Mariners News

The Mariners are getting a crucial part of their pitching staff back as they start a key divisional matchup.

The team announced over the weekend that Bryce Miller will make his season debut against the Astros on Wednesday. Miller has been out since he suffered an oblique injury at spring training.

The M’s are coming off a rough weekend series against the White Sox where they started strong with a high-scoring win on Friday. But went on to lose the series after combining to score just two total runs in Games 2 and 3.

They now face an Astros team that sits just three games behind them in the AL West standings. Houston has been one of the hottest hitting teams in the league, but also ranks among the worst pitching teams amid a rough start to the season that’s seen them place 15 players on the injured list.

George Kirby is on the mound for today’s series opener. Coverage begins at 4:00 and first pitch is at 5:10 on KPUG.

Storm News

It was a mixed opening weekend of the season for the Seattle Storm.

They fell to the Golden State Valkyries in their home opener Friday, but rebounded to edge the Connecticut Sun 89-82 yesterday. Lexie Brown hit five 3-pointers and rookie Flau’jae Johnson had 16 to lead the Storm to their first win of the year.

They’ll continue their road trip up north on Wednesday when they play their first-ever match against the WNBA’s newest team, the Toronto Temple.

WWU Vikings News

Western’s softball team is national tournament bound.

The Vikings beat Simon Frasier in a pair of must-win games Saturday to win their third-straight GNAC Championships title. That earned them the No. 7 seed in the NCAA West Regional bracket, which pits them against 2nd-seeded Cal State East Bay on Thursday in Hayward, CA.

Western’s men’s golf team also had a big weekend. The Vikings won the NCAA regional title for just the second time in program history to punch its ticket to the national championship near Las Vegas next week.

Junior Conrad Brown won the individual title at 10-under-par 206 for a tight, one-stroke victory.

Prep Sports News

The district championships are set in a pair of prep sports.

Lynden Christian and Meridian’s boys soccer teams are facing off tonight in the 1A district title game. The winner advances to bi-districts, while the loser faces either Nooksack Valley or Blaine with a ticket to the state tournament on the line.

The Lyncs and Trojans start their game at 7:00 tonight at Blaine High School.

Meanwhile, Squalicum and Lynden are playing in the 2A district title game on Thursday night after the Lions handed Sehome their first loss of the season over the weekend. Both teams have already secured their spots at state.

 

In baseball, Sehome and Lynden are meeting for the 2A district title game on Wednesday, with both teams already having booked their ticket to state.

Bellingham is currently facing Archbishop Murphy in the consolation bracket in Anacortes, where the Bayhawks could keep their state tournament hopes alive or have their season come to an end.

Lynden Christian is playing Cedar Park Christian on Saturday in the 1A district title game, with the Lyncs already having secured their spot at state as well.

 

In fastpitch softball, the first round of the 2A district tourney is starting today. Lynden is playing Marysville-Pilchuck and Sehome is taking on Anacortes, with both those starting at Bender Fields in Lynden at 4:00.

Over in Class 1A, Nooksack Valley topped Mount Baker over the weekend to join Lynden Christian and Blaine in the bi-district crossover tournament, which starts on Friday.

And in 3A, Ferndale is playing Shorewood at 4:00 in Everett tomorrow in the district quarterfinals.