Community roundup: Arlington native pitches in WSU’s no-no

For the second straight year the Washington State University baseball team tossed a combined no-hitter, and for the second straight year a Snohomish County native was part of it.

Arlington High School graduate Ryan Walker pitched the final two innings as the Cougars no-hit the Santa Clara Broncos in a 5-0 victory Sunday in Pullman.

Walker, a senior right-hander, walked one and struck out three to complete the nine-inning no-hitter. He finished it off after Parker McFadden pitched the first five innings, A.J. Block tossed 11⁄3 innings and Collin Maier got two outs.

NO-HITTER! Four Cougs combine to no-hit Santa Clara, here's the final out!

Cougs win 5-0!#GoCougs #SCTop10 #NCAACWS pic.twitter.com/KihCQlDwSl

— WSU Baseball (@Cougbaseball) April 22, 2018

Marysville Pilchuck High School graduate Cody Anderson threw six innings of a combined no-hitter for WSU last year against Stephen F. Austin. That was the first Cougars no-hitter since 1985. Sunday’s combined no-hitter was WSU’s second no-hitter of the year, following Scotty Sunitsch’s solo effort against Oregon on April 8.

Walker is 3-2 with a 2.35 ERA in 14 relief appearances this year, walking 14 and striking out 35 in 302⁄3 innings.

Lake Stevens rowers earn two wins

The host Lake Stevens Rowing Club captured two races at the club’s Spring Sprints Invitational held Saturday and Sunday.

Lake Stevens’ Men’s Youth 2x team of Thomas Boston and Luke Polaski won Flight 1 of its division in a time of 8 minutes, 9.95 seconds, which was the fastest time among all the flights in that division. The Lake Stevens quartet of Sasha Kumagai, Bonnie Townsend, Dianne Mattingly and Trish Andrus won the Women’s Masters Novice 4x in a time of 4:14.30.

The event had more than 400 entries from 28 different clubs throughout northwest Washington and lower-mainland British Columbia. Fifty-nine races spanning youth to masters were contested before weather forced Sunday’s afternoon session to be cancelled. The Seattle-based Lake Washington Rowing Club captured the most races with 10 victories, followed by Eastside Prep (six), Renton (five) and Pocock (five).

Drechsel excelling for UW beach volleyball

Cedar Park Christian graduate Samantha Drechsel, a freshman on the University of Washington beach volleyball team, will be competing at the Pac-12 Championships on Thursday through Saturday in Stanford, California. Drechsel, who transfered to Washington from Maryland in January and will also be playing for the indoor team, teamed with Natalie Robinson in the No. 5 dual at Boise State on Saturday, earning a 21-17, 23-21 victory as the Huskies prevailed 4-1. The Huskies finished their regular season 12-11, with the 12 wins being the most in program history.

Everett CC’s Jackson earns top NWAC honor

The Everett Community College men’s basketball player Gio Jackson was named the Northwest Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Year for the 2017-18 season. Jackson, a sophomore point guard from Federal Way, averaged 18.2 points, 9.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists for a Trojans team that finished the season 26-5, won the North Region championship and reached the quarterfinals of the NWAC tournament. Jackson recently committed to play for NAIA Division I Shawnee State next season.

Adekanbi named track athlete of the week

Everett Community College’s Dimeji Adekanbi was named the Northwest Athletic Conference Men’s Track and Field Athlete of the Week for April 9-15. Adekanbi, a freshman from Seattle, starred at the Jay Hammer Invitational, a meet including four-year schools held April 14 in Lacey. Adekanbi finished second in the 100 meters in a time of 10.89 seconds, which was the top mark in NWAC this season, and helped Everett’s 400 relay team set a school record as it finished second in a time of 42.83. He also finished sixth in the 200 (22.65).

Aholelei honored again

Edmonds Community College softball player Seli Aholelei was honored by the Northwest Athletic Conference for the second time this season, being named the NWAC Softball Pitcher of the Week for April 9-15. Aholelei, a sophomore from Honolulu, Hawaii, earned the win in both games of the Tritons’ doubleheader against Everett on April 10. In nine innings she allowed just one earned run on three hits, walking none and striking out 14. Aholelei, who leads NWAC in strikeouts with 158 for the 29-4 Tritons, was named the NWAC Player of the Week two weeks earlier.

If you have an idea for a community sports story, email Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.