Liberty bounced early from KingCo softball post season
May 14, 2013
It wasn’t the way the Liberty High School softball team expected the season to end, but after just one game in the KingCo tournament, Mercer Island sent the Patriots home May 9 with a 5-4 loss.
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Liza VanCamp, Liberty High School shortstop, slides past the Mercer Island catcher to score the Patriots’ first run of the game.
Just two weeks earlier, Liberty defeated Mercer Island, 7-4, but the Patriots failed to match that success during the tournament, showing more of the inconsistency that plagued the team this year.
Patriots not happy with 3-1 win over Thunderbirds
April 2, 2013
By Greg Farrar
Miranda Bukantz, Liberty High School catcher, grins as she prepares to put out Haley Newton, of Sammamish, on a double play, to retire the side March 28 during the third inning of the Patriots’ 3-1 win over the Totems.
If the Liberty High School scoreboard was functioning during the softball team’s matchup against Sammamish, it would have shown a 3-1 victory for the Patriots.
The March 28 win against the Totems didn’t feel like much of an achievement for the Liberty coaches and players, though.
New Liberty coach returns to his alma mater
March 12, 2013
The Liberty High School softball team’s first-year coach, Zach Bartholomew, is rather comfortable donning the Patriots’ signature blue and green.
That’s because he wore it himself as a 2004 Liberty High School graduate and was a member of the 2003 baseball team that won a 3A state title.
Zach Bartholomew
“When I heard that this position was open, I said ‘I’ve got to get this job. I’ve got to get back in blue,’” he said.
First-round state loss leaves room to grow for Liberty’s youth
May 29, 2012
Miranda Bukantz, Liberty High School junior, stretches a single into a double on a throwing error to first during the fourth inning May 25. By Greg Farrar
Two unearned runs in an error-riddled bottom of the first inning proved to be an insurmountable lead as the Liberty High School Patriots’ fast-pitch team lost to Everett in the first round of the 3A state tournament May 25.
Everett starting pitcher Lexi Levin took control after that, surrendering only one run in the top of the fourth on steal of home.
Although the quick exit from the state tournament was not what Liberty had in mind, head coach Brian Hartman said he knows that the return of Liberty to the state tournament is a return to normalcy.
“It’s a big deal,” Hartman said. “The program’s kind of back where it belongs. I think we’re about ready to start another streak here. We had a 12-year run here. It’s fun seeing everyone here. It means you’re back playing with the elite. You’re one of the top programs in the state and that’s where we expect to be.” Read more
Youth must rise from limited talent pool in Skyline’s softball program
April 3, 2012
Shannon Heneghan, Issaquah High School senior, is safe stealing home on a wild pitch as Skyline High School sophomore catcher Erika Wolfe returns with the ball to attempt the tag during the fourth inning. Issaquah won the rain-shortened game, 3-2. By Greg Farrar
“Strike three!” yelled the umpire on a questionable pitch that was closer to the dirt than the strike zone.
Groans could be heard from the Issaquah High School dugout after the questionable call. The intensity of the Issaquah-Skyline rivalry could be felt with every pitch as both teams struggled to score runs early in the game March 28.
Patriots’ softball postseason ends at district tournament
May 24, 2011
The Liberty High School softball team’s playoff run came to a tough ending in the first round of the 3A SeaKing District Tournament May 18 at Lower Woodland Park in Seattle.
Amanda Jewett, Liberty High School senior second baseman, is beaten by the hard-hit two-RBI single by a Bishop Blanchet player during the fifth inning of their 3A SeaKing District Tournament game May 18, at Lower Woodland Park in Seattle. By Greg Farrar
The Patriots — the 3A KingCo Conference’s No. 4 seed — fell to Metro No. 4 seed Bishop Blanchet High School, 5-2, in a largely defensive loser-out game.
The loss brought Liberty’s final record for the year to 8-10.
It was a tough outcome to swallow for the Patriots, who racked up nine hits during the game but stranded eight runners.
“We just didn’t hit today,” Liberty coach Jessica Johnson said. “We played great defense, but we just didn’t hit. If we had put the ball on the ground more today and made them work, we would have won the game. But we were popping up.”
Both teams’ offenses were cold through the top of the fourth inning, when the Braves managed to score a run on a single to left center field. The Patriots struck back in the top of the fifth, when junior centerfielder Ana Faoro drew a two-out walk and freshman second baseman Liza VanCamp made it to first base on a dropped fly ball to third base.
With runners on first and second, junior shortstop Denise Blohowiak came to the plate. After a wild pitch allowed both runners to advance, Blohowiak hit a ground ball to third. However, the Braves’ third baseman stepped on the bag, mistakenly thinking there was a force-out on the bag that would end the inning. Faoro scored on the play to tie the game, and VanCamp made it to third without being tagged.
A foul out ended the top of the fifth, and Bishop Blanchet just as quickly regained control of the game in the bottom half of the inning. The Braves opened with a single, and after a strikeout and a fielder’s choice, they racked up five straight hits, driving in four runs.
Issaquah School District athletes earn titles
May 20, 2011
NEW — 7 p.m. May 20, 2011
Kasen Williams, of Skyline High School, and Devin Bennett, of Liberty High School, each won individual titles Wednesday at their respective post-season track and field meets.
Williams, competing in the 4A Northwest Regional meet at Marysville-Pilchuck, won the boys high jump by going 6-feet, 4 inches. He also took second in the long jump by going 22-1 1/4. Williams was just edged by Alec Fellows, of Edmonds-Woodway, who won at 22-6 1/2. Issaquah’s Jorrell Dorsey was third at 21-1 1/4.
In other first-day action at the 4A Regional, Issaquah’s Jason Hollaway finished in a tie for second place in the pole vault by going 14-6. Skyline’s Kyle Branch was third in the 1,600 in 4:21.08.
In the girls competition, Skyline’s Lindsay Coutts was second in the long jump by going 16-10. Issaquah’s Mckenna Hogan was fifth at 16-7 1/4.
The second day of the meet took place Friday.
Issaquah softball team tops Roosevelt
May 13, 2011
NEW — 5 p.m. May 13, 2011
Issaquah High School pitcher Brielle Bray struck out 16 batters Thursday as she hurled the Eagles to a 3-1 4A KingCo Conference girls softball victory against visiting Roosevelt.
Bray allowed just two hits.
In other action, the Liberty High School girls softball team fell to Bellevue 7-1 Thursday in the 3A KingCo Conference tournament. Bellevue scored all its runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to wipe out a 1-0 deficit.
Liberty’s run cam on a home run by Denise Blohowiak in the fourth inning.
Skyline overcomes Issaquah in baseball battle
May 10, 2011
The Skyline High School baseball team exploded for six runs in the top of the seventh inning May 3 and overcame host Issaquah 9-6 in a 4A KingCo Conference contest.
The game wrapped up the regular season for both teams, who entered the league tournament May 7 at Woodinville. Issaquah, 6-8, finished in fourth place in the Crest Division. Skyline, 8-6, took third place.
Ethan Kalin gave Issaquah an 4-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning when he walloped a grand slam. Issaquah extended its lead to 6-3 going into the top of the seventh inning. However, Skyline came back to defeat Issaquah for the second time this season.
Nate Litka had two hits and drove in two runs for Skyline. Teammate Brandon Fischer also had two hits, and Clayton Huber knocked in three runs. Andrew Kemmerer had two hits for Issaquah.
On May 7, Skyline advanced to the KingCo tournament semifinals with a 4-1 victory against Woodinville. Fischer and Zack Liddle each slammed home runs for Skyline, which played Newport on May 9, after The Press’ deadline. The winner of the game earned a berth to the state regionals.
Issaquah meanwhile lost to Crown Division champion Bothell, 2-0.
Issaquah High School soccer nips Garfield
May 4, 2011
NEW — 4 p.m. May 4, 2011
Michael Roberts scored two goals Tuesday as he led the Issaquah High School boys soccer team to a 2-1 4A KingCo Conference victory against visiting Garfield in Gary Moore Stadium.
Issaquah and Garfield finished with 7-2-1 records and in a tie for third place in the league standings. Both teams will host a first-round tournament game May 7. The winners of the Saturday games meet May 10 to determine KingCo’s No. 3 berth. KingCo No. 3 will host Wesco No. 3 in a sub-district game to determine a state playoff tournament berth.
Garfield scored in the seventh minute but Roberts, assisted by Nick Smith and Drew Tacher, scored just seconds before the end of the first half to tie the game. Roberts, assisted by Zach Lawless, scored the game-winning goal at the 70th minute.
The Eagles went into the game with a chance at possibly tying for first place pending the outcomes of games for Eastlake and Skyline. However, both Eastlake and Skyline won to finish the regular-season tied for first place. Eastlake and Skyline will play May 10 in the KingCo tournament championship game.
