The Mariners are filling their infield needs with a familiar face.

The M’s announced yesterday that they’re bringing back Jorge Polanco on a one-year, $7.75 million deal.

Seattle traded for Polanco from Minnesota last offseason and he struggled at second base for the M’s, hitting a career-low .213.

But ESPN reports that he’ll now slot in at third base after the team parted ways with last season’s platoon of Josh Rojas and Luis Urias.

The 31-year-old Polanco is coming off knee surgery he received in October, but he’s expected to be fully healthy for spring training.

His deal includes a vesting option for 2026 that is based on plate appearances.

 

Sehome High School came out on top in the battle of cross-town rivals last night.

The Sehome girls fought off a late comeback by Bellingham to take a tight 34-31 win.

Then, the Mariners boys used a big 4th quarter to edge the Bayhawks 54-51 and snap an eight-game skid.

 

Elsewhere in the county last night…

The Ferndale boys beat Blaine 59-56.

The Golden Eagle girls added a 57-25 win over the Borderites.

The Mount Baker girls fell to Lakewood 65-39.

And the Baker boys lost to Lakewood 79-40.

 

We’ve got a loaded slate of high school basketball games on the radio this weekend.

Coming up tonight, the 16-3 Lummi boys host their undefeated rival Tulalip Heritage.

Coverage begins at 7:00 and tipoff is at 7:15 on KPUG with Randy Farmer and Rick Todd on the call.

 

Then tomorrow, the entire city of Lynden is bracing for a pair of matchups between top teams in the state.

The Lynden and Lynden Christian girls start off the day at LC.

The defending 2A state champion Lions are riding a 38 game win streak that dates back to last season.

But it will be their toughest test yet against a 16-2 Lyncs squad that has yet to lose a conference game.

Coverage begins at 2:15 and it tips off at 2:30 on KPUG.

After that, the Lynden boys host Lynden Christian.

The 3x defending state champion Lions are in the midst of a 26 game win streak themselves, but it won’t be easy against the 17-1 Lyncs who own one of the best offenses in the state.

Coverage begins at 7:00 and it tips off at 7:15 on KPUG with Dan Kaemingk and Jason Upton on the call for both games.

 

The Kraken’s offense showed out in a 6-2 win over the San Jose Sharks last night.

Both teams were tied after the first period.

But Seattle exploded for four unanswered goals in the second, led by a pair of scores by Brandon Mountour.

It snapped his streak of 20 straight games without a goal.

Coming up next, the Kraken are home for the Calgary Flames on Sunday night.

Coverage begins at 5:30 and puck drops at 6:00 on KPUG.

 

Both Western Washington University basketball teams picked up a key win last night.

The Viking women handled Saint Martin’s 79-56 thanks to a 25 point outburst by Lynden Christian alum Demi Dykstra.

The team will look to get their third straight win tomorrow when they host Western Oregon at 7:00.

Meanwhile, the Western men edged Alaska Anchorage 76-73 for their fifth straight win.

Senior Will Wilson led the way with 20 points for the Viks.

They’ll look to make it six straight tomorrow night at Alaska Fairbanks.

 

Across the state…

The Gonzaga women beat San Diego 64-48 to win their eight straight game.

The Washington State women beat Pacific 82-70.

And the Wazzu men fell to Pacific 70-68.

 

And Western softball is officially back.

The #2 nationally ranked Vikings fell to Cal State East Bay 7-1 this morning.

Sophomore Maleah Andrews picked up two of the team’s three hits and drove in their sole run of the game.

The Viks have a chance at redemption this afternoon when they play #15 Cal State Dominguez Hills in the second of a doubleheader in Irvine, CA.

The team is coming off a historic season that saw them win a program-record 52 games on their way to making an appearance in the World Series National Championship.