The Sunday Stroll: Season Underway

A short stroll this Sunday as only a few regulation games this weekend to help get the season underway, but one was a huge shocker!  Several other teams got the ball rolling by participating in local Jamborees.  Besides, we lost an hour of sleep.  Hope you set your clock forward as the action really kicks off this week.

The Division I Stroll…

·         Last week we asked about teams that might surprise this year and this week we were going to ask who would pull the biggest upset of the season.  Well, the Lake Washington Kangaroos wasted no time forcing us to change this week’s question a bit and putting themselves on the radar as a team that might surprise.  Yes folks, the season started with a bang as LW knocked off powerhouse Bainbridge 11-10.  The win was the first in program history for the Kangs over the Spartans and also Coach, Dejon Hush’s first over his former squad.  An extrememly remarkable accomplishment in just their 2^nd year at the Division I level, especially when you consider there are over a dozen other teams in Division I that have never beaten the Spartans, most of whom have been in Division I much longer than 2 years.

·         As if the above mentioned wasn’t enough, Bainbridge had to go right back to work the next night in a rematch of last year’s State Championship against Mercer Island.  The game went to halftime tied at four before the Islanders pulled away in the second half en route to an 11-7 victory.  Grant Priesler led the way for Mercer with 4 goals while Connor Bernal went 2g, 2a.  Bainbridge hadn’t lost a season opener since the Drew Snider days at Garfield in 2005 and we are not sure they have ever started the season 0-2.  Uncharted waters for the Spartans but no doubt they will be back in the win column shortly.

·         Bellarmine Prep hosted a little South Sound Jamboree with Lake Tapps, Stadium, Curtis and King’s Way.

• Standout Stat Lines:
  • Cody Bernstein, SR, Lake Washington – Talk about a way to start the year!  Many wondered how Cody would fare without his brother.  The answer: just fine, thank you!  Bernstein scored 7 goals including the game winner in the fourth quarter to lead Lake Washington to a comeback win over Bainbridge.  He also managed time to corral 8 groundballs and dish out an assist.

• Best match-ups of the upcoming week:
  • 3/13  Eastside Catholic @ King’sWay – A long way to travel on a weeknight for the Crusaders to open the season and this should be a good one as these two did not meet last season.  An intriguing match-up as well between offensive stalwarts in King’s Way’s junior attackman, Jack Beall and Eastside Catholic’s super soph, Colin MacIlvennie.
  • 3/13  Sammamish @ Woodinville – Nothing like a little Division II championship rematch on opening night eh?  This time its on the Division I stage.
  • 3/14  Bellevue @ Lake Washington – Kangs aren’t going to sneak up on the Wolverines anymore.  This should be a good gauge of just how good both teams are.
  • Back end of the week, Eastlake is travelling to Utah to take part in a weekend jamboree in Salt Lake City.  Scheduled opponents include Bonneville and Jordan.

The D2 Stroll…

·         Gig Harbor recorded the first win of the Division II season with a hard fought 7-6 victory over Liberty.  Junior attackman, Cody Olson led the way with 3 goals.

·         North County hosted their 7^th Annual Cavalier Invitational up in Whatcom County.   

·         Nathan Hale hosted a jamboree that included Garfield, Lakeside, Seattle Prep, Shoreline and Ballard.

• Best match-ups of the upcoming week:
  • 3/13  Vashon @ Blanchet – Lot of green and yellow in this one.  Vashon returns to the Division II ranks and opens with a team set on capturing the DII crown this year.
  • 3/13  Highline @ Kennedy – A family affair as the Kennedy program grew out of the Highline program. Lots of former teammates facing off here.
  • 3/16  Snohomish @ Wenatchee – This is now a conference game! Many eager to see how Wenatchee will fare away from the Eastern Conference

Lacrosse The Country…

Some continued coverage of WHSBLA alumns playing in the NCAA and MCLA ranks

·         Zach Steedman (Puyallup) had 9 saves in a season opening victory for Colorado College over Alfred.

• Western Washington University is currently ranked #21 in the MCLA Division II polls and the Vikings are stocked full with former WHSBLA players.  You should recognize a few names and face on their roster here.
• Chances are you remember a host of former WHSBLA boys playing for St. Andrews in North Carolina.  Former Snohomish head coach, Chris Sherman has now been promoted to the head coaching position for the Knights, however the school has opted to shift from NCAA to the NAIA ranks.  Though still listed on the roster through lax.com, some of those Washington boys have now transferred in lieu of the school’s decision.  inside sources tell us the Shields brothers (Daniel and Matt formerly of Mercer Island) have moved on to Mount Olive College also located in North Carolina.

Lacrosse Four Thought…

Who looked good (players or teams) in this past weekend’s jamborees?

What do you think of the ESPN HS Lacrosse State Rankings?

Will the Seattle Times bring back the high school Game of the Week voting?

Which team will pull off the next big upset this season?

Parting Shots…

·         “I feel like Providence, Garfield or Snohomish will bring home the D II crown this season. [Also] I think that they are two teams that will surprise this season: North County and Highline.  North County is not talked about at all.  They have a good team up there; watch out for them.  Highline is of the most aggressive teams in the state.  They lose some players to Kennedy, but I know they return their whole starting defense and a few midfielders that can score.” – CdubWALaxer

·         “The Wartes twins (Harrison and David) transferred to Snohomish HS this year.  David is a great goalie, but he may see a lot of playing time at midfield as well.  If so, Snohomish will have a very potent offense!  Providence will have a tough defense this year with Luke Morris, Chad Hummel, Eric Adair all returning on a team that had one of the best defenses in the state last year (fewest goals against). I pick Garfield and Overlake to battle for the DII Championship this year.  Snohomish, Three Rivers and Wenatchee all have a good shot at it as well.” – Nathan Morris

**Some correction on our part:               

·         Reynolds Yarbrough (Bainbridge, Goalie) was mistakenly listed as a senior under the Division I Preseason All-State Teams two weeks ago.  Reynolds is in fact a sophomore

·         Nick Johanson, one of Klahowya’s leading scorer’s in 2011, will not be returning to the team in 2012.

·         As you can see from above, David Wartes will not be suiting up for Providence as noted in last week’s preview.  The Wartes brothers have transferred to Snohomish.

We’ll give a shot to the best emails of the week and include your comments/quotes/etc in next week’s Sunday Stroll.

Time to hear from you!  Feed us your thoughts, edits, questions… bring it!          EMAIL: TheSundayStroll@gmail.com