SPORTS by Jack Kintner

Spring season comes to a close

Middle School Soccer
Coach Dan Steelquist�s eighth grade squad defeated Mt. Baker 3-1 on Monday afternoon, getting their sixth win in nine starts this year. Forward Alyssa Hendrickson scored the first goal for Blaine, and center-midfielder Mackenzie Nix broke a 1-1 tie late in the second period with a sharp game-winner from 20 feet out on the right side. Hendrickson later added a second goal shortly before time expired.
�It was one of our best games,� Steelquist said, adding that he was especially happy with the even defense with which Blaine contained the Mt. Baker attack. The team�s final game was Wednesday, but the score was not available at press time.

Farmer hangs 20-footer on the lip
Kevin Farmer, fourth place finisher at last year�s state golf tournament, missed the cut this year, shooting 81 after carding 74,73 in practice at the Sun Willows course in Pasco. Most frustrating for the Blaine senior was that the round that counted included a 20-foot putt that hung up on the lip and refused to fall. Farmer missed the cut by one stroke.
Farmer was philosophical, knowing that if football�s a game of inches, golf must be a game measured by the molecule, and now he�s got proof. He�ll take the lesson learned along next year to the University of Redlands in California, where he�ll play in collegiate competition. �And don�t worry about Blaine next year,� he said, �because (#2) Doug Goldsby will be back, and we�ve got a good prospect in John Dudley.�

Bianchi finishes sixth
Blaine�s Scott Bianchi, arguably one of the best two or three tennis players in the state, lost his opening round match in the state tournament in Yakima last week to Joe Boyle of perennial powerhouse Cashmere 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
That put him into the consolation bracket where another loss would eliminate him from the tournament, but he responded to the challenge and dumped Zak Nelson of Medical Lake 6-3, 7-5. Bianchi then played another Cashmere product, Chase Evans, at 9 a.m. Saturday and lost 6-1, 6-1.
The doubles team of Grant Sanders and Hungarian exchange student Peter Moskovits lost twice in a row and was eliminated on Friday, the tournament�s first day, to teams from Medical Lake, 7-6 (2), 6-1 and Steilacoom, 6-0, 7-5.
Blaine and Steilacoom ended up tied for tenth in the team standings.

Track team results
Blaine�s track season ended on a note of promise in the eastern Washington heat last weekend as the boys� team put 4.5 points on the board and the girls team scored one. The boys points were based on Ryhan Lopez�s sixth-place finish in the 100 meters (11.66) and Geoff Faulkner�s tie in the high jump (5-foot-10-inches), and the girls on Jessica Summers 103-foot-5-inches discus toss, good enough for eighth place. Kit Schumann narrowly missed medaling in the pole vault.
The promise is for the coming years, where results will be better. However, it�s one thing to win all the time, if I may be permitted a little editorializing, but to stick with it for the idea and the participation shows true character. Way to go, kids. Nice work.

SPORTS SHORTS
Skywater Tennis Tournament
The Skywater Tennis Tournament, with singles, doubles and mixed events, will be held June 27 � 29. To participate call tennis pro Eric Cramer at 650-9139 or Joyce Vanderpol at 332-1169.

Football sign-up
The Blaine Boys and Girls Club began football sign-up early this week and will continue doing so through June 13. Seven and eight-year-olds can sign up for Flag, which costs $50, and ages nine through ten can sign up for Tackle, at a cost of $70. The costs include a Blaine Boys and Girls Club membership. Space is limited, so early sign up is suggested. For more information, call the club at 332-3008.

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