June 2014

By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

By Ed Shepherd
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The West Seattle Little League's Cubs earned the title of Majors Division champions after a five-hit, 13-strikeout pitching performance from Henry Muench.
He led his team to a 6-1 victory at Bar-S Field Saturday.
Now the Cubs go on to the District 7 Tournament of Champions, which starts June 13 at the Normandy Park City Hall fields.
Jason Woodward, the Cubs' manager, said of Muench, "He was what I expected. I am proud of all of my kids. Everyone contributed to our success this season."
The Cubs, who went 9-5 during the season before catching fire in the postseason league tournament for three straight wins in the winners bracket, started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Jarek Woodward singled to third base, a hard hit grounder, before Muench helped out his pitching with a single through the third-shortstop hole into left field. After the runners advanced on a double steal, Dylan Pool's fly out to center field produced a sacrifice run as Woodward tagged up on third and came home to make it 1-0.

By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

Baseballs fill the air at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, arching toward a blue sky.
They are being launched by young players in the Southwest Little League charter, who are gathered for a home run derby prior to the organization's annual picnic held Saturday.

Players from the Southwest "coach-pitch" league were the first to take their place in the batter's box, swinging at offerings from their coaches.

Next up were the T-ballers, trying for the fences from tees.

These youngsters are all too young for District 7 Tournament of Champions and All-Star play, which tee off with the T.O.C. at the Normandy Park City Hall Fields on Friday.

The championship games for the Minors and Majors baseball age groups will both take place on separate fields at the complex at 6 p.m. Monday, June 16. All-Star teams will be picked after that to begin District 7 play June 28.

Seattle Fire responded to a heavy rescue call on Sw Sylvan Heights Dr for a one car roll over around 12:21 am on June 7. According to SPD, the car lost control, hit a tree, and rolled. The driver had minor scrapes and didn't need any medical attention. The road was shut down but then reopened a short time later.

West Seattle Baseball’s Pee Wee Championship Games in the Pinto and Mustang Divisions will be Saturday, June 7, 2014 beginning at 11 am at West Seattle Pee Wee Fields, 7226 12th Ave SW.

The Pinto game will feature Alki Lumber versus Menashe. The Mustang game has West Seattle Design Build facing Menashe.

The Championship Games will be preceded by introduction of the players, followed by the National Anthem. Then the Ceremonial First Pitches will be thrown by Jack Miller of Husky Deli and King County Councilmember Joe McDermott.

Pinto is for boys and girls who turn 7 before August 31 and who turn 8 after April 30 of the current year. Mustang is for kids who turn 9 before August 31 and turn 10 after April 30 of the current year.

For further information, contact Eric Olson, President, West Seattle Baseball, 206-854-8656 (cell) or www.westseattlebaseball.com.

Jerry, my neighbor, friend and a good conversationlist leaves an empty place in my heart. He made bird feeders and we were the recipients of several and have had pleasure in his product and the enjoyment of birds coming around. He would make maybe a little fun of me as I touched the bulkhead rock in front of his house on my regular beach walk signaling my turn around point. He would come out of his house and invite me in for a little conversation. For the last year he didn’t come out and I would go up to his house and he would invite me in and we were comfortable together talking about the locals and world events. He enjoyed watching the boat traffic go by his house and one time he took a picture of my wife and I at sunset in our canoe with my resting on my paddle as my wife in the bow was working diligently.It must have been a good picture as it appeared on the front page of his paper. What a nice bit of humor on his part.

I will remember Jerry and his wonderful part in my life.

Bruce Berglund

The West Seattle Cup -- a World Cup-style soccer tournament for youngsters -- will take place Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15 at Walt Hundley Playfield in West Seattle.
Action will run from 8:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. each day and bring together teams of 420 elementary age children and their parents.

It will include over 20 countries, including Somalia, Vietnam, Australia, Mexico, Ethiopia, France and England.
It is an opportunity for families and neighbors to play, teach, learn and connect across generational and cultural differences. In the spirit of its motto, "We're all on the same team,' the West Seattle Cup is designed to inspire participants to explore community building.

The free tournament is put on by the DON Neighborhood Matching Fund.

Students kindergarten through second grade go at it on Saturday and grades 3-5 play on Sunday.
For more information, visit the http://www.westseattlecup.org website.

A crowd of well over 1000 people gathered on 61st Ave. S.W, on Friday June 6 to witness the unveiling of the restored Admiral totem pole, which stood for decades on Admiral Way S.W. It was taken down due to wear and tear in 2006 and then restored for its unveiling at the Log House Museum in a special ceremony.

TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE UNVEILING CLICK HERE

Brad Chrisman is responsible for the time-lapse video.

In attendance at the event were notable dignitaries and hundreds of school children from Schimitz Park Elementary, Lafayette Elementary and Alki Elementary schools.

Executive Director of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, Clay Eals was the master of ceremonies for the brief event which included quite literally one minute speeches from King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray. On hand were the board of trustees, Tia Hallberg, Ron Arant, Kerry Korsgaard, Alan Peterson, Dora-Faye Hendricks, Dave Montoure, Peder Nelson, Bonnie Gromlich, Inez Lindsey, and Nancy Sorenson.

By Gerardo Bolong
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

It was a third inning uprising by the Nationals that secured an 11-1 four inning win against the Giants in the winners bracket semifinals of the South Highline National Little League Major playoffs held on Wed., June 4, at the Normandy Park City Hall Park fields.

After defeating the Braves in the first round ahead of this game, the unbeaten Nationals sailed straight to the Sun., June 8, championship round. The Giants face the Braves on Fri., June 6, for the right to win two straight games against the Nationals for the championship.

"This is a great group of kids," said Nationals manager Chad Allred. "Some have played together for two years, including our pitcher Gary Clark.We have great coaches in our league. Our pitcher (today) went deeper than expected. The team didn't make any defensive mistakes. I switched pitchers for the last out because Gary had maxed out his pitch count and I wanted him available for Sunday. We've done this before."

By Steve Shay

Seattle's $15 an hour minimum wage mandate passed nine to zero in City Council June 2, with support from Mayor Murray, and the guidance of the "Income Inequality Advisory Committee." However, the sentiment of Seattle business owners and employees is far from unanimous. It is estimated over 100,000 workers in Seattle are now earn minimum wage and will get a raise. Washington State's minimum wage is $9.32, the nation's highest. The federal minimum wage is $7.25. Nearly 25 states use this rate.

The most ardent supporters of Seattle's $15 mandate, so far the highest of any American city, believe the wage increase timetable is too cumbersome and slow. It begins April 1, 2015, and graduates to $15 over time depending on the size and nature of a business. Teen pay may be lower. Many opposing the increase agree the rate scheme is confusing. But they insist a large wage increase will overburden small businesses while the big boys, like McDonalds, Cosco and Amazon will discover loopholes. For instance, some Seattle-based corporations may move their headquarters just outside city limits.

June 5 – Thursday afternoon around 2 p.m., a lone gunman armed with a shotgun opened fire on students at Seattle Pacific University’s Otto Miller Hall (Northeast corner of West Nickerson Street and Third Avenue West), killing one student, and injuring three others, according to Seattle Police.

While the suspect was reloading, SPD reported that a campus student security officer subdued the suspect with pepper spray and then other students jump on top of the suspect to pin him. SPD reported the shooter is in custody.

Seattle emergency medical teams rushed the four wound individuals to Harborview Medical Center (HMC), the only trauma center in Seattle that handles level-one-trauma injuries.

According to a HMC spokes person said one 20 -year-old male died at the hospital; a 22-year-old woman was rushed into surgery; and the other two victims, both males ages 22 and 24, were treated for their injuries.

SPU campus was placed on lock down for 90 minutes after the shooting according to their website. SPD SWAT scoured the area initially looking for a second suspect. It was later confirmed by SPD that there was only one shooter.