South Whidbey High football heads to UW for training camp | Sports Briefs

The biggest group of South Whidbey football players ever to sign up for summer camp will head to the University of Washington Sunday for a series of full-contact scrimmage games this week.

Falcon football team heads to training camp

The biggest group of South Whidbey football players ever to sign up for summer camp will head to the University of Washington Sunday for a series of full-contact scrimmage games this week.

The size of the group even surprised the coaching staff.

“This is more guys, 48, than I’ve had show up in the fall to play some years,” said Falcon coach Mark Hodson.

Just 12 high schools were invited to the camp. It is run by the Husky coaching staff and players and runs through Wednesday.

“We’ll split into two teams and play four scrimmages each day,” Hodson said. “Their staff will be working with our kids, including the strength-conditionin coach.”

That works for senior running back Nick Tenuta.

“Last year at Western Washington there were over 30 teams and it was sort of chaotic,” he said.

“This will be a lot better. Plus, we have big shoes to fill from last season, so this is a chance to create a little team chemistry.”

Hodson said it was too soon to decide who will quarterback the Falcons.

“On varsity, Hunter Hawkins, Luke Hodson and TJ Russell have been taking a lot of snaps,” he said.

Rangers wrap up tournament play

The South Whidbey Little League Rangers placed third after the final two games of the Ted Reep Tournament of Champions over the weekend.

On June 13 the team won 12-1 over the North Whidbey Giants to advance to the consolation finals on Saturday.

Parker Collins pitched four solid innings, giving up three hits and a single run.

The offense was led by Trent Fallon who hit 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Beck Davis who hit a three-run homer beyond the scoreboard in left field.

The following day, the Rangers defeated Burlington 10-8 to earn third place at the tournament in Mount Vernon.

Ricky Muzzy, a star for the Rangers all season, pitched two scoreless innings and went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Relief pitcher Jake Sladky came in and shut down Burlington in the bottom of the sixth to earn the win.

Burlington took a 4-0 lead into the fourth inning when Collins ignited the offense with a two-run homer. The Rangers led 6-4 going into the bottom of the fifth when Burlington made a comeback to lead 7-6.

The Rangers refused to lose and made another comeback scoring four runs in the top of the sixth.

Fallon and Jordan Parrick each went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and Collins went 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

Rangers players included Sladky, Davis, Collins, Tyler Nelson, Fallon, Muzzy, MacKenzie Hezel, Jordan Parrick, Tyler O’Brochta, Bruen Joseph, Anthony Kovic and Kyrell Broyles.

South Whidbey Yankees end season with a loss

The South Whidbey Little League Yankees season ended on June 11 with a

6-5 loss at the hands of the North Whidbey Dodgers in the Andrade Memorial Tournament in Anacortes.

The Yankees fell behind early, trailing 4-0 after two innings. But the South Whidbey squad took advantage of opportunities in the bottom of the fourth to score five runs and take the lead.

Dodger pitchers had trouble finding the strike zone and walked four Yankee batters in a row. Base hits by Nick Bennett, Mo Hamsa and Simon Tapert drove in the runs.

Bennett hit 2-and-4 for the Yankees, while Evan Piehler, Hamsa and Tapert went 1-for-3.

Players on the 2008 Yankee team included Bennett, Nick Cary, Piehler, Colton Sterba, CJ Sutfin, Hamsa, Nate Hanson, Zac Kelley, Elijah Nichols, Tapert, Brent Piehler and Conor Workman.

Parks & Recreation to host tennis party

The South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District invites tennis fans to meet tennis instructors and check out district summer programs at a free tennis “block party” next week. There will be games, prizes, snacks and fun on the court.

Check-in begins at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at the South Whidbey High School courts. Rain-out date is Sunday, June 29.