I’m passing along an e-mail I received about a baseball skills camp in July in Des Moines. Darren Rawie of Mount Rainier High, Hal DeBerry of Newport High and Nic Lind of Northwest Diamond Sports will lead the camp, along with Brandon Newell, head scout in the Northwest for the Milwaukee Brewers. The camp is for kids ages 7-15. I know Newell from when I worked at the Bellingham Herald and he’s as plugged into the prep baseball scene as anyone in the state.

Here’s the press release:

Contact: Nic Lind, Recreation Coordinator [Media Only]
Ph: (206) 870-6527 Email: nlind@desmoineswa.gov

Professional Scout Teaches Baseball Skills in Des Moines

This July Des Moines Parks & Recreation will introduce South Sound Diamond
Skills Baseball Camp for baseball players 7-15 years old. Featuring instruction
by Milwaukie Brewers Scout Brandon Newell, the camp will offer professional
level instruction at recreation prices in a high energy and fun environment.
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Kentwood’s girls track and field team has been invited to compete at what is being billed as national championship for high school track and field teams. The meet is scheduled for July 2 at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.

Kentwood is ranked as the top team in the Northwest region. On the boys’ side, Mead of Spokane will compete. Here’s a link with more info about the meet and the other invited teams.

Here’s a look at the all-state baseball games that were played over the weekend in Yakima.

Kentwood’s Austin Voth was tagged for a grand slam, but answered with a three-run homer later in the game and led his team to a 12-9 victory on Saturday and a spot in the championship game.

Curtis’ Jacob Hoffman hit a two-run home run in the title game, helping Team Baker beat Team St. Helens 17-5.

Here are results and box scores from Saturday’s games.

Here are results and box scores from Sunday’s games.

The results of the 2009-10 WIAA Scholastic Cup have been released. The competition rewards schools for performances on the field and in the classroom. Click here to see the results.

Here at The News Tribune, we’re tabulating the results of something similar, our All-Sports competition. For more than two decades, we’ve assigned points to schools for their postseason performances in all sports — hence, the title “All-Sports” — in all classifications. Look for the results in the next couple weeks.

Until then, this year’s winners in the Scholastic Cup are:
Class 4A: Mead

Class 3A: Mercer Island

Class …

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I’ve been away from the office since Thursday because my wife and I have a brand new baby girl that we’re learning how to take care. I wanted to pass along a link that many of you might be interested in. The Spokane Spokesman-Review is hosting a live chat today with WIAA executive director Mike Colbrese. It’s sure to be dominated by discussion about the new format to the basketball state tournaments.

The chat begins at 1 p.m. today (Monday, June 7) and you can access it here.

I’m in favor of the change because I think placing two …

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Meeks audio (06-03)

Stueckle audio (06-03)

Orting High wrestler Taylor Meeks and Emerald Ridge High hurdler Kayla Stueckle were the winners of the 2009-2010 Tacoma/Pierce County high school student-athletes of the year awards Thursday night, presented by the Tacoma Athletic Commission.

Both seniors received a $2,000 scholarship from Columbia Bank.

Meeks, a three-time Mat Classic champion and two-time News Tribune “Untouchables” selection, went 112-1 in the past three seasons for the Cardinals, who won back-to-back 1A team titles.

Currently, Meeks – headed to Oregon State this summer – is the ninth-ranked wrestler in the country at 189 pounds by USA Wrestling.

He also was a two-way standout for the Orting football team.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” Meeks said. “I think it’s good recognition for the wrestling community and everything.”

Last weekend, Stueckle became a three-time 4A champion in the 300-meter hurdles. The University of Washington signee also won the long jump title as well at Star Track XXVIII at Mount Tahoma Stadium.

She was also an all-South Puget Sound League midfielder for the league-champion Jaguars.

“I’m pretty honored because I know there is a really talented group of kids here,” Stueckle said.

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Leaders from the state basketball coaches association (WIBCA) met with district directors on Tuesday to discuss the new format of the basketball state tournaments.

Since the WIAA Executive Board voted in April to change the format of the basketball state tournaments, WIBCA had been forming proposals on how to determine the final eight teams in the state tournament. (Click here for a refresher on the format of the new state tournaments.)

WIBCA came up with four proposals and coaches from across the state voted in favor of a 32-team single-elimination super regional format. Here are the particulars:
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