The Everett Merchants returned from British Columbia with some hardware in hand.
The collegiate summer baseball team, which is a member of the Pacific International League, went undefeated in claiming the championship of the Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament, which took place from June 25-July 2.
Everett went a perfect 6-0, outscoring its opponents 77-20. The Merchants swept their four pool-play games to advance to the semifinals, then dominated their two knockout bracket games to lift the trophy.
In the semifinals the Merchants defeated the Alaska Goldpanners 10-0 in a game shortened to seven innings because of the mercy rule. Arlington High School graduate and Skagit Valley College player Reider Vane threw a four-hit shutout, walking one and striking out two, while Pacific Lutheran University’s Aaron Barber and Seattle University’s Kai Alberghini each drove in three runs to pace the offense.
Then the bats went wild in the championship game as Everett pounded the Seattle Blackfins 24-8. Alberghini and Everett Community College’s Keaton Fisher each homered for the Merchants.
Barber finished as the tournament’s leading batter at .552, scoring 10 runs and driving in nine in the six games. Marysville Pilchuck High School grad and Lewis-Clark State player Jordan Justice led the tournament in both homers (four) and RBI (12).
The Merchants now return to PIL play, where going into Wednesday they were 9-2 and in first place in the standings.
Locals earn baseball two-year All-American honors
Three Snohomish County natives and one player from Everett Community College were named ABCA/Rawlings Pacific Association Division All-Americans. The Pacific Division is comprised of junior colleges from the Northwest Athletic Conference and the California Community College Athletic Association.
Monroe High School graduate Ryan Lynch, who just completed his sophomore season at Bellevue College, was named a first-team pitcher. Lynch, a right-hander, went 8-0 with a 0.56 ERA, walking eight and striking out 78 in 64 innings.
Everett High School graduate Abe Affholter, who also just finished his sophomore year at Bellevue, was named a second-team infielder. Affholter batted .345 with two home runs and 30 RBI in 45 games.
Fellow Everett High grad Casen Taggart, who just finished his sophomore season at Centralia, was named a third-team first baseman. Taggart, who will play next season at Washington State, batted .279 with eight homers and 38 RBI in 48 games.
Everett CC’s Sheehan O’Connor, a sophomore infielder, was also named to the third team. O’Connor batted .326 with 48 runs and 22 stolen bases in 52 games.
Studioso named softball All-American
Meadowdale High School graduate Kelsi Studioso, who just completed her sophomore season with the Bellevue College softball team, was named an NFCA Northwest Athletic Conference All-American, as well as being named the NFCA Player of the Year and earning the NFCA Golden Shoe honor.
Studioso, a shortstop, led NWAC in batting (.571) and stolen bases (47). She also finished second in runs (75) and doubles (23) as she led the Bulldogs to a 37-2 record and a third-place finish at the NWAC tournament.
ERA masters rowers shine at regionals
The Everett Rowing Association had 12 entries take first place at the Northwest Masters Championship on June 23-25 in Lowell, Oregon.
Everett was led by the trio of Anda Ruju, Aaron Haack and Andrew McCrea, who each were part of four winners, including the Mixed AA-B (ages 21-42) 4x that included all three along with Jessica Raab. Ruju and Raab teamed to win both the Women’s B (36-42) 2- and Women’s B 2x; Haack and McCrea paired to win the Men’s B 2x; and McCrea and Ruju combined to win the Mixed B 2x. Haack also won the Men’s C (43-49) 1x as well as teaming with McCrea, Scott Lousen and Chris Petershagen to win the Mens AA-A (21-35) 4x.
In addition, Petershagen won the Men’s Open and Lightweight 1x and teamed with Andy Egloff to win the Men’s AA-A 2x; Kimberly Rice-Narusch won the Women’s D (50-54) 1x; Tricia Stamler won the Women’s E (55-59) 1x; and the duo of Rene Porubek and Olga Kondratets won the Women’s D 2-.
If you have an item for the community sports roundup, email Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.
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