A3
THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 2021
SPORTS
Seaside softball
wins again, 10-7
The Astorian
Justin Grafton Studios
The Warrenton football team had the second-best
grade point average among teams across the state.
Warrenton football
No. 1 in grades
The Astorian
T
he report cards are in for fall sports
athletes, and a couple local teams
scored very well in the Oregon
School Activities Association’s academic
awards.
Warrenton football had a perfect mark
on the fi eld (5-0), and did pretty well in
the classroom, with an overall grade
point average of 3.60 — fi rst among
all 3A football teams, and second-best
among all football teams in the state,
behind only 6A Jesuit (3.71).
Warrenton volleyball had the sixth-
best mark in 3A volleyball, with an over-
all 3.78 GPA.
Cowapa League member Valley Cath-
olic had the top GPAs in 4A football
(3.55) and boys cross-country (3.93),
and the Valiants placed second in girls
cross-country (3.93), third in boys soc-
cer (3.59), fi fth in volleyball (3.72) and
seventh in girls soccer (3.71).
Northwest athletes prepare for
rescheduled 2020 Olympics
By TOM BANSE
Northwest News Network
There are less than 100
days until the opening cer-
emony of the rescheduled
2020 Tokyo Olympics. Yes,
the summer games are pro-
ceeding amid an ongo-
ing global coronavirus pan-
demic. Olympic hopefuls
and Pacifi c Northwest ath-
letes already picked for Team
USA invariably said they are
eager to go.
“I’m just really excited
that the Olympics are going
to happen,” said gymnast
Jade Carey. The Oregon
State University freshman
is a likely selection for the
U.S. Olympic squad at the
gymnastics team trials in St.
Louis in late June.
“I think we’re all excited
about heading to Tokyo
fi nally, after a year’s delay,”
echoed U.S. women’s soccer
star Megan Rapinoe of Seat-
tle, during an online press
conference hosted by the
U.S. Olympic Committee.
Japan fared much better
than most developed nations
during the fi rst year of the
pandemic, but vaccination
eff orts are lagging. New cases
of COVID-19 have risen
sharply since mid-March.
The onset of what appears
to be a fourth wave caused the
governors of Tokyo, Kyoto
and Okinawa to implement
stricter virus control mea-
sures this week, including
curtailed business hours for
bars and restaurants. With
the pandemic still not under
control in many parts of the
world, questioning about
whether Japan should host
the global sporting event con-
tinues at home and abroad.
But the International
Olympic Committee and
local organizers appear
bound and determined to
pull off the summer games
from July 23 to August 8 and
the subsequent Paralympic
games.
The traditional Olym-
pic torch relay is well under-
way in Japan. Detailed “play-
books” have been prepared
to guide athletes, offi cials,
broadcasters and sponsors
through pre-arrival COVID-
19 testing and health proto-
cols on scene.
Last month, the Japa-
nese government and Tokyo
2020 Organizing Commit-
tee announced that overseas
sports fans and athletes’ fam-
ilies will not be allowed into
Japan for the Olympic and
Paralympic games due to
“the COVID-19 situation.”
U.S. women’s national
team soccer players said this
development was incredi-
bly sad, but added the impact
was greater on their families
than on the athletes them-
selves who are in many ways
walled off and in an all busi-
ness mindset during world
competitions.
“Going to these events,
business is fi rst and fore-
most,” said Crystal Dunn,
who plays for the Portland
Thorns when not with the
national team. “Our fami-
lies are there to support us,
but they are usually having
a grand old time without us.”
The 2020 U.S. Olym-
pic team bound for Tokyo is
expected to consist of more
than 600 athletes. The largest
component, track and fi eld,
has yet to be selected. The
U.S. Olympic Team Trials
for track and fi eld are sched-
uled in Eugene from June 18
through June 27. It remains
uncertain whether spectators
will be able to buy tickets to
see the team trials in person
at Hayward Field because of
the evolving pandemic.
Historically, alumni of
the University of Oregon’s
powerhouse running pro-
gram and local professional
runners fi ll out a big chunk
of the U.S. Olympic track
roster. This year is likely no
exception. The Nike-spon-
sored Bowerman Track Club
in Beaverton, Brooks Beasts
Track Club in Seattle and
Oregon Track Club Elite in
Eugene all have deep rosters
of middle-distance running
talent.
The U.S. Olympic mar-
athon team was determined
at a race in Atlanta in early
2020. Sally Kipyego, of
Eugene, two-time Olym-
pic medalist Galen Rupp, of
Portland, and Bellingham,
Washington, native Jacob
Riley punched their tickets
to Tokyo there.
Sabre fencer Mariel Zagu-
nis, of Beaverton, the most
decorated U.S. fencer of all
time, has qualifi ed for her
fi fth Olympics. The 36-year-
old already has two golds
and two bronze medals to her
name, the fi rst of which was
earned at the Athens Olym-
pics in 2004.
Veteran Seattle Storm
point guard Sue Bird is a vir-
tual lock to make her fi fth
Olympic basketball team.
The spry 40-year-old has
four gold medals to show for
her prior eff orts at the Olym-
pics. The U.S. women’s
team coach recently said that
earning anything less than
another gold in Tokyo would
represent failure.
The U.S. softball team on
the road to Tokyo includes
2017 University of Wash-
ington grad Ali Aguilar and
class of 2015 Oregon Duck
Janie Reed.
The U.S. rowing team
will be selected by June 6.
Based on the strength of the
University of Washington
crew program, it is a good
bet that some past Huskies
will be stroking at the Olym-
pics in the men’s and wom-
en’s fours and eights.
Seaside improved to 2-0
with a 10-7 victory over
Valley Catholic in Cow-
apa League softball action
Thursday at Broadway
Field.
Seaside pitcher Gracie
Rhodes struck out 10 bat-
ters with two walks, while
the Gulls supported her with
fi ve runs in the fi fth inning
and two in the sixth on their
way to the win.
The Valiants had six hits
and held a 6-3 lead in the
top of the fi fth before Sea-
side’s rally in the bottom of
the fi fth.
Seaside’s Tara Lair and
Kandice Flaigg had two
hits apiece, and Ila Bowles
had three hits with a double.
Erin Owsley had a double
and drove in four runs.
Malia Groshong had
a home run for Valley
Catholic.
Banks 8, Astoria 3
Both teams had just three
hits, but the Banks Braves
made the most of their
opportunities for an 8-2
win over Astoria in a Cow-
apa League softball game
Thursday at Banks.
Halle Helmersen, Ten-
ley Matteucci and Fionna
Duryea had the only hits for
Astoria, which dropped to
0-2.
Olivia Wyatt had a tri-
ple for the Braves, who led
5-0 after one inning, taking
advantage of two walks and
three Astoria errors.
Banks defeats Astoria
baseball team, 18-3
The Astorian
Banks scored nine runs
in the bottom of the fi rst
inning, then tacked on four
in the second and four in
the third on its way to an
18-3 win over Astoria, in
Cowapa League baseball
action Thursday at Banks.
Three Banks pitchers
— Cole Belden, Cooper
Gobel and Cam Louie —
held the Fishermen to just
two hits, with nine strike-
outs and fi ve walks.
The Braves collected
10 hits and took advan-
tage of fi ve Astoria errors.
Logan Kind had a grand
slam home run for Banks,
which has outscored oppo-
nents 37-8 through two
games.
In
other
Cowapa
League baseball action
Thursday, Valley Catholic
defeated Seaside 17-11.
OREGON CAPITAL
SCOREBOARD
INSIDER
PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE
MONDAY
Baseball — Valley Catholic at Astoria, 5 p.m.; Seaside at Tillamook, 5 p.m.
Softball — Astoria at Valley Catholic, 5 p.m.; Tillamook at Seaside, 5 p.m.
TUESDAY
Baseball — Clatskanie at Warrenton, 4:30 p.m.; Knappa at Neah-Kah-Nie, 4:30
p.m.
Softball — Warrenton at Clatskanie, 4:30 p.m.; Neah-Kah-Nie at Knappa, 4:30
p.m.
Girls Golf — Astoria at Tillamook, 11 a.m.
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THANK
YOU
TO
All those who donated cans and bottles
and for your extra support
C & S Builders
Bob McEwan Construction, Inc
Seaside School District
Baker’s General Store
Lums Auto Center
Van Dusen Beverages, Inc
Our Camp Kiwanilong can/bottle drive
was a huge success!
SUMMER
CAMP
REGISTRATION
Summer will be here before you know it!
Secure your spot so you don’t miss the fun.
Registration for Camp Kiwanilong day camp sessions will be online this year.
Clatsop County residents may begin registration on April 15th.
Out-of-county registration will begin on May Ist.
WANTED
Alder and Maple Saw Logs & Standing Timber
Northwest Hardwoods • Longview, WA
Contact: John Anderson • 360-269-2500
Fre
e
Est Fast
ima
tes
Call me
ti
Any
Jeff Hale Painting
•
•
•
•
Residential
Commercial
Cedar Roof Treatments
Exterior Repaint Specialist
Over 25 years local experience
503-440-2169
Jeff Hale,
Contractor
LICENSED
BONDED
INSURED
CCB#179131
REGISTER AT:
campkiwanilong.org/register
REGISTRATION QUESTIONS?
Email the registrar at kiwanilongregistrar@gmail.com
FINANCIAL AID, CIT PROGRAM, AND
OTHER CAMP QUESTIONS?
Contact Sarah “Sprite” Widmer
kiwanilong@gmail.com - 503-298-0767
campkiwanilong.org