout a game despite mental or physical errors is vital to the players’ success, Dominiak said.

“I explain to them that baseball is a defeating game,” he said. “There’s major league guys making millions of dollars in a game that they get beat. It’s a game of failure.”

Dominiak said players couldn’t take their batting frustrations onto the field because, somehow, the baseball is going to find them and cause an error.

“I told them, ‘You have a war inside your mind,’ ” Dominiak said. “If you make an error, (or) you strikeout, flush it out of your mind, don’t think about it and go back out and do your job.”

Brandon Pinch, 15, said the camp refreshes players’ minds about techniques and mechanics that sometimes go overlooked, such as the right way to throw off-speed pitches without causing an injury.

Pinch noted the improvement in his statistics in the past two seasons after attending the Saint’s baseball camp, and said he’ll be coming back next year.

“If you love the game of baseball, it’s perfect for you,” he said. “You can be the best player ever, but you still learn something. It makes you better.”

"Kick in the Grass brings 110 teams to Tumwater...Youth soccer tournament begins Friday night" -- July 20, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN


About 3,000 people and 110 soccer teams will trek to South Sound by 6 p.m. Friday for the start of the 27th annual 2006 Kick in the Grass tournament in Tumwater.

The tournament runs through Sunday.

The Tumwater Soccer Club uses the tournament -- which will include about 200 games for children between 11 and 17 years old -- as its only fundraiser.

"We don't ask the kids to make cookies or do car washes or anything, we just have this tournament," tournament director Tabitha Townsend said.

The club grants four college tuition scholarships to Tumwater school district students each year and supplies the teams with game balls and uniforms.

The scholarships, worth $500 each, go to Tumwater students graduating from high school.
"This is a nonprofit thing," Townsend said. "All the money gets thrown right back into (the club and community)."

The tournament is played on soccer fields at Tumwater High School, Pioneer Park, East Olympia Elementary, Black Hills High School and Kenneydell Park -- a total of about 15 fields.

Townsend said the club sometimes plans more activities to build its funds, "but this way they have money to get uniforms and shirts and stuff."

Townsend said the tournament includes select teams but not premier teams, so teams that qualified at the state's top level don't participate in the tournament.

Team sportsmanship is the tournament's focus, graded by volunteer field marshals, Townsend said.

"It's actually one of the highest-valued awards at the tournament," she said. "Everybody is out to get the sportsmanship award. We try to have the family- friendly atmosphere."


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kick in the Grass
When: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Fields at Tumwater High School, Pioneer Park, East Olympia Elementary, Black Hills High School and Kenneydell Park
Parking: Limited spaces. Carpooling is encouraged.

"Once-struggling student takes hydroplane torch...Teenager sparked by father's passion" -- July17, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- Second-generation hydroplane racer Mike Perman first hit the water as an 11-year-old in 1998.

Perman, the son of Tony Perman, a board member of the Seattle Outboard Association, had stalled his boat when another racer -- rope in hand -- trudged into the lake to help him.

"Oh, no. I don't think so," the younger Perman said as the racer offered to pull him in. "My dad's going to come and get me."

The rescuer told Perman it was a long swim back to land, but his mind was set.

"No, no, dad will come and get me," he said.

The helper then looked around and, sure enough, Tony Perman was whacking his way through the brush near the water's edge, on his way toward his son.

Benny Betsch, a member of the Seattle Outboard Association, said the Perman's father-son bond is just one of hydroplane racing's lasting legacies.

"It's really nice to see sons and dads, where the dad is the hero, and the son is also the dad's hero," Betsch said. "Families that race together stay together."

Betsch said Mike Perman was doing poorly in school at that point in his life, nearly flunking and only interested in candy and computer games.

"He didn't feel real good about himself," Tony Perman said. "I noticed when we started racing the boats, all of that changed."

Now a sophomore flight technology major at Central Washington University, Perman, 19, holds a 3.7 grade-point average.

Mike's turnaround began while watching his father and Betsch set up hydroplanes for races. The youngster started pointing out their mistakes as they prepared the boats.

"So all of a sudden he started taking more interest in his own set up, and now he won't even let us set it up hardly because he doesn't trust us," Betsch said. "He's got certain ways he likes to do it."

Mike Perman said the hydroplane racers he grew up with taught him personal responsibility and to always help others. Countless weekends with each other filled with jokes, laughter and talks about life helped build Mike's character, Tony said.

Perman said those times indirectly helped him reach one of his goals, to become a top-notch hydroplane racer.

"Being a boat racer helps you mature more and faster," he said. "Also, being more mature helps you be a better racer, and since we're all striving to be better racers, I think it helps accelerate that maturity process."

Betsch said Perman now has the ability to realize a dream, focus and achieve it.

"That's what I like to see, when a young man takes control of his life and sets his own destiny," Betsch said. "You'd never think that of the kid seven years ago."

Raising young hydroplane drivers takes the whole village, not one person, Betsch said.

Racers are involved in hydroplaning for more than just the races; they also enjoy the family atmosphere and passing on their knowledge to younger racers.

"Success and almost everything is about maturity and discipline," Mike Perman said. "The torch kind of gets passed."

"9-year-old among hydro racers...Lakefair Boat Races continue this morning at Capitol Lake" -- July 16, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN


A boisterous buzz thundered through the air, piercing the ears of dozens of spectators alongside Capitol Lake on Saturday during the Lakefair Boat Races.

Sunshine danced off the rippled water and revealed the causes of the deafening noise -- polished, colorful, aerodynamic hydroplanes.

Doug Martin, father of 9-year-old J-stock driver Jared Martin, waded into the lake while waving his arms high in the air, signaling for his son to dock his hydroplane.

Jared spotted Martin, jetted in about 200 feet, then squeezed the throttle just enough to keep his boat moving.

Holding the gas lever a split-second too long, Jared's hydroplane came in quicker than Martin expected. The hydroplane grazed Martin as he dodged to the right, but no harm was done.

Spectators on shore at the event, which resumes at 11 a.m. today and continues into the afternoon, blurted comments out to Martin as he stood knee-deep in the lake.

"At least I learned to get out of the way," Martin joked with a wide smile. "Somebody better get the stretcher out here."

Jared, who started racing in March, had just removed the "new driver" label from his name by finishing his 12th heat.

Jared drives a a hydroplane that he and his father spent 26 Saturdays building through the HARM J-Project, a parent-child hydroplane-building project of the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent.

The museum, which restores old unlimited hydroplanes, donated space to the project comprised of five parents, five children and five boats.

The group works at the museum every Saturday for about three hours, and will have logged a combined 1,000 hours of work once the other hydroplanes hit the water.

Jared --whose hydroplane was the first completed --and the four other children apart of the project were selected because they showed interest and excitement in the sport, Martin said.

Even though a primary goal of the project is to fashion new racers, Martin said he wants his son to just enjoy the hydroplane experience.

"My main thing for Jared -- have fun," he said. "Just don't run me over."

Racer Tony Perman, member of the Seattle Outboard Association, came up with the HARM J-project idea four years ago, but this is the project's first year in existence.

He said he envisions the project will birth new racers that will help keep hydroplaning alive and well.

"I hear stories about how the Seattle Outboard Association used to have twice as many people here," Perman said. "The way to keep the club healthy is to make sure we have new guys coming in all the time. So far (the HARM J-project) has been just a roaring success."

Perman said he gets a kick out of watching new racers jump into hydroplanes and punch the throttle.

"I don't think I've seen a kid yet who came out of those boats without an ear-to-ear grin on their face," he said.

Jared was no exception to young racers' broad smiles, especially after achieving one of his hydroplaning goals on Saturday.

"I broke my world record today," he said. "I went faster than I did before -- 36.2 miles per hour."

His previous mark was 35.4 mph.

The slender, tan, shaggy-haired Jared said he wants to race at the highest level, where speeds exceed 100 mph, he said.

Jared said hydroplaning is like playing video games, "except for you're in it."

The projects' participants received their kits for 8-foot-6-inch hydroplanes and then built jigs, which serve as a starting point for the building process.

Rocky Peterson, a member of the Seattle Outboard Association who volunteers to help build the boats on Saturdays, explained how the boats are made:

"Women make clothes, they have patterns. That's how the thing kind of starts," he said. "You take these patterns, cut them out, and you glue them to stringers. Then you take the stringers, and you connect them to the cockpit sides."

Once the stringers are in place and the form set, the group clothes the hydroplanes with okoume plywood -- nice, light and strong, Peterson said. The boats, which can't exceed 290 pounds, are then mounted with 15-horsepower engines and are set to go.

Jared and the others help sand, glue and pound nails while constructing the boats.

"When they're done, they take it home," Peterson said. "It's their boat. Slowly, they get done, and then they come out and race with us."

"Visit with hydroplane racers results in unforgettable ride" -- July 15, 2006

By Caleb Breakey

The Olympian (Column)

I drove to Capital lake Friday to write an advance story for the hydroplane races that take place today and Sunday. Little did I know that hydroplane racers are welcoming and friendly.

I shook hands with half a dozen hydroplane enthusiasts within minutes and was taking a tour of the many types of hydroplanes.

I couldn't help but ask what driving a hydroplane is like as my eyes examined each boat with its beautiful design.

Sure enough, I was prompted to get inside the craft and get a feel for the steering wheel and throttle. Then someone popped a question I thought would never be addressed to me.

"Want to ride one?" one of the racers asked me.

I figured this racer was joking, because I was fully clothed in a collared shirt and slacks. Not taking the inquiry too seriously, I tried to just shrug it off. But the words came again, this time in detectable earnestness.

My mind went blank as I slowly realized that I might be able to ride a hydroplane, but then I remembered my attire. Just as I looked down at my clothes, the same person said:

"I have some clothes you could borrow."

That was it. I was sold. And I was nervous.

Layered in hydroplane gear worth close to $1,000, I stood alongside Capitol Lake for about 15 minutes. When my turn came, I walked like a tin man toward the craft because hydroplane gear fits tightly.

I got into the water, where another hydroplane racer guided me through some basic controls. He had me rev the engine up, and a grin slowly swept across my face.

Once inside the hydroplane, I grabbed the steering wheel with my right hand and clutched the throttle lever with the other.

It was "go" time.

The man helping me yanked on the hydroplanes' starting cord, and the engine roared. I launched like a bullet toward the first buoy of Capitol Lake's circular course.

Even though the helmet I wore was too big -- partially impairing my vision -- I still saw a glimpse of competitive hydroplane racing.

And I wasn't disappointed.

The water seemed to be nothing more than a mirror as I sliced through the wind at about 60 mph. Top-notch hydroplanes reach upwards of 100 mph --and beyond.

It was a ride I'll not soon forget.

"T-Birds trio wraps up volleyball career...Dahl, McClaflin, Dubois say so long to high school volleyball at all-state series" -- July 14, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN


FIFE -- Tumwater High School volleyball player Danielle Dahl stepped up to serve, down 10-7 in the second game of the Washington Coaches Association all-state series.

She tossed the ball into the air, leaped, and then smacked the ball toward the opposing teams' court. The ball sailed out of bounds to the right.

Dahl, a first team all-league middle blocker, walked toward her team's blue-padded chairs on the sideline with her arms stretched far to the right and left. With a shrug of her shoulders, she said, "I don't know why I can't serve the ball."

Team Blue, the team Dahl and Tumwater first team all-league teammates Kaileen McClaflin and Jessica Dubois suited up for, lost 3-1 Thursday in a best-of-five match at Fife High School. Tumwater head coach Tara Croft co-coached the Team Blue with Anacortes head coach Barb Cicotte.

The team lost the first two games to Team Red 25-20 and 25-19, respectively.

Dahl was flabbergasted by her struggles serving.

"I was getting ready to serve and I stopped for a second," she said. "I tossed the ball with a total different hand, and I was just like, 'OK, I don't know how to jump-serve.' My mind just went blank. I just hit it and totally messed up."

Even so, Dahl bounced back and the team played better in the third and fourth games, taking the third 25-15 but losing the fourth 15-10.

"I just lost my train of thought," she said. "It was just really funny."

The Tumwater girls haven't played since the state tournament, and Dahl said getting back their rhythm and into the volleyball atmosphere was a challenge.

Croft's players, however, enjoyed the four games and the opportunity to play with each other one last time before departing for college.

"It's a last little hurrah for them to play," Croft said. "(To) get their last little competitive juices out."

Dubois, an outside hitter, is the only Tumwater player who will continue playing volleyball -- for Bellevue Community College -- but she didn't play in the all-state series because she's
recovering from foot surgery.

Dahl plans to attend South Puget Sound Community College, while McClaflin is committed to the University of Arizona in Tucson.

McClaflin, a libero, said the three Tumwater graduates are tight-knit.

"Lots of sleepovers, lots of team-bonding," she said. "Lifelong friends."

Teamed with girls from Fife, Highline, White River and Anacortes high schools, McClaflin noted the difficultly of learning to play with knew teammates.

"I'm a really outgoing person, so I knew all of their names on the first day," McClaflin said. "Not everybody knew how to play with each other, but it was an all-state situation, so it was fun."

Croft left a legacy with her players -- all three Tumwater girls refer to the coach as more than a friend.

"She's the best coach I've ever had," McClaflin said. "Not only volleyball-wise, but mentally. She was always there, a good listener, giving good advice. She's like my second mom."

Dahl, Dubois and McClaflin played and matured under Croft's instruction for four years, Croft said.

Croft, a 1991 Tumwater graduate, said the all-state series provided a nice exit for her players to step through.

"It was a great thing for them -- a last little time to play before they're done," she said. "They can retire their spandex."

"STP ride will wander through South Sound" -- July 14, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN


A bombardment of bicyclists will ride through Thurston County on Saturday during the 27th annual Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic, an event that runs through Sunday.

With up to 9,000 participants, the ride is the largest multi-day bicycle event in the Northwest. It will follow state Route 507 through Yelm, Rainier and Tenino in Thurston County and will pass through Centralia and Chehalis in Lewis County.

Roads used by cyclists are open to traffic.

"This is going to go rain or shine," said Cascade Bicycle Club marketing director Carry Porter. "You're going to see 9,000 people on the road through (Thurston County)."

Riders will start their voyage at 4:45 a.m. Saturday in Seattle.

Porter said residents who live along the STP corridor should check the bicycle route by checking Cascade.org on the Web and plan alternate forms of transportation.

Among the cyclists is Kyle Coffey, who rode the 204-mile event on a Big Wheel last year. Keeping with his antics, Coffey will journey through the scenic northwest on a bicycle with 16-inch rims this year, a bike normally ridden by 7-year-olds, Porter said.

"A little kosher-break kind of deal," Porter said.

James Worrel, 84, might be the oldest rider of the bunch. A broken hip caused Worrel to miss last year's ride -- a rare absence from the bicycling event for him -- but he is healthy and ready to ride.

About 95 percent of the riders will gut it out to the Finish Line Festival at Holladay Park in Portland, where riders' favorite activity is sleeping on the grass after the ride, Porter said.

"They train, (and) they know what they're doing," she said.

"It's the crazy guys on Big Wheels that we're never quite sure about," Porter added with a chuckle.

Kim Thompson, a member of the Cascade Bicycle Club staff, said most riders are committed to finishing the route, which passes through the countryside and small towns.

"Once they want to do this ride, they're geared up -- they're doing it," Thompson said. "They don't back out, they just do it."

The ride is not a race -- the starting line is staggered by 10-minute waves to help prevent traffic congestion, and riders aren't officially timed from start to finish.

Food stops in Kent, Spanaway, Centralia (one-day riders only), Lexington and St. Helens offer riders Clif Bars, bagels, fruits, cookies and small sandwiches -- energy for the cyclists, who burn an average of 4,500 calories, Porter said.

"You can ask anybody, and they would say, 'I pretty much ride because I like to eat,' " she said. "(Some) people have been training for as much as six months for this ride. They're pumped, and they're excited."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic
When: Saturday and Sunday
Distance: 204 miles
Elevation gain: 3,898 feet
Participants: More than 8,770 riders, making it the largest multi-day bicycle event in Northwest. Last year, riders came from 38 states, plus England, Japan, Canada and the United Arab Emirates. About 23 percent of last year's cyclists completed the ride in one day.
Registration: Closed, although cyclists can sell their registration before the ride.
For more information: Check on the Web at www.cascade.org.

"Kennewick team enjoys tourney win" -- July 13, 2006

BY CALEB BREAKEY
THE OLYMPIAN


Kennewick American was out of its league.

The all-star baseball team rushed the field after clobbering Kelso 17-8 Sunday at the 10-year-old Southern Washington Cal Ripken State Baseball Championships at Bucknell Park in Lacey.

"They all ran to the mound and mobbed the pitcher," said Doug Barton, director of the Southern Washington Cal Ripken State Baseball Championships. "It looked like they had just won the World Series in Major League Baseball."

Kennewick American advances to the regional tournament in Ellensburg, where teams will battle to qualify for the Cal Ripken World Series.

Only one team moves on from the regional tournament, but Barton likes Kennewick American's odds.

"They're very deep pitching-wise, they're the best coached team I've ever seen, they're very disciplined, they run bases well, (and) they hit the ball," Barton said. "They're going to have a good chance."

Kelso battled through a nine-inning game against Western Longview and won 5-4 in what Barton described as "the game of the tournament," shortly before taking on Kennewick
American in the final game.

Tournament games were scheduled to be six innings, so Kelso had to fight off the fatigue of three extra innings before going into the championship game, Barton said.