The Falcons beat Roosevelt 7-2 on Senior Night, 2009.

Ironically, the big hit was sophomore Katie's three-run triple in the fourth that broke open a 2-0 ball game, extending our lead to 5-0.

Kaaren's typically solid pitching was backed with some nifty defense, including a nice running catch by Jennell in right, an ultra-quick shovel toss off a grounder by Maggie for a force at second, and a back-breaking double play the Falcons turned when Roosevelt tried to score a runner from second on a bunt----with runners on first and second and nobody out, Taylor jumped on the bunt up the first base line, whirled and threw a strike to Cat covering first to get the bunter, and Cat in turn nailed the lead runner at the plate for the double play.

The win closed the books on the regular season with a 14-2 league record, 16-3 overall, both tops in Kingco 4A, and a perfect 10-0 record on our home field.

It seems strange to recall now that as the season began, the word around Kingco was that WHS would be "rebuilding" this year.  The Falcons "rebuilt" by outscoring their opponents 121 to 32 overall, with an average victory margin of  almost 6 runs, and with all three losses coming by one run.   Our pitching and defense rang up 6 shut-outs, held 4 other foes to 1 run, and held another 4 teams to 2 runs.  Our offense, meanwhile, scored more than 5 runs in 12 of 19 games and as a matter of fact:  4 of the 5 games in which our opponants scored more than 2 runs were Falcon wins.  After a 3-2 start we won 13 of our last 14 games.

Now we know:  The Falcons weren't "rebuilding"; they were RELOADING.

After the game we honored the Class of '09:

     Kaaren Hatlen;

     Jennell Lottinville;

     Lindsay Sullivan;

     Zoe Thieman;

     Maggie Wagner.

These five young ladies put together an outstanding three-year record of achievement.  Each lettered all three years and three of them were in the starting lineup every game they ever played at Woodinville High School.

Through last night's game they had been part of 72 Falcon softball games and  prevailed in 60 of them, a winning percentage of .886!  

They did not lose a game on their home field their senior season.

As sophomores, they were part of a team that placed fifth at the state tournament.  They made another trip to State last season as juniors, and of course have high hopes for a third straight trip this season.

Their underclass team-mates honored them with gag gifts in a post-game presentation packed with laughs and tears.

The booster club unveiled a permanent monument to ALL Woodinville Seniors, past, present and future, a "booster" poster that will hang forever in the right field corner, saying:

                 WOODINVILLE SENIORS

                 FOREVER FALCONS

The class of '09 became the first of what will be many seniors to sign the poster, thus leaving a bit of themselves on the field to watch over future Woodinville ballclubs from "SENIOR CORNER". 

THANK YOU KAAREN, JENNELL, SULLY, ZO AND MAGS!

ON TO STATE!

GO FALCONS!

The Falcons completed a season sweep over Inglemoor with a tough 3-0 win, all the runs coming in our last at-bat.

Maria threw another gem, shutting out Inglemoor and striking out 10.  Still, Inglemoor's pitcher had us shut out as well, at least heading into the top of the 7th.

Katie's rbi single scored Lindsay and Jennell's two-out, two-run double iced it for us.  Inglemoor went down in order in the bottom of the 7th and we had the win.

On a blustery day at Lower Woodland Park, the Falcons' 7-2 win over Ballard clinched the Crown Division title with two games remaining in the regular season. 

Kaaren dominated the overmatched Ballard batters, yielding no earned runs and striking out 13.

Zoe keyed a 4-run second inning with a 2-run single, and Katie drove in 2 more with a crush job triple in the fifth.  Lindsay hit a 210-foot bomb directly into a stiff wind for a sacrifice fly in the 6th inning to add another run.

It was obvious early that we would win the game, and some of the Falcon faithful diverted their attention to the adjacent field, where Roosevelt was battling Bothell to a standstill.  When Roosevelt scored the walk-off game winner in the bottom of the seventh for the upset, the game-ending out against Ballard made Woodinville the CHAMPION of the Kingco 4A Crown Division.

After completing the regular season this week, we'll play the champion of the Crest Division in a winner-to-State playoff.

GO FALCONS!

On a warm Spring Friday evening in front of the season's largest crowd, celebrating Moms Appreciation Night, the Falcons pulled out the biggest, toughest, grittiest and most satisfying game of the season so far, beating Bothell 1-0.

An estimated 300 people watched Maria's beautiful one-hit shutout make the victory possible.  No Bothell baserunner got to third base and only one made it to second.   Maria struck out 10 and walked only one. 

Bothell's only threat ended with two outs in the fifth and a runner on second, when Lindsay made a great stop of a hard grounder to her left, and ended the inning with a perfect throw to first.

Meanwhile, Bothell's excellent pitcher was spinning her own three-hitter, with a perfect game through three innings.  Cat broke up the perfect game and the no-no with a single in the 4th, and in the 5th Kaaren led off with a bomb double to the fence in right center.  An out later, Maria got her over to third with a sharp grounder to the right side, and with two outs and the game on the line Jennell stepped in.   After a six-pitch battle, Jennell used her great speed to easily beat out an infield hit to short, while Kaaren scored what turned out to the the game winner.

Maria completely shut down Bothell the last two innings and the game was ours, allowing the Falcon Faithful to collectively exhale for the first time in two hours.

Happy Mother's Day!

As it has all season, Senior Leadership carried the day for the Falcons as they beat very talented Lake Washington for the second time this season, this time by a score of 5-3.

SENIOR Kaaren pitched another gem, holding the Roos to 2 runs on 4 hits, with 8 strike outs.

SENIOR Maggie singled to lead off our half of the first.  SENIOR Zoe then drew a walk, as did Cat behind her to load the bases.  SENIOR Lindsay singled to drive in Mags and Zoe, then Kaaren singled in Cat for a 3-0 lead.

LW managed to get a run in the second inning, and pulled within one with another in the fifth.

But we answered in the bottom of the fifth.  Lindsay walked and Katie was hit by a pitch.  Maria singled to right and Lindsay held at third, but when the right fielder's throw to second skipped off the fielder's mitt, Linds alertly scooted home.

LW scored in the top of the sixth to again pull within one run, but again our seniors answered.  Mags singled in the bottom of the inning and stole second.  A wild pitch put her on third and Zoe's long sacrifice fly her brought home with an insurance run that let everyone breath just a bit easier.

The top of the Roos order led off the last inning for them and their great slapper got on.   But the next batter grounded to short, forcing an out at second, and the game ended when Taylor snared a line drive and doubled the runner at first base.