Shore Club takes water polo title
The Mercerwood Shore Club 10-and-under water polo team won its 2008 age-group championship for the Midlakes Water Polo League. The team defeated Samena, 12-9, in the championship game on Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Mercer Island Country Club pool. The MSC team, coached by Colin Sterling and Teddy Trowbridge, went undefeated, having finished the season with a perfect 12-0 record.
The team members were AJ Rossman, Zack Rossman, Anthony Pedreira, Cameron Coe, Carson Coe, Matt LeProwse, Lindsey Seidner, Leif Gullstad and Zane Jolly-Ruud.
The 10U team, including four 8-year-olds, fought a hard match again Samena in the championship game. But with strong defense and fast breaks on offense, the Mighty Mantas came out on top. Leading the offense, AJ Rossman scored seven goals, with his brother Zack scoring another. The Coe brothers played unyielding defense and each put in a goal on offense. Seidner held her own against the boys and finessed several shots past Samena’s capable defense for two more goals.
Pedreira helped fend off Samena’s potent offense and had several assists on goals with precision passes down the length of the pool. Gullstad and Jolly-Ruud mixed it up on defense against kids twice their size. LeProwse saved the day as goalie by repeatedly blocking shots. Rossman, with his great all-around play, was named player of the game for Mercerwood.
In its march to the championship game, the 10U team first defeated Phantom Lake, 14-1. Mercerwood next played Samena and won a tough match, 7-4.
In the semi-finals, MSC had a very close contest against Overlake, winning by the slimmest of margins, 7-6. Mercerwood was down by three goals mid-way through the fourth quarter, but rallied to tie the game with less than a minute to go. It took Seidner’s goal with just 11 seconds of play left to synch the win for Mercerwood.
LeProwse received the 10U team’s most improved award. Coe was voted the 10U hardest worker for his tenacious play. Rossman also received MSC’s most inspirational junior water-polo player award.
In other Midlakes Water Polo League Championship games for MSC, the 15-and-over team and the Men’s Open team were both league champs in their divisions. The MSC 12U team took second place in the league championship for its age group.
Parks and Rec. softball champs
The Mercer Island Parks and Recreation softball league came to a close title with three teams winning league championships.
The Silver League was won by co-ed team Zeema, which won both the regular season and the championship tourney. The Red League championship went to the men’s team of the Wizards, which also won both the regular season and the championship tourney.
The Wet Sox posted the best record overall in the men’s Blue League, but the Lollygaggers won the postseason championship tournament.
