There was nothing but liquid sunshine at Islander Stadium on Friday as West Mercer Elementary (421.5 points) won its third All-grade Island Track Meet in a row. Liquid dropped from the sky but the drizzle and wind was met by cheers, painted faces and the glee of elementary students, some getting their first taste of competitive athletics during the event’s 38th year. Island Park scored 206.5 points while Lakeridge finished with 152 in the Mercer Island Parks and Recreation department-sponsored event.
The Mercer Island Little League baseball team, the Rays, held off a late rally by the Angels to win the AA Division Island Championship, 15-11, on May 29 at the Lid Park. The game marked the culmination of a tumultuous two-week playoff between the six teams of the AA Division, comprised mainly of third and fourth-graders from the Island.
Former MIHS nemesis, current NBA star comes to Mercer Island for basketball camp
Islander Michael Wales won a gold medal after several rowers from Mercer Island performed well over the weekend, when they competed in the U.S. Rowing Junior National Championships near Cincinnati, Ohio. Island teens raced as participants in local rowing clubs. Wales rowed for the championship with the Lake Union Crew’s Men’s Lightweight-4 while two women’s boats featuring Islanders from Mt. Baker Crew raced as well.
Something especially scary greeted fans when the Seattle Mariners started their latest home stand, and not just because the inter-league game against the Washington Nationals was on Friday the 13th. Due to a coincidence of hard times in the financial and batting industries, the M’s management was stuck with a promotional event with Washington Mutual sponsoring a giveaway of Adrian Beltre bobbleheads. The significance: Beltre was coming off a 1-22 week, his batting average dropping to .222, the baseball equivalent of the nadir reached by WaMu stock last week.
Yankees repeat as MI Little League Majors Champions
Ryan Pang grew up playing tennis on Mercer Island. During his high school career, Pang made it to state twice as part of doubles teams for the Islanders. That love for tennis has become Pang’s life, and he is committed to spreading the infectious nature of the sport.
The Midlakes swim season commenced this week with two Island clubs pitted against each other.
The Mercer Island High School girls JV basketball team took first place in the seventh annual Le’ale’a Tournament Silver Division in Lake Stevens, Wash. They won the championship game against Tukwila Reign, 39-29.
The second of three all-Mercer Island swim meets this summer took place on Thursday as the Mercerwood Shore Club defeated the Mercer Island Country Club, 445.5-262.5. But the score was not as important as the tradition that the meet represents.
The second of three all-Mercer Island swim meets this summer took place on Thursday as the Mercerwood Shore Club defeated the Mercer Island Country Club, 445.5-262.5. But the score was not as important as the tradition that the meet represents.
“Both meets, against the Beach Club and this one, are big rival meets,” said Shore Club coach Alice Godfred. “It brings out a different level of competition.”
The popularity of lacrosse in the Northwest has led to more and more high school athletes going on to play in college. That popularity brought the U-19 national team to Islander Stadium on Sunday for a clinic and an exhibition game against the Northwest College All-Stars.
Many Islanders search for physical challenges during the summer. Western Washington has many marathons, bike races and other physical activities to take on during the summer.
Mudville BHC, a Mercer Island-based 14U Sandy Koufax team, won the Northwest Wood Bat Tournament over Memorial Day weekend. The team played four games during the weekend, including two extra-inning games, winning three games and tying one. The team won a thrilling nine-inning game on Sunday evening to qualify for the championships, beating the South Sound Cardinals 6-5. Will Bassetti, Ionnis Kritonis, David Oppenheim and Jeff Lindquist gave up no earned runs during the victory, and Charlie Meyers drove in the tying runs with a long double to left field with two outs during the last inning of regulation, and then the winning run with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning.
