The 23rd all-state volleyball series is quickly approaching. The games, which will be played Saturday, July 19 at Fife High School, feature some of the best graduated seniors in the state.

Three matches are scheduled, with players from 1B/2B, 1A/2A and 3A/4A competing against another team of the same classifications. Here's the schedule:

4 p.m. -- Class 1B/2B match
6 p.m. -- Class 1A/2A match
8 p.m. -- Class 3A/4A match

Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for students over 12 and children 11 and under are admitted free. T-shirts will be given away between games and timeouts via a number on admittance tickets obtained by the spectators upon entering.

The series is sponsored by the Puget Sound Volleyball Redion, Washington State Coaches Association and Evergreen Volleyball Region.

Here are the teams:

CLASS 1B/2B
Lauren Varney, Tekoa, Libero
Tarin Bond, Adna, Libero
Lisa Vaughn, Lopez Island, MB/OH
Elizabeth Madden, Manson, MB/OH
Ashley Warnecke, Wilbur, MB/S
Marci Connaley, Ocasta, Middle
Aubrey Plew, Manson, Middle
Cora Kellerman, LaConner, Middle
Kati Hronek, Rainier Christian, OH/RS
Elyse Bunger, North Sound Christian, Outside
Natalie Nobbs, Riverside Christian, Outside
Sabrina Schwindler, LaConner, Outside
Sylvia Herrold, Naselle, RS/MB
Julie Clark, Wilbur, S/Lib
Megan Tompkins, DeSales, S/Lib
Karla Koller, Lacrosee/Washtucna, S/MB
Katie Barnes, Manson, S/OH
Shelby Zanoni, LaConner, setter
Laney Brown, Waterville, setter
Coaches: Amy Magley, Rainier Christian; Desiee Phelps, Manson; Greg Knott, Liberty Bell; Wendie Bond, Adna
Alternates
Kim Woodward, Darrington, Libero
Raye Galloway, Odessa, Middle
Sara Jespersen, Wahkiakum, Middle
Kelli Campbell, Liberty Bell, Outside
Ashtin Jeney, Reardan, Outside
Korrie Bourn, Liberty Bell, Outside
Caitlin Pendergrass, Darrington, Rightside

CLASS 1A/2A
Tille Henry, Fife, Libero
Jordan Harazin, Colfax, Libero
Ellen Payne, RA Long, Middle
Katie Hildebrandt, Fife, Middle
Brooke Gaston, LaCenter, Middle
Kayla Graff, Goldendale, Middle
Christine Hilt, Black Hills, Outside
Megan Robinson, Archbishop Murphy, Outside
Sadie Lazzarini, Colfax, Outside
Kierea Meloy, Selah, Outside
Ariel Erienbach, Burlington-Edison, Outside
Talia Venera, Ellensburg, Outside
Izzy Barth, Chelan, OH/S
Cristin Richards, Tumwater, Outside
Patti Reeves, Archbishop Murphy, S/Lib
Richelle Heacock, Eatonville, Setter
Sasha Valdez, Selah, Setter
Emily Sampson, Tumwater, Setter
Abby Bruya, Colfax, Setter
Ryann Carter, Fife, Setter
Coaches: Mike Bettinghouse, Archbishop Murphy; Geoff Olson, Eatonville; Tara Afftholter, Ellensburg; Donene Hendricks, Chelan
Alternates
Ashlee Holst, Columbia Burbank, Libero
Amanda Van Drest, Chelan, Libero
Ashley Bjorum, RA Long, OH/Lib
Patsy McGarrah, Montesano, Outside
Jessica Levine, Black Hills, Outside
Jessica Carpenter, Granger, S/RS
Carly Lundgren, Columbia Burbank, Setter
Talia Hamer, Mark Morris, Setter
Courtney VanBrocklin, Mt. Baker, Setter

CLASS 3A/4A
Marisa Muramoto, Kennedy, Libero
Chantal Petkus, Hanford, Libero
Theresia Dever, Central Kitsap, Libero
Betsy Devich, Woodinville, Libero
Caitlin Barschig, Mt. Spokane, Middle
Erin Lauber, Edmonds-Woodway, Middle
Jordan Keller, Kamiak, Middle
Alaina Barber, Rogers,Middle
Brittany Quick, Hanford, Middle
Markee Murphy, Puyallup, Outside
Alison Fairchild, Kentwood, Outside
Kaytlyn Aust, Tahoma, Outside
Rachel Femling, Prairie, Outside
Allison Buck, Camas, Outside
Brittany Goldfinch, Heritage, Setter
Megan Birge, Timberline, Setter
Devin Larson, Kamiak, Setter
Kristin Barott, Hanford, Setter
Coaches: Chris Pratt, Woodinville; Mandy Flores Handley, Rogers (Puyallup); Hugh Harris, Hanford; Mary Opitz, Kamiakin.
Alternates
Kim Jimenez, Eisenhower
Madison Turpin, Puyallup
Haleigh Adkins, Rogers
Caitlin McIver, Capital
Alisha Larion, Mt Si
Danielle Reese, Gig Harbor

A familiar face will coach the Auburn baseball team in 2009. Abijah "Baj" Alastra has been named the coach, Auburn athletic director Bob Jones said in a press release.

"There is a high expectation for competitive baseball in Auburn," Jones said, "and I believe Baj can help our program continue the winning tradition."

Alastra was an assistant from 2005-2007 under former head coach Tim Kuykendall and assisted at Auburn-Riverside in 2008. He was also an assistant at Downey (Calif.) High from 1999-2005 and played at Washington State University.

Alastra was a candidate for the position when it opened after Kuykendall left last season, but was passed over for Brian Embery. Embery resigned during the 2008 season and was replaced by interim coach Gordon Elliot, who will return to coaching the junior varsity in 2009.

Here are the all-state baseball teams as voted on by media, including The News Tribune, from across the state and compiled by Tri-City Herald reporter Rene Ferran. To receive recognition, a player had to receive at least two votes.

This team is different than the one released by the state baseball coaches association. The differences, as stated by Rene Ferran, are: this one is voted upon by media; the teams are selected by position; and the coaches lump 1A, 2B and 1B together, while the media selects separate teams for the three classifications.

For example, for the coaches' team, of the 21 first-team players on the 3A team, only two were outfielders. The media team has 12 first-teamers, three of whom are outfielders.

This is not to imply that one all-state team is better than another. It is simply to say that each has different criteria for its selection process.

=> Read more!

Here is the all-state boys soccer team as voted on by media, including The News Tribune, from across the state and compiled by Tri-City Herald reporter Rene Ferran. To receive recognition, a player had to receive at least two votes.

=> Read more!

Here are the all-state softball teams as voted on by media, including The News Tribune, from across the state and compiled by Tri-City Herald reporter Rene Ferran. To receive recognition, a player had to receive at least two votes.

=> Read more!

W.F. West quarterback Griffin Squires put the West ahead early with a first-quarter touchdown pass, but the East rallied to win the Class 2A-1A-B All-Star football game, 17-6, last weekend at Zaepfel Stadium in Yakima.

Squires, who connected with Lynden receiver Ryan Gaylord for a 21-yard touchdown, was named the West's offensive MVP and Tumwater's Hank Bryant was the team's defensive MVP.

For the East, BYU-bound Spencer Hadley of Connell was the offensive MVP and Cashmere defensive back Tanner Wood was the defensive MVP.

The 3A/4A all-state football game will be played July 3 at Central Valley High in Spokane.

East 0 10 0 7 — 17
West 6 0 0 0 — 6
West — Ryan Gaylord 21 pass from Griffin Squires (run failed)
East — FG Lucas McComas 24
East — Lucas Fox 16 pass from Kevin Baffney (McComas kick)
East — Tyler Moos recovered punt snap in end zone (McComas kick
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — East: Hector Ledezma (Royal) 12-65, Spencer Hadley (Connell) 2-24, Austin Allred (Royal) 7-15, Kevin Baffney (DeSales) 6-6, Lucas Fox (Kettle Falls) 1-5, Brett Clyde (Connell) 2-0. West: Brent Phillips (Montesano) 9-38, Griffin Squires (Chehalis) 9-22, Sean Hurlbut (Meridian) 8-12, Alex Chicano (Aberdeen) 1-4, Tyler Cardin (Fife) 2-3, Robbie Elliott (Adna) 1-1.
PASSING — East: Baffney 5-11-1-69, Allred 8-18-1-63. West: Squires 10-20-0-126, Ryan Huber (Tenino) 1-4-0-4, Elliott 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING — East: Hadley 5-41, Kurt Russell (East Valley) 4-58, Ledezma 2-12, Fox 1-16, Brett Linehan (Chelan) 1-5. West: Ryan Gaylord (Lynden) 5-78, Reese Baumann 3-34, Brady Bomber (Lynden) 2-14, Justin Erickson (Eatonville) 1-4.

The 32-team Curtis Shootout tips off on Friday and runs through Sunday.

Class 3A finalists Rainier Beach and Lakes are in opposite brackets. Other teams of interest competing are Auburn-Riverside, Bethel, Mark Morris, Decatur, North Thurtson, Gig Harbor, Wilson, Puyallup, Timberline, River Ridge, Vashon Island, Tahoma, Cascade Christian, Fife, Timberline, Foss, Steilacoom, Enumclaw and, of course, Curtis.

Here are links to the A bracket and B bracket.

After sifting through nominations from 70 schools, The News Tribune named Lakes' Jermaine Kearse and Tumwater's Ashley Andrews the male and female prep athletes of the year.

Kearse is a three-sport standout in football, basketball and track, and will play football at the University of Washington.

Andrews excelled at basketball and fastpitch and will play fastpitch at the University of Tennessee.

Here are video interviews with Kearse and Andrews.

Here is the story on Kearse and here is the story on Andrews. After each story are briefs of five other athletes who had memorable years.

Here is the list of all the nominated athletes.

Foss boys basketball coach Scott Sonntag won't be coaching the Falcons next winter. Instead, he'll be chasing after his two young children, while he takes a one-year leave of absence from coaching, Foss athletic director Tom Burmester said.

Mike Cocke will take over in Sonntag's absense. He has been an assistant for four seasons.

Burmester said Sonntag's return depends on his family situation, "but he certainly would be welcomed back."

Sonntag guided Foss to its first state tournament appearance since 2001 this year.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association released the final standings for the 2007-08 Scholastic Cup. Here are this year's winners:

Class 4A: Mead
Class 3A: Newport
Class 2A: Sehome
Class 1A: King's
Class 2B: St. George's
Class 1B: Odessa

Schools earn points based on sportsmanship and athletic and academic performances.

Here at The News Tribune, we publish an All-Sports Championship after the conclusion of each school year. Our standings differ from the WIAA's in that we only give points for athletic achievements. I'm just finishing tallying all the points and we'll likely run it next week.

The rosters for the All-State senior baseball games have been released and the South Sound is well represented. The games will be played Friday and Saturday in Yakima.

Here's a link to the complete rosters for all four teams.

The following South Sound ballplayers are participating:

Team A
Kevin Whitehead, C, Franklin Pierce
Logan Bushnell, OF, Emerald Ridge
Cody Resser, SS, Bonney Lake
Jake Hohbein, P/OF/1B, Peninsula
Cody Ryckman, C, White River

Team B
Colby Sokol, OF, Emerald Ridge
Sean Simpson, C, Capital
Kevin Meyers, 2B, Stadium

Team C
Derek Voight, OF/3B/P, Jefferson
Erich Armstrong, OF/P, Franklin Pierce
Ryan Bean, OF/P, Tumwater
Bryndon Ecklund, 1B/OF, Elma

Team D
Jay Skilton, SS, Stadium
Kramer Champlin, P, IF, Olympia
Taylor Ausbun, C, Puyallup
Kramer Uvila, IF, North Kitsap
Caleb Brown, OF, Central Kitsap
Jeremy Gendlek, P, Olympia
Adam Conley, P, Olympia
David Olson, 1B/P, Auburn

Bellarmine Prep point guard Abdul Gaddy and former Gig Harbor forward Clarence Trent are expected to attend the NBA Player's Associations Top 100 camp later this month on the campus of the University of Virginia.

The camp, which is scheduled for June 16-21, attracts the top high school players in the country. Past participants include Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Spencer Hawes, Tywon Lawson and Wayne Ellington.

Trent is currently attending Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev. Franklin point guard Peyton Siva, who verbally committed to Louisville recently, is also expected to attend.

Here's a link to the NBAPA page for the camp, but it is out of date.

Bellarmine Prep's Nicole Cochran ran the Class 4A girls 3,200 meters at Star Track XXVI in 10 minutes, 36 seconds.

It took her 10 days to officially win the state title.

Cochran, whose state-winning effort was nullified by a rules infraction during the first day of the meet, was reinstated as the winner by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

The Harvard-bound Cochran was the runaway winner in that 3,200 race. But a half-hour later, meet officials declared that she was disqualified for making three consecutive steps on the inside line of lane one late in the race. Runner-up Andrea Nelson of Shadle Park was handed the victory.

Bellarmine coaches and officials appealed the decision that night, which was denied.

They took their cause to the WIAA, and sent an appeals letter to executive director Mike Colbrese on Friday night. Colbrese spent much of last weekend interviewing each of the meet officials who were part of the ruling.

His last interview finished up at 11:30 a.m. Monday, and hours later, Colbrese reversed the decision on Cochran.

"The officials simply made a mistake," he said.

Her 10 team points for the victory were also added to the Lions' state-winning total, now a 4A-meet record 86.5 points.