What looked twice as if it were going to be a disastrous day for Seattle ended up as a magnificent show of poise as the Sounders rallied twice from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with the rival Vancouver Whitecaps.  Vancouver took the early lead in the 12^th minute as Rochat was able to make an uncontested run to the box on a cross and drove the ball past Meredith.  The Sounders responded somewhat unsteadily to the goal as they were unable to get the ball into Vancouver’s third of the field for much of the first half.  The team was lacking intensity but that problem was clearly solved in the locker room.

After half time the boys in rave green proved their mettle.  Vancouver nearly doubled their lead but in the 47^th minute, Mauro Rosales found the head of an onrushing Eddie Johnson who loomed high over his defender to tie the match up at one apiece.  Following this impressive goal the Sounders dominated the rest of the second half.  The Sounders kept constant pressure on the Vancouver defense forcing Whitecaps keeper, Cannon to make some impressive stops.  In the 82^nd minute, Vancouver’s Koffie scored against the run of play and it looked grim once again for the Sounders.  But once again, Fredy Montero came up big as he danced around two Whitecap defenders before blasting a shot into the goal to tie the game again at 2-2 in the 90^th minute.  The well-earned draw also kept up Seattle’s unbeaten streak in Cascadia Cup competition.

3A State Regional: Bellevue Region

This region features two of the top ten teams in the state of Washington. I consider this bracket a tough one. In order to advance to the state finals, teams must win two games on Saturday; their first round game and defeat the winner of the other game played in this region. See our breakdown and predictions of this region after the jump!!

3A State Baseball Regional: Mt. Vernon Region

In order to advance to the state finals, teams must win two games on Saturday; their first round game and defeat the winner of the other game played in this region. I would consider this region as the least toughest. It does feature two of the top ten teams in the state, but rank No. 7 and No. 6. The two other teams in this region are unranked. Any team I believe can win the Mt. Vernon Region.  See who we picked after the jump!

3A State Baseball Regional: Centralia Region

This in my mind is the toughest region in this tournament. This region features three of the top five teams in the state. In order to advance to the state finals, teams must win two games on Saturday; their first round game and defeat the winner of the other game played in this region. See our breakdown of this region with a final prediction after the jump!!

3A State Baseball Regional: Yakima Region

This region features three of the top ten baseball teams in the state of Washington. It is in my mind the second toughest tournament. In order to advance to the state finals, teams must win two games on Saturday; their first round game and defeat the winner of the other game played in this region. See our breakdown of each team and who advances to Pasco from the Yakima Region after the jump!!

Time: 2:00 PM

TV: KONG 6/16

Half way through May and it has already been a long stretch. Through 4 games in May the Sounders have piled up a 3-1 record losing only to West leading Real Salt Lake. While the MLS and the rest of the world takes back seat to the UEFA Champions League Final of Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich the Sounders are looking to get back on track in the first Cascadia match of the year versus Vancouver.

If you were to ask the rest of the MLS which clubs had the most heated rivalries you would most likely hear a majority of people say the Cascadia rivalry of Vancouver, Portland and Seattle. Since the 1970’s the I-5 rivalry has been well alive through all competitions, and last year was the beginning of the MLS chapter of the rivalry. It came down to the last Cascadia game between the Sounders and Whitecaps at Vancouver and through some late game Fredy Montero heroics the Sounders were able to pull out the Cascadia Cup. The Cascadia Cup is one of the most coveted in the Northwest as it is a fan created trophy that gives ultimate bragging rights for the team in possession of the cup. The start of that defense is against the re-born Vancouver Whitecaps.

Have we seen the last of Chone Figgins?
Photo Credit: seattlebaseballtraininglessons.com

With all the early spring Mariners optimism now relatively gone, it’s about time we take a reality check and look at the true state of the 2012 Mariners. From Chone Figgins to Felix Hernandez, there’s a lot to talk about.

Chone Figgins is done as an everyday player in Seattle: In a last ditch effort to salvage Chone Figgins’ 4-year, $36 Million contract, manager Eric Wedge decided to start Figgy at leadoff in hopes that he might be able to regain his Anaheim form.

Well, that idea failed to say the least. After showing some flashes of a possible comeback in the first two weeks, Chone went downhill and is currently sitting on the bench with a .188 average. Unless Kyle Seager, Alex Liddi, Mike Carp, and Casper Wells all suddenly suffer career ending injuries, it looks like Chone Figgins’ starting days as a Mariner, or possibly anywhere else might be over.

Coming into this game, O’Dea dominated West Seattle in the First Round of the Metro Playoffs. This didn’t phase West Seattle as they knew they could win this game, after knocking off No.1 ranked Seattle Prep on Friday. Sophomore Pierre LeDorze pitched for O’Dea yesterday, who pitched a complete game shutout against West Seattle in the first round. West Seattle went with Thomas Snow. The Wildcats started the game threatening on offense, with the bases loaded, but failed to score.

In the fourth inning, Pierre LeDorze opened the game up with a 2-run home run over the left field fence, putting O’Dea up 2-0. Next inning, O’Dea would score two more runs off of West Seattle errors and extended their lead to 4-0. LeDorze would get in another pitching jam, but once again got out of it. In the final inning, West Seattle was able to score a run off a fielder’s choice, but it wasn’t enough as Pierre LeDorze recorded the final out off a strikeout, pitching a complete game and leading O’Dea to a 4-1 victory. With this win, O’Dea clinched 3^rd Place in the Metro Tournament and a berth to the State Regionals.

                                                                      Photo Credit: Stacey Stoutt/Eastside Catholic

Jeff Bohling hit his second walk-off homerun in as many games, and Eastside Catholic captured the Metro Championship with a 6-4, nine inning victory over Bishop Blanchet at Steve Cox Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon.

With two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, Bohling crushed a pitch by Blanchet's Peter Johnson over the right field wall, and the celebration was on for the Crusaders.

                                                                     Photo Credit: Alex Gallant/SeaTown Sports

Trevor Lane pitched a complete game, and Connor Swift came up with a big RBI single to give Mount Si a 3-2 win over Lake Washington on Friday night at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue. The victory gives the Wildcats their second consecutive KingCo Championship, and also puts them back in the state tournament.

Aside from his performance on the mound, Lane also added a RBI double at the plate, which proved to be a key hit in this low-scoring affair. The game was tied heading into the bottom of the 6th inning. Mount Si was able to string together baserunners with two outs, allowing Swift to give them the lead on the single. Lane came out in the 7th inning and shut down the Kangs in order.