Once again demonstrating his knack for perfect timing, BHS baseball player Simon Pollack parlayed a three-for-six plate performance at the State Senior All-Star Games last weekend into an invitation to join the Washington State All-Stars in a doubleheader in Vancouver, Wash. on June 22 against a corresponding team from Oregon.
The following morning, he’ll leave for Europe with his mother – a departure date planned several months in advance.
“Things fell together quite nicely,” said Pollack, the first Spartan to play at this level. “And graduation (on June 15) fits in perfectly in-between.”
Following last Friday’s Senior Prom, Pollack left Bainbridge in the very wee hours of the morning for East Wenatchee, the site of the game. After his 7:30 a.m. arrival, Pollack had breakfast, worked out for several hours and then played a full game.
“It was kind of rough,” Pollack said. But not rough enough to keep him from clocking a 6.69 60-yard sprint during the morning workout, fourth-fastest among the 72 players. Nor from going two for four as his team won their opening game.
The following day his team lost the “championship” game as Pollack was one for two. In the two games, he reached base five of six times, stole three bases, scored three runs and drove in one – numbers that came close to winning one of the two offensive awards handed out on Sunday afternoon. And made him a lock as one of the 20 players selected for the Oregon series.
“Near the end of the second game, someone pulled me aside and asked if I’d be available for the game in two weeks,” he said. “’Definitely, I’d love to come,’ I said.
“I’ve got a good couple of weekends coming up.”
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**Top kicker Bell on track for five rings
Courtney Bell of Bainbridge Island, a member of the FC Kitsap soccer team, was recently selected as one of two co-captains of the Washington State Girls’ Olympic Development Team.
This team comprises the top 14-year-old soccer players from throughout the state and represents the first step toward playing on the U.S. National and Olympic Teams.
The selection process began with several weeks of tryouts in March, which narrowed the field to about 45 players. Following two months of training, the final cut occurred in mid-May with the selection of the final 18.
The team competed in the Portland Nike Cup Tournament during the Memorial Day weekend against all-star teams from Oregon, California, Colorado and British Columbia and captured second place. Bell contributed to her team’s success by scoring three goals and providing five assists.
Next month she will attend the regional training camp in Idaho – one of four held throughout the country – for workouts and competition with the top players from 11 western states. An all-star team of 18 girls will be selected from the approximately 200 players in attendance.
Bell, who will enter BHS in the fall as a freshman, began her soccer career nine years ago and played in island recreational leagues before joining FC Kitsap last year. A center midfielder on her club team, she plays forward with the ODP squad.
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**Cobb drops two to Dawgs, Feds
The Cobb 15U baseball team dropped a pair of weekend games, losing 5-4 on Saturday to the Federal Way Dukes and 10-5 Sunday to the Puyallup Riverdawgs.
A Cobb rally in the top of the seventh against the Dukes fell just short as the team loaded the bases but couldn’t score. The squad, already missing two starters, had another blow in the first inning when third baseman Jeff Coulon was tagged out at home plate and suffered a gash requiring seven stitches. Matt Frazee scored twice and went two for four with a double, while Barrett Kanyer and Kevin Roach each had two RBIs.
On Sunday, Puyallup scored four runs in the top of the seventh to break open a close game. Jonathan Rowan went two for three and Kristopher Patterson drove in two runs for Bainbridge, who struck out 14 times and managed just six singles.
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**Clock is ticking on soccer sign-ups
Registration for the Bainbridge Island Youth Soccer Club’s fall recreational season closes at midnight this Saturday. All new and returning soccer players ages 7-18 and adult volunteers should go to www.biysc.com and register. For the first time, BIYSC will take credit card payment (Visa and Mastercard) online for registration and jersey purchase.
Players registering after the deadline will be assessed a $15 late fee and placed on a waiting list, with no guarantee of playing fall soccer or being returned to last fall’s team. Information: 780-4400.
Sluggers assemble at summer camp
Grand Slam Baseball Camps is holding two sessions on Bainbridge for ages 7-12, June 24-28 and July 15-19. Instructors are current college players and high school coaches. Fee is $99. Information: 253-735-6113 or www.grandslamcamp.com.
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**Spartans coach young hoopsters
This year’s Spartan Basketball Camp will be held Monday, June 24 through Thursday, June 27 at the high school gym.
It will be conducted by Bainbridge basketball coaches Scott Orness and Jake Haley and other area coaches. Spartan basketball players will serve as counselors.
Boys and girls in grades four through six will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m, while boys in grades seven through nine will attend from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The camp will emphasize offensive and defensive fundamentals, ball handling and shooting. Some scrimmages will also be held.
The $150 cost includes a T-shirt and basketball. Those interested may pick up flyers in the Bainbridge High School office.
Information: Jake Haley, 780-1358 or jhaley@bainbridge.wednet.edu.
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**Girls with game take to the court
The Bainbridge Basketball Camp – for girls in the fourth through ninth grades – will be held July 15-19. Bainbridge Spartan basketball coach Penny Gienger will be assisted by Korrie Beemer – BHS assistant and JV coach for several years and this year’s Woodward 7th grade coach – and Spartan C team coach Kelly Beemer. Members of the BHS varsity will also be on hand to provide instruction.
The camp, located in the Commodore gym, is split into two sessions: fourth through sixth graders go from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with the older girls starting at 9 a.m. and continuing through 3 p.m. The camp concludes on Friday with the two groups together from 9 a.m. to noon.
The cost is $100. Campers are expected to provide their own lunch.
“Many other camps cost over $300 for that many hours of instruction,” said Korrie Beemer. Information: 855-0516 or pgienger@bainbridge.wednet.edu.
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**Block and tackle – without fly rods
The Spartan Football Camp for second through eighth graders is scheduled for June 24 -28. Hours are 1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. each day. Cost is $60.
Information: BHS head football coach Andy Grimm, 855-0515 or agrimm@bainbridge.wednet.edu.
