The wacky week that was

The overworked, underpaid two-man Enterprise sports department will be the first to admit that on occasion there is a paucity of compelling events to cover.

Then there are times, such as last week, where we are glad to be part of the sports journalism business. From the sublime to the ridiculous, the Enterprise sports department took it all in last week.

Sometimes we were shaking our heads in amazement. Other times, the absurdity of the situation made us wonder what people were thinking.

Edmonds-Woodway and Jackson played what was the best baseball game we’ve witnessed all season. Their Northwest District 4A semifinal clash won’t soon be forgotten by both teams or their fans.

The stakes were high, as the winner moved on to the district championship game and secured an opportunity to advance to the state tournament.

Showing a resiliency that bodes well for the their future on the athletic field and their lives outside of sports, the Warriors rallied from a deficit three times during the eight-inning contest to ultimately prevail 10-9.

Edmonds-Woodway survived a two-run mammoth home run to center field by Jackson’s Travis Snider in the top of the seventh that tied the score at 8 and appeared to swing all the momentum the Wolfpack’s way. Snider, who is only a sophomore, opened the game with a gigantic two-run shot to right field in the first inning.

It’s a sure bet that before he’s through, Snider will be rewriting several chapters of the Jackson High School record books.

The impact of Edmonds-Woodway’s victory, meanwhile, will likely extend far beyond the 2004 season.

All season long, Warriors coach Joe Webster talked to his players about never giving up and never quitting. It’s one thing for a coach to tell his players not to give up. It’s quite another for the players to actually make it happen.

“They don’t feel like I’m just staying that,” Webster said. “It’s really true.”

By far the wackiest event of the spring season occurred on the final day of the Wesco 4A South Division girls tennis tournaments at Jackson High School.

Most of the other matches had long since wrapped up, but a pair of singles players were engaged in a seesaw battle for fifth and sixth place.

Following the third game of the third set, the match was unexpectedly called due to a rule violation that never would have been an issue two or three years ago.

Word got back to the tournament director that one of the players’ cell phones rang during a rally, which resulted in a forfeiture of the final set, the match and the alternate berth to districts.

The punishment seemed a bit harsh for the crime, but we were told that players apparently are warned ahead of time to turn their phones off before they take the court.

The guilty party explained to her coach afterwards she was sure her phone was set on silent mode. No word on mystery caller’s identity.

David Pan and Charlie Laughtland cover sports for The Enterprise Newspapers. Questions and comments may be sent by e-mail to entsports@heraldnet.com, by fax to 425-774-8622 or by mail to Sports editor, The Enterprise, 4303 198th St. SW., Lynnwood, WA 98036.