at AAU Nationals
The Lexus All-Stars started the AAU West Coast Nationals strong, stumbled, and then finished with a flurry to go 5-2 to take fifth place in Portland, Ore., over Labor Day weekend.
The 10-year-old Mercer Islanders began the tournament on Friday with a 7-5 win over eventual bronze medalist Oregon Select. On the mound, Alex Emanuels and Jordan Morris allowed five hits and three Earned Runs. Morris, Matt Orehek and Brian Higgins led the offense, collectively going 8-for-9 with five doubles and five RBIs. In their second game Friday, Lexus rolled to a 12-1 mercy-rule victory behind the three-hit pitching of Logan Barton-Rowledge and Kyle Huber and relentless team hitting, with 10-of-11 players reaching base, eight scoring.
During the team’s third game against eventual tournament winner Bellevue Baseball on Saturday, Lexus fell behind 8-1 in the first two innings due to five errors. Although they had 10 hits and three walks, Lexus could not overcome the start, losing 13-4. Steen Swedstedt, Glenn Sherman and Higgins each had two hits. Advancing to the championship round on Sunday, Lexus drew a re-match with Oregon Select. Connor O’Brien delivered from the mound, allowing two runs over three innings. Despite out-hitting Oregon, Lexus trailed 4-2 after five innings. Hopes for a comeback faded when Oregon scored six runs in a walk-filled top of the sixth inning, giving Lexus a 10-2 loss and eliminating them from the final four. Lexus stranded nine-of-11 base runners and surrendered eight walks and seven hits.
Facing elimination, Lexus rallied on Sunday afternoon for another 12-1 mercy-rule victory over Salmon Creek Smoke. Jamie Lungmus, Higgins and Barton-Rowledge allowed three hits and struck out eight. All 11 players got on base, with eight of them reaching twice. Advancing to face Oregon Baseball Academy Red Devils on Monday, Lexus won 15-5 in four-innings, highlighted by a nine-run second inning. Morris was 3-for-3 with three doubles, Sherman 2-for-2 with two doubles and Swedstedt capped the second inning with a long triple. Lexus had 16 hits and 10 players scored.
In the final game of the tournament to determine fifth place, Lexus faced DeMarini Dirty Dozen, the original No. 2 seed.
DeMarini pounded four line-drive hits and four runs in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first, Orehek doubled and Higgins collected the RBI. Morris took over on the mound and dominated DeMarini with two strikeouts in the second inning, but then allowed two unearned runs in the third, leaving Lexus trailing 6-1. The team battled for four runs in the third inning to begin a comeback on the strength of an Emanuels double and a pair of two-out-RBI-singles from Orehek and Higgins. Morris recorded six strikeouts and allowed no more hits or runs through the fifth inning.
DeMarini clung to a 6-5 lead going into the sixth inning. In the top of the sixth, a lead-off walk, a steal and two ground outs left Lexus down 7-5 for their final at-bat. Orehek hit a hard single with two outs. Higgins was hit by a pitch and O’Brien and Sherman stroked back-to-back singles to score two run to tie the game.
In the seventh, Higgins threw out a lead-off base runner attempting to steal, Morris struck out the third batter and Orehek converted a hard grounder to short.
Swedstedt lashed a one-out single to center and stole second. Sean Casey drove Swedstedt in with two outs with a line-drive base-hit to earn the 8-7 victory and fifth place overall.
Morris and Higgins were named to the All-Tournament team. Lexus completed their season at 37-15, finishing first, second, or third in all five tournaments they entered before taking fifth at these AAU West Coast Nationals.
New programs at the Boys & Girls Club
Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club is now registering for the following fall programs:
? Fall co-ed Basketball first- and second-grade leagues.
? Little Islanders soccer and basketball clinics for ages 5-6.
? Preseason basketball clinic for grades 3-5.
Also check out the Web site for information on up and coming girls volleyball leagues. All registrations are done online at www.mipositiveplace.org. For more information call 232-4548.
Eastside FC White
wins Sea-Tac Cup
The Eastside Football Club (FC) White boys 11-and-under premier soccer team, led by seven Mercer Island athletes, won the Sea-Tac Cup Aug. 19-21 at the Starfire Sports Complex in Renton.
On Aug. 19 and 20, the team took first in its four-team pool with a 2-0-1 record, outscoring its opponents 14-1, to advance to the championship game.
The team faced Maple Valley FC for the tournament title on Aug. 21. Eastside controlled play throughout the game, scored in the 40th minute, and sustained the attack to earn a 1-0 victory and the tournament championship.
Mercer Island’s Gabe Jacobson and Jamie Lungmus spearheaded the offense from the forward positions for Eastside, while Josh Lee, Kyle Huber and Zack Elliott controlled the midfield; all five scored during the tournament.
Connor Nielson repeatedly turned back opponents’ efforts from his defensive midfield position and Logan Barton-Rowledge was perfect in goal. He allowed no goals for the tournament.
Jacobson was awarded the championship game player-of-the-match honors for scoring the game-winner.
MSC Takes 12-and-under Water Polo title
The Mercerwood Shore Club’s 12-and-under water polo team retained its crown as 2005 Midlakes Water Polo League champions.
Following a 4-2 regular season record in Midlakes’ Division I, the team was seeded second in the double-elimination, eight-team tournament held Aug. 19-21.
MSC outdistanced its opponent, 14-7, in its first match against Overlake County Club.
Its next match went back and forth against the Mercer Island Country Club. MSC outdueled the Country Club 11-9.
In its final preliminary match, MSC defeated the top-seeded and undefeated Phantom Lake squad 11-9.
In the finals match on Sunday, MSC was once again pitted against Phantom Lake, which survived a tough semi-final game with Norwood. Led by all-tournament players Eugene Chong, Quinn Sterling and Kelly Finan, Mercerwood pulled away in the second half to notch a championship, 16-8.
This group of water polo players for MSC has won their Midlakes age bracket four-out-of the last five years.
