Cuts, Bruises Can't Stop Her -- Lynnwood Catcher Remains In Game Despite Injuries

Coach Morrie Olsen of Lynnwood High School shook his head in admiration while talking about Michele Minor.

"She's a tough kid," Olsen said of Minor, the starting catcher for the Royals' fastpitch softball team.

Minor suffered a cut lip and bruised chin when she was hit in the face with the softball in the third inning of Tuesday's 10-3 Western AA Conference loss to Meadowdale. Play stopped for five minutes as trainers attended to Minor, who remained in the game.

Meadowdale loaded the bases in the third inning. Meadowdale's Teresa Bullock hit a ground ball to third base. Melissa Haug threw home to try to force out Meadowdale's Abbie Falconer.

Falconer slid just before the ball got to Minor, who had removed her catcher's mask on the play. Falconer nudged Minor as she scored, knocking the Lynnwood catcher off-balance just a bit. Haug's throw skipped off Minor's glove and hit her in the lower lip.

The subject of Minor leaving the game was not mentioned. "I didn't even get the chance," Olsen said. "She said, `I'm all right' . . . She wanted to stay in the game."

Meadowdale's next batter hit a ground ball to shortstop Annette Bliss, who fired home. This time, Minor, who kept her mask on, held on for the force. "She'll be back in there," Olsen said. "She's tough."

Divided loyalty -- Mac Atkinson, Bainbridge High School baseball coach, had mixed feelings when his Spartans beat North Kitsap 12-1 in a nonleague baseball game on April 14.

Atkinson, after all, is a freshman health teacher at North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo.

Atkinson has taught at North Kitsap for six years, and is in his second year as baseball coach at Bainbridge.

Atkinson, who lives on Bainbridge Island, leaves school two periods early to drive for baseball practice.

"It's on the way home anyway, if you look at it that way," Atkinson said.

Bainbridge High School pays for the substitute teacher who takes over for Atkinson at the end of the day at North Kitsap. Atkinson said his North Kitsap students have gotten on his case just once for coaching at Bainbridge.

"One day, I wore my Bainbridge sweatshirt to class," Atkinson said. `Boy, they didn't like that. I don't do that much anymore."

College signings -- Several high-school seniors from Snohomish County have finalized plans for their college athletic careers.

-- Snohomish High School's Chrissy Sursely, an All-Western Conference selection at outside hitter, has signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for Western Washington University in Bellingham.

-- Lake Stevens High's Tim Putnam, a defensive lineman, signed a letter of intent to play football for Central Washington University in Ellensburg.

-- Everett High's Erin Westerfield has signed a letter of intent to play women's soccer for Seattle University. Westerfield, a defender, was a four-year letter-winner for the Seagulls.

Everett CC signings

-- The Everett Community College women's volleyball team has received commitments from two Tolt High School seniors.

Yolanda Price and Bianca Schlueter have signed on with the Trojans. Schlueter was the most valuable player from the Class A Cascade League.

Bagby resigns -- Curt Bagby has decided to retire from coaching football at Port Angeles High School after leading the Roughriders for 19 years. He will continue to coach girls basketball and teach physical edition at Port Angeles.

Bagby's career football coaching record is 114 wins and 93 losses. He also coached for three years at Curtis High School in Tacoma. His teams won seven Olympic and Seamount league titles, and made six appearances in the state playoffs.