Major League pitcher Blake Hawksworth back to coach basketball

BY KEVIN ENDEJAN

kendejan@issaquah-reporter.com

� ree months ago Blake Hawksworth sat in the Busch Stadium bullpen, baseball mitt in hand, his No. 53 uniform a vibrant shade of white — the mark of a Major League relief pitcher.

At a moment’s notice the call from St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa, a future Hall of Famer, could come. Any second, he might be asked to step on the mound in front of 50,000 fans and spell 20-game win-ner Adam Wainwright, or three-time All-Star Chris Carpenter.

Fast forward to Decem-ber, and the 27-year-old Sammamish native is far from the bright lights of any big league stadium.

Hidden in the con� nes of Eastlake High’s dimly-lit gym, Hawksworth is do-ing something very few, if any, baseball players of his caliber will ever attempt — he’s coaching high school basketball.

“It’s just so di� erent from what I do,” said Hawks-worth, who � nished the 2010 season with a 4-8

record, 4.98 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 90 innings. “To get in here and be just kind of a regular guy and just kind of blend in with the whole basketball thing is refreshing.”

� e 2001 Eastlake graduate assisted his alma mater during his minor league days, helping the program in 2003 and 2005. � is is his � rst time coach-ing since getting called up by St. Louis in June 2009.

Hawksworth’s choice to return was made simple when Brian Dailey was

hired as the head coach in the summer. � e duo attended school together

from � � h grade through a year of Bellevue Col-lege, and have remained best friends since.

“It’s just one of those things, you’ve got to be a part of it — just to see him coach,” Hawksworth said.

Dailey, who recently returned from playing professional basketball in Israel, wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We have a lot of dreams that we’ve talked about

in life and this was one of them,” he said. “It happened quicker than we thought.”

Dailey said Hawksworth was a talented basketball player, noting he was the � rst in their group of friends who could dunk a ball.

“He was always really con� dent, he always felt like his next shot was going in, and it wasn’t always going in,” said Dailey, cracking a smile.

Jokes aside, the � rst-year head coach is thrilled to have someone with Hawk-sworth’s life experience on his sta� .

“He’s a professional, he’s got high character, he’s a great guy,” Dailey said. “� e best thing he brings is him just being himself.”

� at example is obvious to the Eastlake players.

“With him being a professional baseball player you know he’s put in a lot of hard work for what he’s be-come,” senior guard Abdu Elkugia said. “He’s a living example that hard work pays o� .”

Hard work is a de� nite focus of Hawksworth, who brings his work ethic with him to the court every day.

“He doesn’t take anything halfway,” senior guard Con-ner Iraola said. “He always goes full tilt. If we’re not go-ing hard he’s always on us.”

Hawksworth said he’s enjoyed his time with the Wolves this season. In between baseball training at the University of Washing-ton’s Dempsey Center, he attends all Eastlake basket-ball games and practices.

You won’t see Hawks-worth on the bench during games, however. He opts to sit in the stands with his wife Courtney.

“I try to sit by my wife because I know she’ll keep me in check and just try to watch the game from an-other perspective,” he said.

More importantly Hawk-sworth said he has to leave early for Spring Training, and doesn’t want to disrupt the team.

“I just want that bench to be consistent for them,” he said. “I was up front with the team when the sea-son started, if it’s baseball related obviously I’ve got to do some stu� .”

Hawksworth, who was dra� ed by the St. Louis Car-dinals in 2001 and spent his entire career in their farm

Eastlake players get big-league perspectiveFRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2010[8] www.issaquah-reporter.com • www.sammamish-reporter.com

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Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Blake Hawksworth, right, jokes with Eastlake senior Matt Uhlar during a practice last week. Hawksworth is spending the o� -season as a Wolves’ assistant coach. KEVIN ENDEJAN, Reporter

[ more HAWKSWORTH page 9 ]

“To get in here and be just kind of a regular guy and just kind of blend in with the whole basketball thing is refreshing.” – Blake Hawksworth

HEAPS HAS BREAKOUT GAME FOR BYU

Jake Heaps had his biggest performance yet as a

collegiate player on Saturday as he lead the BYU Cougars to a 52-24 victory over the

Texas-El Paso Miners in the New Mexico Bowl. Heaps,

a 2010 graduate of Skyline, was 25-for-34 for 264 yards

with four touchdowns and one interception.

Heaps ended his freshman campaign, completing 219

of 383 passes (57.2 perecent) for 2,316 yards, 15 TDs and

nine INTs.

Jake Heaps

By REPORTER STAFF

Of the 33 athletes the Spartans bring to the mat, 25 are either freshmen or sophomores.

Junior Amy Bearman is one of the few

returning Skyline athletes, and head coach

Debbie Gliner expects

big things from the four-event competitor again.

Junior Taylor McCombs and senior Emily Whan, along with freshmen Alyssa Holt and Elyssa Roeder are expected to provide depth to the team right away.

Issaquah looks to rebuild

With two of her top gymnasts, Risa Fukuda and Eva Perry, deciding to not participate this season, 11th-year Issaquah coach Ryan Fleisher isn’t quite sure what to expect in 2010-2011.

On the bright side, the Eagles do get back senior

state finalist Olivia Goree and junior Anna Fairhart.

Sophomore AJ Bowers is also expected to make an impact right away.

Eastlake relies on seniors

First-year Eastlake gymnastics coach Jennette Fuller likes the attitude her athletes bring to the mat.

“The seniors on this team have had four different coaches in the last four years and so I am proud of them for keeping the team together and for keeping with the sport,” Fuller said.

Key senior returners in-clude Maggen Wolk, Esme Fussell and Bianca Barr. Freshman Emily Rapada and sophomore Nicole Rader are newcomers who are expected to make an immediate impacts.

Skyline brings young team to the mat

[9]FRIDAY, DecembeR 24, 2010www.issaquah-reporter.com • www.sammamish-reporter.com

State of WashingtonDepartment of EcologyNotice of Application

to Appropriate Pubic Waters Take notice: That Swedish Health Service of Seattle, Washington on October 7, 2010, under application No. G1-28674 filed for permit to appropriate public waters, subject to existing rights, from a well in the amount of 600 gallons per minute each year, for emergency domestic supply. The source of the proposed appropriation is located in NW 1/4 SE 1/4 Section 27, Township 24N, Range 6E W.M., King County. Protests or objections to approval of this

application must include a detailed statement of the basis for objections: protests must be accompanied with a fifty-dollar ($50.00) non-refundable record- ing fee (please remit check or money order only) and filed with the department of Ecology at the address shown below, within thirty (30) days from December 24, 2010. Department of Ecology Cashiering office – NWRO-WR PO Box 47611 Olympia WA 98504-7611 Published in the Issaquah/ Sammamish Reporters December 17, 2010 and December 24, 2010. #442499.

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system, was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in late November. He will head for Arizona on Feb. 13 — the re-porting date for pitchers and catchers.

Until then, he hopes positively im-pact the Eastlake basketball program in every way possible.

“Obviously I’m not a basketball

player, but I’ve been in this gym, I’ve played here and in a sense made it out to the next level,” he said. “I think on a bigger scale I want to impact these kids off the court and be a posi-tive role model for them. I think it’s important.”

For the entire Q&A with Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Blake Hawksworth

go to the Issaquah and Sammamish Reporter sports blog, The End Zone, blogs.issaquah-reporter.com/end-zone. Find out what it was like to take the Major League mound for the first time, who the most interest-ing players are in MLB and how scary it was to take a line drive off his face.

[ hAwkSwORTh from page 8]

By REPORTER STAFF

Eastlake brings a mix of veterans and youth to the pool hoping to make some noise in 2011.

Senior Ryker Oldenbury and junior Zach Alleva both competed in the 4A state meet last season. Seniors

Dylan Jessum and Nick

Howard, along with junior Henry

O’Neil bring depth to the

group of returners. Edward Kim, a freshman,

has already made his mark, earning state qualifying times in the 500 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Kim’s time of 46.59 in the 100 freestyle is a new school record and tops

the winning time from last year’s 4A state meet.

high hopes for EC swimmers

Veteran swim coach Rick Wertman is excited about what the Eastside Catholic boys and girls swim teams bring to the pool this season.

The 27-year veteran, who is in his first season at the helm of the Crusaders, gets 26 returning athletes.

Leading the way for the boys is six-time state champi-on and Stanford University-bound Ethan Hallowell. The All-American is targeting a perfect run of eight indi-vidual state championships in short sprints.

The Crusaders boys also return captains Matt Leist and Joe Mahan.

The girls return junior

captain Katherine Whiteman, a Sea-King District finalist, and junior Lauren Rehn.

“EC swimming has some great athletes and swimmers eager to achieve,” Wertman said.

Issaquah returns deep group

The Issaquah swim team returns 36 athletes this season — all with plenty of experience.

The group includes se-niors Gentry Gevers, Skyler Kersten and Ben Halter; junior Brian Ruggles and sophomores Austin Melody, Willy Matsuda and Spencer McCulloh.

The Eagles also receive some impact newcomers in freshmen twins Ben and Keith Nussbaum.

Sixth-year head coach

Laura Halter likes her team’s chances this season, and sees a top-three league finish.

Skyline grows a year older

Skyline brings back a large crop of juniors from last year’s 3-5 team, hoping to shake things up in the KingCo 4A.

The Spartans, who have already equaled last year’s dual meet win total, return juniors Mitch Corson, Alex Marber, Ashton Powell, David Jett and Travis Fox.

Senior captains Austin Crow and Alex Carey along with talented sophomores Tucker Russell and Tyler Hamke provide depth up and down the roster.

Eastlake swimmers ready to make splash

swimmingpreview

gymnasticspreview

By REPORTER STAFF

Eastside Catholic has 12 total returners for the 2011 season, but only 16 total wrestlers.

The bright side of the small turnout,

is the Crusad-ers’ deep junior class.Anthony

Roy (152) par-ticipated at state last season and is looking to build on his experience.

Joe Stoutt (215) and Drew Beggs (140) are two wres-

tlers who made the regional tournament and junior Dentin Garrett (160) and sophomore David Hurdle (215) have also both started their seasons out strong. Newcomer Matt Beggs is also expected to make an impact right off the bat.

Issaquah displays depth

The Issaquah wrestling team returns 17 athletes from last season, providing plenty of depth for the 2010-2011 season.

The Eagles are led by re-turners Max Tickman (112),

Almen Thorpe (135), Sean Novak (140) and David White (152).

Newcomer Louden Ivey (103), Caleb Pearson (125) and Jonathan Norris (275) should also be crucial to team success.

Skyline shows heart early on

The good news — Skyline sent three wrestlers to state last season, and they all placed.

The bad news — all three athletes graduated in 2010.

That hasn’t ruined head coach Gus Kiss’ optimism for 2011.

“We’re a young team with just three seniors, but the kids have shown a lot of heart and potential,” he said.

Seniors Collin Ehret (130) and Jordan McCaslin (152) will provide senior leader-ship. Freshmen newcomers Joe DeMatteo (103) and Tristan Steciw (119) are also expected to make immedi-ate impacts.

Eastlake brings back strong core

Eastlake returns experi-ence this season with state competitor Max Benjamin (130), and Adam Nakinishi (125).

Newcomers Sabrina Han-dlon (103), Michael Rosado (135), Eric Harper (160) are also expected to be key to a successful season.

Eastside Catholic grapplers return strong junior class

full story online…www.issaquah-reporter.com

wrestlingpreview

full story online…www.issaquah-reporter.com

more story online…www.issaquah-reporter.com