A8
FRIDAY
April 15, 2022
Spring Sports
SeasideSignal.com
Author Kerry Eggers
coming to Seaside
By DAVE NELSON
For the Signal
1984. The year of the rat.
Super Bowl 18 was between
the Los Angeles Raiders and
Washington Redskins, with
Los Angeles winning 38-9.
The Boston Celtics defeated
the Los Angeles Lakers in
the NBA Finals, winning
their 15th championship.
the Portland Trail Blazers
drafted a player by the name
of Jerome Kersey, in the sec-
ond round (46th overall) in
the draft out of Virginia’s
Longwood University.
Kersey in his 11 seasons
in Portland was a fan favor-
ite. Given the nickname
“Mercy Kersey” by legend-
ary Blazers announcer Bill
Schonley, the 6’7” forward
along with Clyde Drex-
ler, Terry Porter, Buck Wil-
liams, and Clifford Robin-
son helped lead the Trail
Blazers to the NBA Finals in
1990 and 1992.
In 1995, Portland left
Kersey unprotected in the
expansion draft between
the Toronto Raptors and
the Vancouver Grizzlies.
The Oregonian reported in
1995 that, “Portland agreed
to pick up all of Kersey’s
salary for the next season
if, Toronto selected him.”
The Raptors waived Kersey
before the start of the 1995-
1996 season. The Golden
State Warriors signed him
for the 95-96 season where
he averaged 6.7 points and
4.8 rebounds in 76 games.
After the one season
with Golden State, Kersey
went on to play with the
Los Angeles Lakers, Seattle
Sonics, San Antonio Spurs,
and Milwaukee Bucks,
During his career, Kersey
averaged 10.3 points and
5.5 rebounds. Not only did
he help Portland get to the
Finals those two years, but
he also won a champion-
ship with the Spurs in 1999.
He was also a First-Team
PREP GOLF ROUNDUP
Valley Catholic tops Seaside
Seaside’s Carson Kawasoe finished atop the field for
the second time in two events this season, as the senior
shot 71 in the windy conditions at Gearhart Golf Links last
Monday, in a Cowapa League match vs. Valley Catholic.
The Valiants defeated the Gulls in the team scoring,
343-385.
While Kawasoe finished one-under par, Seaside’s Riley
Wunderlich carded a 102, followed by Carson Bates (103)
and Carter Perrigo (109). Ever Sibony (113) was Seaside’s
fifth golfer.
“Carson played a solid round today with three birdies
and only two bogies on his card,” said Seaside coach Jim
Poetsch. “That is a great round in today’s conditions. The
wind was gusting above 50 miles per hour when we teed
off, and heavy rain hit them a couple of holes in.”
The wind remained, but it did not affect the Valiants,
whose top four golfers shot under 90. Lucas Howell led
with an 80, followed by D.J. Romano (86) and Ryoma
Lane (88).
Valiants first, Astoria second at Quail Valley
Author Kerry Eggers comes
to the Seaside Library on
April 30.
“Jerome Kersey: Overcoming the Odds,” by Kerry Eggers.
Division II All-American in
1984, First-Team All-Ma-
son-Dixon (a now-defunct
NCAA Division II Athletic
Conference), and Mason-
Dixon Player of the Year in
1984. His number 54 was
retired by the Longwood
Lancers. He wore 25 with
the Blazers.
After retiring from play-
ing, Kersey served in various
roles in the NBA, including
as an assistant coach with the
Milwaukee Bucks, assist-
ing former teammate Porter.
He’d return to the Blazers as
an alumni, and later as direc-
tor of alumni relations.
On Feb. 18, 2015, Kersey
passed away from a blood
clot that, broke loose from
his left calf, and went to his
lungs, causing a pulmonary
thromboembolism, likely
caused by knee surgery.
“Jerome was a kind per-
son who wanted to make
a difference,” said Kerry
Eggers who was at one point,
the Blazers beat reporter for
various publications, and the
author of, “Jerome Kersey,
Overcoming the Odds. “He
was a regular at Doernbe-
cher Hospital for Children
and one of the best Blazer
players ever for community
service.”
North Coast residents,
and other fans of Kersey
and the Trail Blazers in
general, can come to learn
more about Kersey, meet
Eggers, and purchase a copy
of his book, on Saturday,
April 30, from 2 to 3 p.m.
at the Seaside Library, 1131
Broadway.
Eggers said he inter-
viewed more than 80 peo-
ple, including coaches,
teammates, opponents such
as Charles Barkley and
John Stockton, former team-
mates, and classmates at
Longwood as well as several
family members, including
his widow (Teri Kersey Val-
entine) and daughter (Kiara
Kersey). He thinks the result
was an accurate reflection of
Jerome’s life.
“He pressed the flesh with
hundreds and thousands of
Blazer fans throughout the
state, his welcome smile and
good personality making
a great impression for the
Blazers among their clien-
tele. It’s no exaggeration to
say Jerome may be the most
popular Blazer in the fran-
chise’s 50-plus-year history.
As I’ve gone around
the Northwest doing book
events — Seaside will be
No. 37 since our first one
in October — I’ve heard
countless personal stories
from people who had an
encounter or friendship with
Jerome and regarded him in
the highest esteem.”
In a second meeting of Cowapa League girls golf
teams, Valley Catholic scored another win in an invita-
tional hosted by Tillamook at Quail Valley Golf Course
late last month.
Using modified Stableford scoring, the Valiants racked
up 186 points, led by a 70-point effort from senior medal-
ist Challin Kim.
Keeli Satterfield (49 points) and Abby Berndt (38)
helped the Valiants hold off second-place Astoria (125),
followed by Seaside (65). Banks was incomplete, and
Tillamook’s two golfers were unable to attend due to
illness.
The Lady Fish were led by Ava Davis with 37, just
ahead of Lily Reed (36) and Caleigh Peterson (34). The
trio finished fifth, sixth and seventh individually. Marlee
Both (18) and Katie Jo Strimple-Fields (6) rounded out
Astoria’s scores.
Holly Fergus led Seaside with 33 points, followed
by Alyssa Bergman (15), Miriam Alcala (10), Kariana
Anderson (7) and Ella Boles (1).
Astoria and Seaside meet again Monday at Gearhart
Golf Links.
Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District
The Easter bunny returns to Broadway Park on April 16.
Easter bunny, community
egg hunt at Broadway Field
Seaside Signal
Swimmers raise funds for
Sunset Pool improvements
Seaside Signal
Logan Dennis at the splash-
a-thon.
On Friday, April 1, the
Sunset Empire Park and
Recreation District hosted
a swim meet complete with
April Fools’ Day shenani-
gans. Volunteer and former
park district director Mary
Blake organized the event
and led the kids in games
and a treasure dive.
Then, on April 2, Blake
coordinated a Splash-A-
Thon to raise funds for
new diving blocks and a
timing system at Sunset
Pool. Sixteen swimmers
gathered
sponsorships
and swam laps to raise
$3,285. Several partici-
pants were members of the
Seaside High School Swim
Team.
Funds raised are in addi-
tion to a donation of more
than $6,000 from the local
restaurant, Thai Me Up.
Seaside high School
swim coach Shane Spell
has also been working with
the park district and the
Booster Club and Seaside
School District in partner-
ship to raise the needed
funds for the diving blocks
and timing system.
Join families on Satur-
day, April 16, from 10 a.m.
to noon at Broadway Field
for the Sunset Empire Park
and Recreation District
free annual community egg
hunt. Families join in the
fun of searching for thou-
sands of treat-filled eggs all
over Broadway Park.
Children of all age
groups are sent out to find
as many eggs as they can,
with a chance of finding
a golden ticket, winning
them a plush bunny or an
Easter basket full of good-
ies. The Easter Bunny will
be hopping around greeting
kids and taking photos.
From 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.,
kids 7 to 17 may participate
in a Treasure Dive at Sun-
set Pool. Dive for coins
and a chance to open the
“treasure chest” for a spe-
cial prize. Entry fee for the
Treasure Dive is $2.
This event is spon-
sored by Providence Sea-
side Hospital, Runkle Con-
sulting Group, Rascals and
Bruce’s Candy Kitchen.