Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2008)
Varsity Baseball Team sets sights on "unfinished business" carried over into this season, co-Editor-in-Chief and is driving this year's team Three years ago, the Varsity to capitalize on the missed Baseball Team lost a close State opportunities of the last three years. Championship game, falling So far this season, the team short of its season-long goal. Two years ago, they fell short is 11-6 overall, including four again, losing in the semi-final losses at the National Classic in Anaheim, Calif., and has round. Last year, same story. This season the team is set on a 4-2 record in league. In the National Classic tournament, winning that championship ten of the top 20 teams in the title. nation were playing. "Leaving last season, we "It (the National Classic) felt that we had unfinished was a good tournament, better business that we needed to than regular games because it's take care of," Mike Lord, a tournament environment," Varsity Baseball head coach, Lord said. "It was really good said. That mindset and attitude preparation for our season and what we're going to experience in the Three Rivers League. We played against some tough teams. If you make a mistake against a good team, they will capitalize on it, instead of bad or average teams who might not capitalize. We played well, even though we lost." In their six League games, their two losses came against Lake Oswego, a team that Lord expects will be one of the Lions' top competitors in the TRL this season. "We've had a few rough Weber, sophomore, takes his lead off from first base in a Varsity game spots this season, like the two Tyler against Lake Oswego on Apr. 2. Weber serves as a pitcher and an infielder. losses to LO (Lake Oswego). Photo by Jon Helmkamp No one said this season was scoring position according to for us this year. He's always going to be easy. We expect Lord and have been working been a good catcher, the best to make it back to the State Snowboard Team brings Championship but we're going on it in practice. in the TRL in my opinion, but On April 14, they set a he's stepped up and has been to have to earn everything we school record with 25 hits in home State hardware hitting really well lately," Lord get. Every team wants to beat a game against Oregon city, M ax H ays said. 196, and a tenth place finish West Linn, so we know that Staff Reporter This year's seniors have in Slopestyle with a best run we have to come ready to play earning a huge morale booster of a victory, winning handily been playing together for The Boys' and Girls' of 216 points. Joey McMillen, every game," Lord said. 21-5. many years and most of them Snowboard Teams brought sophomore, also had a good Lord feels that it's going to "Kyle (Kraus) has been have been together since Little back positive results in finish in the half-pipe, ending take good pitching and timely League. "(Winning the State both the individual and up in sixth place with a best hitting to make it to State. The throwing well, and Ryan (Barnes) and Justin (Monahan) Championship) would be team performances at the run of 175 points. team has been struggling a have been hitting well. Joe a great cap to their baseball 2008 State Snowboard The girls' team captured little bit hitting with runners in Offer's been a good surprise careers together," Lord said. Championships held March third place in both Halfpipe 6-8 at Timberline. and Slopestyle. Individually, Softball Team fights through early season blows For the boys, the team Mackenzie Bruns, senior, had A dam H olmes In addition, the girls this the team. Exceptional players placed third in the Halfpipe a strong performance in the Staff Reporter year will be more competitive, this year are newcomers competition and took home Halfpipe with a best run of have more speed, offensive As spring sports continue, Taylor Brooke, junior, and fourth in the Slopestyle 149 points and Hay ley Shafer, power, and defense than in the Girls' Varsity Softball has Kylie Crawford, freshman. Competition. Individually, junior, finished an excellent had a rocky start, with a 2-4 In addition, McKenna Pyeatt, the past, in order to improve Tanner Kewley, junior, fifth place in the Banked record so far. This year's team junior, is returning again this their chances of winning. had a couple phenomenal Slalom competition with a "Many of these girls play has improved since last year, year as catcher and co-captain performances, including a time of 47.89 seconds, only ball year around. They are with Ashley Bruser, junior. second place finish in the one tenth of a second behind specifically in pitching and more experienced and b etted hitting. "I was really excited for Halfpipe with a best score of the fourth place finisher. In the first game of the the first couple of games. We prepared for high school season against have some really good frosh," ball," LeVeque said. In addition, the girls seem Pyeatt said. the Grant High School Generals, LeVeque says that the key to have an excellent team chemistry that promotes to a good softball team is the Lions' teamwork. pitching, catching, and the dominated with "I like our connection. We an 11-0 shutout. ability to hit the ball out of the perform very well together," The second game infield. ended with a "The best softball players Pyeatt said. The next home game for defeat at the hands and teams play ball in the the Lions will be against of the Gladstone summer and fall to prepare Putnam at Rosemont Ridge Gladiators, with a for the school season in the 1-11 loss. fall. That is how this program Middle School on Apr. 21 at 4:30 p.m. "We struggled will improve and what I "People should come to the to hit and score encourage all the girls to do Three-sport athlete Justin Monahan knows games to show school spirit," runs over the that want to play Varsity Pyeatt said. first few games," softball," LeVeque said. Hometown Sports is the best local source for Jamie LeVeque, Sports Apparel, Spirit Wear and by far the head coach, said. Girls' Golf wins first place in TRL coolest Letterman’s Jackets anywhere. Despite that, m N icholas A rntz ancj piavjn^ j^ g holes at the Stop by for a visit and see how things the team scored co-Editor-in-Chief another victory club. The girls played 18 holes have changed. Individual or team — when against St. Mary's With the Girls' Varsity Golf to get ready for their Mid-Dis High School at 8-0. Team ranked number one in tricts match on Apr. 14. you need sportswear for any sport and However, several the Three Rivers League, and "The girls work hard and prac you expect full customer satisfaction, more defeats soon Lake Oswego four points tices don't usually end until occurred with a Hometown Sports has you covered. behind in second place, their after 6 p.m.," Shawn Hoffman, 1- 3 loss against goals of winning the league girls' coach, said. Lake Oswego, a and competing in State are Even though the weather has 2- 3 defeat against Lacrosse and Baseball equipment and underway. The seniorless team been wet, the girls prevailed Hillsboro, and an spiritvx ear now available. Bring in this ad consists of eight players, five at the Willamette Valley In and receive 10% off! 0-7 shutout against of whom play Varsity, and the vitational on Apr. 10, taking Rex Putnam. The second place. West Linn took remaining three on JV. team is keeping The team consists of captains home the win At the TRL Mid- their heads above Josie Sells and Brianna Ruiz, Districts, with a total score of water, as they juniors, along with teammates 353, with their rivals, Lake recently scored a Elizabeth Enderle, Katherine Oswego, close behind with 3- 2 win against Longtain, Sydney Nopson, 356. West Linn also had the Oregon City, and lowest individual score of 72, sophomores, Suna Shin, Mor a 4-3 victory also gan Thompson and Darian by Shin, a perfect par on the against Oregon Stone Creek course. Royse, freshman. City. Their rigorous practice "It's going to be a dogfight Under new ownership and dedicated to customer satisfaction The team has schedule consists of three to winning the league, as Lake a wide roster of four days of golfing at The Oswego and Lakeridge are new players, with 5 0 3 - 59 * 4-0575 five freshmen and Oregon Golf Club, putting, right there as well," Hoffman 1795 Willamette Falls Drive * West linn, Oregon * Located in the Historic Willamette area two juniors joining working on their short game, said. J on H elmkamp One Sport or 3 Sports, Hometown Sports has you covered. SPORTS
