“By today, the Bainbridge Island Little League All-Stars will come closer to knowing whether nationwide television exposure is in their immediate future. Bainbridge, which leveled its first two opponents 27-0 in Western Region tournament play, faced another unbeaten, unscored-upon team Tuesday night in Academy of Colorado Springs, Colo. A victory, regardless of the disposition of Bainbridge’s final pool play game Thursday morning against Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, would almost guarantee Bainbridge’s advancement into the 16-team field’s final-four round. “
“SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — After Tuesday night, the idea of Bainbridge Island playing in the Little League World Series no longer sounds like some sort of goofy pie-in-the-sky fantasy.That’s because, with the Bainbridge All-Stars’ 6-5 extra-innings stunner win over Academy of Colorado Springs, Colo., the team, at 3-0, has almost certainly earned enough points in pool-play competition to advance to the four-team semifinal round of the 14-team Western Region Little League Tournament. “
“Her only ride was old mountain bike with a baby seat on it, and Sally Samson had never gone more than 20 miles.Then last Thanksgiving, she got a call from her brother Mike Kuhn in Chicago. He wanted Samson to accompany him on a six-day, 530-mile bike ride from the Twin Cities to Chicago in mid-July, to raise money for several Midwest AIDS service organizations.At first I said ‘no way,’ Samson said. Then I thought, it’s so far ahead that I can train for it.Though she was accustomed to physical exercise – power walking, kickboxing, whitewater kayaking – cycling represented something of a departure. So she spent the next few months riding a stationary bike, often attaining speeds of up to 20 miles an hour. “
“WALLA WALLA – A 5-1 nightcap victory over Mill Creek – in a second and final game forced by Mill Creek’s 10-1 win over Bainbridge two hours earlier – gave the island’s Little League All-Stars their first-ever state Majors title Tuesday.With the triumph, Bainbridge advances to the Western Region Little League Tournament in San Bernardino, Calif.. The squad opens play at 5 p.m. today against Montana’s state champion, Billings Big Sky. The regional 16-team tournament is one of four nationwide, and the winners of each will move on to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. “
“Division One (ages 7-10) Lightning 3, Coyotes 2 The Lightning clinched the Division One title with one goal scored by Lyle Daniel and two by Cole Kawaguchi, with assists from Brandon Keller and Lyle Daniel. Throughout the season the Lightning focused on developing its strong defense, and they would not have won without goalie Matt Sandridge’s performance. The Coyotes, coming off a spectacular win against the Mighty Ducks in sudden death overtime during the playoffs, came close to tying up the final game in the last period when Bjorn Ostenson and Cameron Parker both scored. “
“WALLA WALLA – To what extent has Bainbridge Island baseball history repeated itself?By the time you hold this newspaper in your hands, Bainbridge’s Little League All-Stars will have their answer.Bainbridge, which played in last night’s state Majors baseball tournament championship, needed just one win to take the title and trot for airline tickets to Southern California.There, play in the Little League Western Region Tournament – one level shy of the World Series in Williamsport, Pa. – will take place in the city of San Bernardino beginning Saturday. “
“Three Bainbridge Island Swim Club swimmers took High Point honors at the Starlight Invitational Swim Meet in Wenatchee July 21-22. They included Zachary Gosney (boys 10 and under), Sarah Gleason (girls 13-14), and Melissa Clune (girls 15 and over).High Point honors are given to the swimmer in each age group who scores the most points based on their overall meet performance, in all events. “
“The Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars came up a game short in their quest to win the state championship, falling 4-0 to North Kitsap on Tuesday afternoon after forcing a final game with a 6-5, 11-inning win earlier in the day.I think the first game took a lot of energy out of them, said Charles Peach, who coached many of the players during the regular season. It was hot, and we had to play an extra game to get to the finals. “
“How far is it from the downtown Colman terminal to the Vashon ferry dock in Fauntleroy?It’s 13 miles, says Cookie Gaulding of Bainbridge, matter-of-factly. She knows – she walked the route as part of her training for the Avon Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk, which begins in Enumclaw on Aug. 10 and concludes in Seattle, Aug. 12. “
“The Bainbridge Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars hoped that the old baseball adage Let’s play two held true yesterday.After wins in their first two games, they lost to North Kitsap 4-2 on Monday morning to drop into the loser’s bracket in state tournament play. “
What girls softball 9/10 All-Stars coach Tony Gaspich called the weirdest play I’ve ever seen was a major factor in the team’s 3-2 loss on Sunday to Redmond West in the state tournament in Vancouver.Following wins in the team’s two opening games – including Haylee Baker’s no-hitter on Saturday – the defeat set up a loser-out game yesterday.
“WALLA WALLA – Tonight, Bainbridge Island’s boys of summer may be sound asleep in their beds with visions of Southern California dancing in their heads.Bainbridge’s 11/12-year-olds, competing as one of 11 district-tournament-winning teams in the state Little League Majors baseball tourney, won their first two games of the week-long event despite being forced to play in – for them – uncharacteristically searing heat. “
“The two key hits in Thursday’s 5-2 district championship win over Gig Harbor, advancing the Bainbridge 11/12 All-Stars to next week’s state championships, couldn’t have been more different.The first was Peter Huisinga’s 210-foot, two-run homer that climaxed a three-run first inning. The other was Rudy Sharar’s 15-foot bunt single that trickled down the third base line to ignite a two-run sixth inning and provide some breathing room in a close game. The victory was the third in three days as the team rebounded from a Sunday defeat by the Gig Harbor Americans to take home the championship trophy. “
