Sports

Royals junior Saul Rodriguez looks to control the ball late in the game against the Ravens. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Kent-Meridian boys soccer ready for playoffs

Royals finish in third place in the NPSL standings.

Royals junior Saul Rodriguez looks to control the ball late in the game against the Ravens. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kent-Meridian celebrating the win after the game, but giving respect to the crowd. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Kent-Meridian boys state soccer tourney drought ends

Royals take down Bainbridge High School 1-0 to advance to Class 3A playoffs

Kent-Meridian celebrating the win after the game, but giving respect to the crowd. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Seattle’s Jeremy Hanzel scored two goals to help lead the Thunderbirds to a 6-3 win over Winnipeg in the WHL Championship Series Tuesday, May 16 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds

Kent-based Thunderbirds top Winnipeg to take WHL Championship Series lead

Seattle wins 6-3 at ShoWare Center to go up 2-1 in best-of-seven series

Seattle’s Jeremy Hanzel scored two goals to help lead the Thunderbirds to a 6-3 win over Winnipeg in the WHL Championship Series Tuesday, May 16 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds
Around the Sound Sports podcast is hosted by Ben Ray. Email benjamin.ray@soundpublishing.com.

Baseball and soccer tournament clinchers | Around the Sound Sports podcast

Lots of local voices featured in this episode: Federal Way boys baseball clinches state tourney berth; Auburn Mountainview soccer beats Bainbridge to make the state tournament; among track highlights, Kent-Meridian girls dominate NPSL; Kent-Meridian boys soccer ends state tournament drought; Auburn Riverside baseball beats crosstown rival Auburn Mountainview to make state; Kentridge takes down Bethel in first round of district tournament; Liberty falls to defending state champ Mercer Island in baseball action; and a shoutout to a Todd Beamer alum who was named a NSIC gold glove winner while a Kentwood alum threw another scoreless outing for Bellevue College softball.

Around the Sound Sports podcast is hosted by Ben Ray. Email benjamin.ray@soundpublishing.com.
Seattle’s Brad Lambert and the rest of the Thunderbirds are clashing with the Winnipeg Ice for the Western Hockey League title. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds

T-Birds split first two WHL playoff games at Winnipeg; next three in Kent

Best-of-seven championship series continues this week at ShoWare Center

Seattle’s Brad Lambert and the rest of the Thunderbirds are clashing with the Winnipeg Ice for the Western Hockey League title. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds
Kentridge senior RHP Kaden Barnes eyes down the Bethel batting order en route to a 10-3 victory in the playoffs. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Kentridge baseball makes statement vs. Bethel in postseason

Fifth consecutive win for Chargers, who then lost to Federal Way in loser-out playoff game

Kentridge senior RHP Kaden Barnes eyes down the Bethel batting order en route to a 10-3 victory in the playoffs. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentlake second baseman Christopher Moore at the plate against the Spartans. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Kentlake’s baseball season cut short in postseason

Falcons took home the 2023 NPSL crown, but dropped two straight in the district tournament.

Kentlake second baseman Christopher Moore at the plate against the Spartans. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Around the Sound Sports podcast is hosted by Ben Ray. Email benjamin.ray@soundpublishing.com.

Softball, baseball and soccer highlights | Around the Sound Sports podcast

In this episode of Around the Sound Sports, we dive into prep softball and baseball highlights as well as soccer tournaments featuring athletes from Federal Way, Kent, Auburn and Renton.

Around the Sound Sports podcast is hosted by Ben Ray. Email benjamin.ray@soundpublishing.com.
Western Hockey League (WHL) general managers and media named Seattle’s Thomas Milic as the 2022-2023 WHL Goaltender of the Year. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds

Thunderbirds’ Thomas Milic chosen as WHL Goaltender of the Year

Milic honored with the Del Wilson Memorial Trophy; praises fans at Kent’s ShoWare Center

Western Hockey League (WHL) general managers and media named Seattle’s Thomas Milic as the 2022-2023 WHL Goaltender of the Year. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds
Sarah Wright dominates in the circle over the Decatur Gators. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Kentwood takes home NPSL fastpitch softball crown

Sarah Wright strikes out 15 and allows just three hits.

Sarah Wright dominates in the circle over the Decatur Gators. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Colton Dach and the rest of the Seattle Thunderbirds will play the Winnipeg Ice for the Western Hockey League title in a best-of-seven series starting May 12 in Winnipeg. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds

Kent-based Thunderbirds to play Winnipeg Ice for WHL championship

Seattle edges Kamloops 4-2 to take Western Conference title and advance to next round

Colton Dach and the rest of the Seattle Thunderbirds will play the Winnipeg Ice for the Western Hockey League title in a best-of-seven series starting May 12 in Winnipeg. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds
Emi Connell has hit 17 home runs this season for the Liberty High School Patriots. COURTESY PHOTO, Lindsay Barnes

17 homers and counting in Renton: Liberty High’s Emi Connell a true power hitter

Sophomore slugger had three home runs and 11 RBIs in one game; hit homers in six consecutive games

Emi Connell has hit 17 home runs this season for the Liberty High School Patriots. COURTESY PHOTO, Lindsay Barnes
Seattle’s Jared Davidson scored his 22nd career playoff goal to set a franchise record during a 4-2 loss to the Kamloops Blazers May 6 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds

Kent-based T-Birds fail to clinch WHL playoff series against Kamloops

Seattle loses game five; gets another chance to win Western Conference title Monday, May 8 on the road

Seattle’s Jared Davidson scored his 22nd career playoff goal to set a franchise record during a 4-2 loss to the Kamloops Blazers May 6 at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds
Seattle’s Dylan Guenther had three goals and an assist in an 8-4 win over the Kamloops Blazers on Thursday, May 4 that put the Thunderbirds up 3-1 in the series. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds

Kent-based T-Birds within one win of Western Conference title

Seattle dominates Kamloops 8-4 to take 3-1 series lead; can win championship Saturday, May 6

Seattle’s Dylan Guenther had three goals and an assist in an 8-4 win over the Kamloops Blazers on Thursday, May 4 that put the Thunderbirds up 3-1 in the series. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds
Kentwood’s Tucker Robertson makes a tackle against TJ. Ben Ray / The Reporter

High school soccer playoff previews for Kent

Three out of four Kent high schools made it to the district tournament.

Kentwood’s Tucker Robertson makes a tackle against TJ. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Seattle’s Nolan Allan, shown here in the April 30 game at the accesso ShoWare Center, had the only goal for the Thunderbirds in a 4-1 loss May 2 at Kamloops. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds

Kamloops topples Kent-based Thunderbirds in game 3 of playoffs

Seattle loses but still leads best-of-seven series, 2-1

Seattle’s Nolan Allan, shown here in the April 30 game at the accesso ShoWare Center, had the only goal for the Thunderbirds in a 4-1 loss May 2 at Kamloops. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Liesse, Seattle Thunderbirds
Kentridge senior Daniel Vargas looks to make a run in the first half against Decatur. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Soccer: Kentridge senior’s hat trick fuels 4-0 win over Decatur

The Kentridge High School boys soccer team controls its own destiny in the playoff race as the Chargers took down Decatur 4-0 on April 26.… Continue reading

Kentridge senior Daniel Vargas looks to make a run in the first half against Decatur. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Around the Sound Sports podcast is hosted by Ben Ray. Email benjamin.ray@soundpublishing.com.

Youth league needs umpires | Around the Sound Sports podcast

In this episode, we talk about Federal Way National Little League’s new season and the challenges; Auburn Riverside beats Thomas Jefferson in softball; Liberty plays Lake Washington to a draw in boys soccer; Lindbergh faces Foster on the baseball diamond during Senior Night; playoff-bound Kentridge blanks Decatur 4-0 on the soccer pitch; Liberty’s softball team sweeps the season series against Juanita; and finally, an update on two local grads who play sports at Pacific Lutheran University.

Around the Sound Sports podcast is hosted by Ben Ray. Email benjamin.ray@soundpublishing.com.
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Kent-based Seattle Thunderbirds open Western Conference finals with two wins

Stretch playoff record to 10-0 with victories over Kamloops, 5-1 and 4-3 in overtime

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Dr. Alfred Blue: Longtime Thunderbirds’ hockey team doctor dies

Began career in 1963 with the Seattle Totems; Medical room at ShoWare Center in Kent named after him

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