Pierce College Fort Steilacoom adds cross country club

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, which is located next door to one of the prime running areas in Pierce County, has added cross country to its list of athletics teams as a club sport.

With Fort Steilacoom Park and its 400 acres of paths and running trails as a next-door neighbor, cross country is a natural addition to the Raider athletics lineup. If interest is high enough, the team could become a regular intercollegiate sport at Pierce, said Duncan Stevenson, Director of Pierce District Athletics.

“We've had interest in cross country from students on a regular basis,” Stevenson said. “Now we have a very enthusiastic coach/advisor to focus that interest.”

The team will be coached by Pierce College faculty member Steve Johnson. It will compete as a club sport against Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges, universities, and in open events starting this fall. Currently there are 13 other schools with cross country teams in the NWACC, according to Stevenson.

Although the team will compete against other colleges, club sport athletes do not use college eligibility, and both part-time and full-time students are eligible to compete.

Three meetings are scheduled at the college, located at 9401 Farwest Drive SW, Lakewood, for men and women interested in joining. They are on August 15, 2 p.m., room C405; August 16, p.m., room C405; Sept., 1 p.m. room C405. Johnson can be reached at spjohnso@pierce.ctc.edu . Phone calls can be directed to Stevenson at (253) 964-6612.

Friday, July 28, 2006

USA loses to Cuba

USA (2-2) lost to Cuba (4-0) Thursday 9-1, committing six errors for seven unearned runs. Ian Harrington pitched 6 1/3 giving up six unearned runs on seven hits. Steve Hupper pitched 2 2/3 innings for three runs, two of those unearned. Scott Santschi went 2-3 and Ricky Reavis was 2-4. USA plays The Nederlands (3-1) Saturday. The winner of that game will play Cuba in the championship game.

Team USA 's next game will be July 29th against The Nederlands.

CUBA 9r,10h.0e.
USA 1r,8h,6e.
W-Suarez.
L-Harrington.

Tournament Results
Chinese-Taipei 4, USA 1
USA 4, Japan 3
USA 7, China 5
Cuba 9, USA 1

USA's Schedule of Games
July 29- vs Nederland

Check out stats and photos at the tournament's web site.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

USA defeats Japan and China

In the team's second game of the Haarlem Baseball Week, USA defeated Japan 4-3. The team of former NWAACC All-Stars scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Japan 4-3. The ninth inning rally was a combination of timely hitting and errors. Two of the runs scored were on errors by the Japanese defense.

In their third game, USA defeated China 7-5. USA was down 5-0 before they scored four runs in the top of the sixth. Brian Justice got a rough start for the USA but was replaced by a Reese Baker who pitched well to shut down the chinese hitters. The winning run for the USA was scored in the top of the eighth.

Team USA's next game will be July 27th against Cuba.

Check out stats and photos at the tournament's web site.

USA loses first contest at Honkbal Tournament

The Haarlem Baseball Week being held July 21-30, 2006 in Haarlem, Nl brings together six teams from around the world including a team representing the USA.  This year, the USA team is comprised of past NWAACC All-Stars including 2006 NWAACC MVP Brook Lindsley of Mt. Hood CC.  

The Honkbal International Tournament has been held for more than 30 years and is contested every two years. The tournament is organized by the Dutch Baseball Federation and The Sport Initiative Foundation of the City of Haarlem and is sanctioned by International Baseball Association.  The tournament is one of the largest and most popular baseball tournaments in Europe.

Other countries represented at the tournament are The Netherlands, China, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Cuba.

In the first game held Friday, July 21 the USA lost to Chinese Taipei 4-1.  Chinese Taipei had eight hits and no errors.  The USA had seven hits and one error.

Tournament Results
Chinese-Taipei 4, USA 1

USA 's Schedule of Games
July 22- vs Japan
July 25- vs China
July 27- vs Cuba
July 29- vs Nederland

More information can be found at the tournament's web site at www.honkalweek.nl .

Related Article: Smith leads NWAACC stars in Europe written by Rick McCorkle

He looks forward to working with some very talented students and an award winning basketball program and taking on the challenges of running a very active Athletic Department for a great college.

Major League Scouting Bureau will conduct an OPEN TRYOUT CAMP on Thursday, June 22, 2006 at LaPierre Field in Kennewick , WA

Players at least 16 years of age are eligible to participate and should be present at 8:30 a.m. for registration. American Legion players must have written permission from their coach, manager, or post commander. Players should bring their own equipment and pay their own expenses to the camp. There is no fee to participate.

Each player must sign a liability waiver, and players under 21 must have the signature of a parent or legal guardian. The waiver is available at MLB.com (go to official MLB Info) or at camp registration.

For more information contact Carl Moesche , Northwest Scouting Supervisor for the Major League Scouting Bureau via e-mail at Carl.Moesche@mlb.com.

2005-06 Season Wrap-Up
With the NWAACC Baseball Championship over and the NWAACC's Annual Meeting and 18th Annual Hall of Fame Banquet completed, the focus now turns to 2006-07.

2005-06 CHAMPIONS
Men's Cross Country-Spokane
Women's Cross Country-Lane
Combined Team Cross Country-Spokane
Women's Soccer-Clackamas
Men's Soccer-Wenatchee Valley
Volleyball-Walla Walla
Women's Basketball-Lane
Men's Basketball-Highline
Softball-Lower Columbia
Men's Tennis-Green River
Women's Tennis-Bellevue
Women's Golf-Tacoma
Men's Golf-Walla Walla
Women's Track & Field-Spokane
Men's Track & Field-Spokane
Baseball-Columbia Basin

OLATHE, Kan. - As a Freshman Joe Prince (Liberty HS / Renton) played for the 2002 GRCC Men's golf program, last weekend Prince won the NAIA National Championship for Point Loma Nazarene College with a score of four under par, leading his team to a fifth place finish in Olathe, KS.

The University of Victoria's (B.C.) Todd Halpen finished one shot behind Prince with a four-day total of 285 (-3).  He trailed by three strokes coming into the final round and took the lead halfway through the day, but Prince finished his back nine at even par for the individual title.

Oklahoma City University won its fifth national title in six years after a 72-hole score of 1154 (+2) at the 2006 NAIA Men's Golf National Championships.   Joe Prince from Point Loma Nazarene University ( Calif. ) earned medalist honors with his four-under total of 284.  The 55 th annual event is hosted by the Olathe Chamber of Commerce and is held at Prairie Highlands Golf Course.

COLUMBIA BASIN EDGES RED DEVILS IN EPIC DAY
The Hawks won the NWAACC Championship Tuesday night defeating defending champion Lower Columbia. The CBC victory was certainly earned. The Hawks needed two games and 23 innings to win the title.

COLUMBIA BASIN IN DRIVERS SEAT
The Hawks beat Mt Hood to put themselves in the driver's seat for Tuesday's championship match-up with Mt Hood. They will face the Red Devils who will have to beat CBC twice to win the championship.

LCC POWERS PAST TACOMA
Lower Columbia gave themselves a chance to defend their title Tuesday with a victory over Tacoma. With Columbia Basin beating Mt Hood, the Red Devils will have to be CBC twice to become repeat champions.

MT HOOD ELIMINATES EVERETT
In a 7-2 victory, the Saints staved off elimination and sent the Trojans home after their second straight loss. The Saints scored three runs in the first inning to take an early advantage. Austan Mason got the win for the Saints going seven innings. Mason got a lot of support from the Saints defense who allowed only two runs on ten hits by Everett.

COLUMBIA BASIN GUARATEES SPOT IN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
In a game of two undefeated teams left in this years tournament, the Hawks beat the Titans. The dagger came in the bottom of the eighth inning when Jon Schlender hit a grandslam home run give CBC a 7-2 lead going into the ninth. Tyler Levin went seven innings for the Hawks and got the win. Griffin Web got the save. The Hawks will play Mt Hood at 7:35 p.m. Monday night and will play for the championship Tuesday regardless of tonight's outcome.

Sunday, May 21, 2006
LOWER COLUMBIA WINS SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Red Devils completed an amazing run Sunday by winning the 2006 NWAACC Championship. The title is Lower Columbia's eighth and seventh in 8 years. They defeated the defending champion Clackamas Cougars 9-1 in five innings. Ruth Anderson of LCC was voted the tournament's Most Valuable Player and LCC Head Coach Tim Mackin was named Coach of the Year.

Photos from the NWAACC Softball Championship are available by visiting www.jeffhinds.com and clicking "recent photos."

BELLEVUE WINS SECOND CONSECUTIVE WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
The Bellevue Bulldogs won the NWAACC Women's Tennis Championship held in Spokane, WA. Bellevue finished with 131 points, 28 ahead of second-place Spokane. Sara Koura of Bellevue won the women's #1 Single over Skagit Valley's Kristen Twedt. Spokane's combination of Kaylan Crane and Jenny Richardson won the #1 Doubles title. Bellevue's Head Coach Jason Chapman was voted Coach of the Year.

GATORS EARN MEN'S TENNIS TITLE
Green River won their 20th men's title, outplaying second place Shoreline and third-place Spokane. The Gators were led by #1 Singles champion Adam Blackner who defeated Shoreline's James Robinson. Skagit Valley's Chris Schaffner and Aaron Cohen won the #1 Doubles title. Spokane's Head Coach Wally Heidenson was voted the men's Coach of the Year.

For results, use the pull-down menu and select the sport.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006
NWAACC SOPHOMORE ALL-STAR GAMES
The 2006 Men's & Women's NWAACC Sophomore All-Star Games will be held at Clark College Sunday, March 19th. Games will start at 11:00 a.m. For more information , click on "more".

2006 MEN'S & WOMEN'S NWAACC ALL-STAR TEAMS
The 2006 Men's & Women's NWAACC All-Star Teams have been announced. For more information , click on "more".

Jim Ford recovering after heart attack
Dr. James Ford, former President at Skagit Valley College and North Seattle Community College , is resting comfortably after suffering a heart attack on Saturday morning, Feb. 11.

A former NWAACC athlete while a student at Lower Columbia College , he has been a teacher, coach, and administrator on the Northwest community college level since 1954. He was inducted into the NWAACC Hall of Fame in 1992.

He is currently staying at Skagit Valley General Hospital in Mount Vernon . According to Skagit Valley College athletic director Gary Knutzen, "The prognosis looks good and he should be home in the next few days."

Monday, February 6, 2006
Weekly Update
Check out a summary from the fifth week of league play.

Letters of Intent
The first Letter of Intent list for 2006 has been released.

Thursday, January 26, 2006
2006 Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
The 2006 inductees into the NWAACC Hall of Fame have been announced. There are nine individuals and three teams. Inductees will be honored June 1st, starting in the morning with the Hall of Fame Golf Tournament being held at Sun Willows Golf Course, followed by a banquet held at the Pasco Red Lion.

2006 NWAACC Basketball Championships website
The 2006 Men's and Women's Basketball Championships website has been launched. As the tournament gets closer watch for updates about teams and information.

Monday, November 14, 2005
Weekly Update
The volleyball and soccer championships are set for this coming weekend at Bellevue CC and Starfire Stadium respectively. The first and second rounds in men's and women's soccer provided some excitement. Pierce won a thirller over Tacoma in volleyball

Cross Country Championships
On Saturday, November 12, the Spokane men won their fifth consecutive cross country championship. The men's race was won by Lane's David Morgan in a time of 25:26 for the 8k course.

In the women's race, Lane won their third ever title and first since 1987. Only four points separated Lane from Spokane who took second. Jessica Harper from Clackamas won the individual honors in a time of 19:08.

Spokane won the combined team title for the second consecutive year. Spokane has won the combined team title seven out of the past nine years.
Photos from the event can be ordered at www.jeffhinds.com.

Tuesday, September 14, 2005
Wenatchee Valley loses unsung hero
On Sunday, September 11, 2005 Wenatchee Valley College and the NWAACC lost an unsung hero.  Bryan Gilbert, was killed in a plane crash on his way back from Alaska flying a float plane.  Gilbert was both an athlete and coach within the NWAACC.  From 1977-79, he played for basketball for Big Bend CC then was an assistant coach at BBCC from 1982-85.  In 2000, Gilbert became a volunteer coach at Wenatchee Valley College, helping head coach Greg Franz with the men's basketball program.  In addition to his time with the NWAACC, Gilbert was also a pilot for Continental Airlines and was a partner in Wenatchee Flying Service.

Franz remembers Gilbert as "...a man who had an incredible passion for flying and basketball.  The only thing that dwarfed those two was the love for his family.  I cannot remember spending a minute with him where he wasn't actively engaged in life." 

Gilbert leaves behind his wife Malou Gilbert and two children, his daughter Nicky and son Grant.