Tony Miranda Takes Over EdCC Volleyball Program

Edmonds CC announced the hiring of Tony Miranda as its volleyball head coach on Monday. Miranda has 25 years of coaching experience and returns to EdCC where he coached with the Tritons for five seasons (as an assistant from 2005-06 and as head coach from 2007-09). In 2008, he guided Edmonds to the NWAC North Region regular season title and a third-place finish at the NWAC tournament.

Miranda also coached at Bellevue College for four seasons (2001-04), leading the Bulldogs to the NWAC tournament each year, including a third-place showing 2002. He was named the NWAC North Coach of the Year in both 2001 and 2002 and was selected as the NWAC Coach of the Year in 2002.

“It’s time for EdCC volleyball to start winning again,” said Edmonds CC Athletic Director Jorge de la Torre. “Coach Miranda brings in a ton of experience at the collegiate and club level. I am confident that he is going to quickly turn this program around and take us back to NWACs.”

Miranda’s coaching experience includes stops as an assistant at Seattle Pacific University and Highline College, as well as stints as the head coach at Holy Names Academy, Foster High School and Inglemoor High School.  In addition, Miranda is the director of the Northwest Volleyball Foundation and was the Junior Program Director, for the Puget Sound Region, of USA Volleyball.

“I am thankful to Jorge de la Torre for having the confidence in me and for giving me this great opportunity to return to Edmonds," said Miranda. "I am excited for the challenge. I am ready to get to work and look forward getting back in the gym and bringing this program back among the top programs in the NWAC.”

A graduate of the University of Washington (1988), Miranda lives in Edmonds with his wife and step-son, a senior at Edmonds-Woodway.Coach Miranda can be reached at 206-550-6671.

Triton Men Upset Peninsula, Earn NWAC Trip

Victor Vellasenor scored for EdCC Saturday

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LYNNWOOD – Edmonds CC punched its ticket to the playoffs by upsetting NWAC No. 2-ranked Peninsula 2-1 Saturday afternoon at Triton Field. EdCC wrapped up the regular season with a 7-6-2 record against North Region opposition, good for third place in the standings and good for the third postseason slot. It’s the tenth consecutive playoff appearance for the Edmonds men’s soccer program.

On Wednesday, the Tritons head to the campus of West No. 2 seed Tacoma CC, which is ranked tied for third in the league, for a NWAC First-Round playoff tilt that starts at 2 p.m. The Titans are 10-3-4 overall heading into Sunday, 8-2-1 in the West. The Tritons defeated Tacoma 2-0 in a Quarterfinal Match last year.

Saturday’s game was the third meeting in 2015 between the Tritons and the Pirates. Peninsula (13-3-3, 11-2-2 North) got the best of EdCC in the other two matches, 2-1 and 4-0.

With three starters sitting out due to an accumulation of yellows or a red received against Skagit Valley on Wednesday, Edmonds Coach Ozzy Erkut had to shake up his line up in the do-or-die match against Peninsula.

Things paid off in the 13^th minute when Victor Villasenor took a pass from Ivan Idro and blasted a shot into the PC net. Mohamed Elmoghrbi gave EdCC a shocking 2-0 lead just three minutes later, Sanad Elghanai getting the assist.

The Pirates struck in the 21^st minute when Vitor Maia scored. At that point it looked like it was going to be a wide-open and wild match. But, despite rain, wind and an attacking Pirate team, that would be the last goal Saturday.

Edmonds keeper Giberto Avila made four saves, including a couple of terrific stops late, while his counterpart Nick Johnson had three saves. 

EdCC Wins Maury Ray Athletic Director's Cup

The NWAC announced the two winners of its 2015 Athletic Director's Cup (Dr. Maury Ray Cup) at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet and Awards Dinner on June 4. Taking the Dick McClain Division (schools with seven or less sports) was Edmonds Community College.

"We are very pleased to have won this award," said EdCC athletic Director Jorge de la Torre. "It's gratifying to see all of the hard work put in by coaches and student-athletes pay off. I think this is just the start and I hope to see the Cup reside at Edmonds for a long time."

The NWAC awards its Athletic Director’s Cup to the school that performs the best in each of the conference’s 15 men’s and women’s championships.  Points are awarded in order of finish, equal to the number of teams that participate in each sport (i.e. 28 teams the scale would start at 28)  and are averaged between a team’s regular season finish and its NWAC championship finish.  

Teams  that do not qualify for a postseason tournament, receive postseason points equal to their regular season  finish.  Ties are not broken but instead are averaged between the tied teams. Cups are awarded to winners of two divisions (Frank Bosone division-large schools-8-15 sports offered and the Dick McClain division- small schools 1-7 sports offered).

Edmonds CC teams won three North Region titles in 2014-15, with four of its seven sports earning bids to the postseason. Men's basketball finished second at the NWAC tournament with baseball and men's soccer each placing third.

Overall, EdCC tallied 71 Director's Cup points with Wenatchee Valley (68,5), Peninsula (67), Pierce (61.5) and Lower Columbia (59,5) rounding out the top-5. 

Tritons Edge Treasure Valley in NWAC Tilt

Jamie Umbinetti doubles home two runs Saturday

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LONGVIEW - Edmonds CC baseball was out hit and didn't score for the final six frames but still managed to get past Treasure Valley 6-5 in a NWAC loser out game Saturday afternoon at Story Field. The Tritons advance to Sunday's round of play and will take on either hosts Lower Columbia at 5:05 pm. 

EdCC, which lost its first game at the tournament, has now won two straight. In order to claim its ninth title the second-ranked Tritons will need to keep winning, starting with LCC. The Red Devils enter Sunday with a 39-9 record and are ranked No. 1 in the NWAC. LCC defeated Tacoma Saturday night 6-4 in 12 innings. 

Saturday started out inauspiciously for Edmonds. After a first batter strikeout, starter Chandler Arends walked the next four Chukars and was pulled from the game. Nate Richards came in from the pen and fanned two to minimize the damage. EdCC trailed 1-0 at that point but it could have been much worse. 

The Tritons jumped on TVCC starter Cody Carroll in the home half of the first. Ryland Kerr singled to open the frame and Conor Plaisance followed with a walk. Jamie Umbinetti came through with a clutch, two-out double to deep right to plate both runners. 

Edmonds pushed across four more runs in the second. Alex Kiel singled and a grounder by Vinny Catanzaro was thrown into center by Carroll. A single by Kerr plated Kiel. Plaisance then rapped out a single to load the bases. David Garza dumped a single on the right field line to score two more and Jesse Moore roped a single to left for the inning's last run.

However, that would be the last run of the game for Edmonds which would strand 10 runners Saturday. Richards would yield three runs in the fourth before being replaced by Blake Randazzo who went six innings in long relief. Treasure Valley was on the verge all day but could plate just one more run as Randazzo and Edmonds would hold on, 6-5.

Randazzo (2-1) earned the win. The freshman allowed just one run on three hits. At one point he registered four outs on four pitches. Richards lasted 2.2 innings and fanned three.

Kerr was the lone Triton with two hits. 

Edmonds, the North Region champs, improved to 34-11. East champs Treasure Valley ends the year with a 33-17 mark. 

Edmonds Tops Walla Walla in NWAC Loser-Out Tilt

Riley Storedahl picked up the win Friday

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LONGVIEW – The Tritons regrouped after a disappointing loss in the opening game of the NWAC tournament to beat Walla Walla 6-2 in a loser-out game Friday at Story Field. No. 2-ranked Edmonds survives another day and will face the loser of tonight's Lower Columbia/ Treasure Valley contest at 2:05 pm on Saturday.  

The Warriors scored Friday’s first run when Cody Price singled home Clayton Ayers in the top of the second. EdCC responded with three in the home half of the frame, however, aided by a couple of WWCC errors. Steven Weber and Vinny Catanzaro both came through with RBI singles in the inning.

Jesse Moore hit a sac fly in the third and Ben Roquet singled home Jamie Umbinetti in the sixth to give Edmonds a 5-1 advantage. The Warriors plated a run in the seventh but EdCC answered with a run of its own in the eighth for the 6-2 final score.

Riley Storedahl improved to 7-2 by pitching 6.2 strong innings. The freshman allowed two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts. Brian Way and Brady Batt were used in relief roles and both kept the Warriors off the board.

Umbinetti was the lone Triton with two hits. Ayers went 3-for-4 in the losing effort for Walla Walla.

With the win Edmonds improved to 33-11 on the year and stays alive in a quest for a ninth NWAC title. The Warriors end the year with a 31-17 mark.

EdCC Baseball Attempts to Defend Title in Longview

Information, Live Stats, Bracket | Live Video

Edmonds CC baseball heads down Interstate 5 to Longview in an attempt to defend its NWAC championship starting on Thursday, May 21. 

The Tritons claimed the 2015 North Region regular season title and will join seven other squads at Story Field on the campus of Lower Columbia College in pursuit of the NWAC trophy. 

The four region champs: Edmonds (North), Mt. Hood (South), Treasure Valley (East) and Lower Columbia (West) went directly to Story Field. The four other teams in the eight-team field: Tacoma, Walla Walla, Douglas and Everett, had to win a three-team Super Regional to punch their ticket to Longview. 

EdCC enters NWACs as the No. 2 ranked squad in the NWAC and with a 32-10 overall mark. The team's first opponent in the double-elimination tournament is West runners up Tacoma CC at 9:35 am Thursday. The Titans (34-12) finished behind Lower Columbia but defeated Spokane and Southwest Oregon in the Super Regionals. 

Tacoma and Edmonds matched up in a thriller at last year's tournament with the Tritons prevailing 3-2 in ten innings. The winner of this year's EdCC/ TCC contest plays the winner of the Walla Walla / Mt. Hood game Friday at 4:35 pm. The two losing teams match up in a loser-out game Friday at 9:35 am. 

The North region is well represented at NWACs due to the new format. Besides Edmonds, Everett and Douglas climbed through Super Regional play to reach Longview. 

Edmonds baseball has won eight NWAC titles, second to Yakima Valley (21) and hosts LCC (11). The LCC Red Devils finished the year ranked #1. Mt. Hood was #3, followed by Treasure Valley, Tacoma, Everett, Walla Walla and Columbia Basin. 

EdCC Claims NWAC North Region Title

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LYNNWOOD -- Edmonds CC claimed its second consecutive, and 20th overall, North Region title by beating Everett CC 7-1 Sunday at Triton Field. 

The defending NWAC champion Tritons (32-10, 18-6 North) will skip NWAC Super Regionals and advance directly to the NWAC Championship Tournament held on the campus of Lower Columbia in Longview. The tournament starts on Thursday, May 21.

Everett (23-18, 17-7), meanwhile, finishes second in the North and will host a 3-team Super Regional this coming weekend. 

EdCC entered the weekend needing just one win out of four games of its series with Everett to seal the North. Things did not get off to a good start, however, as the Trojans swept both games at Everett Memorial Stadium on Saturday, 8-0 and 2-0. 

The series shifted to Triton Field on Sunday. Edmonds quickly calmed everyone's nerves by plating five runs through the two innings in the opening game. Conor Plaisance got the ball rolling with a two-run homer in the first.

Edmonds scored two runs in the fifth to go up 7-0. The Trojans managed just one run in the game and when Tyler Reeves got the final out of the seventh, the Tritons dogpiled for the second straight year.

Plaisance led EdCC with two hits and two RBI. Ben Roquet was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI with David Garza, and Vinny Catanazaro each driving in a run. 

Chandler Arends (3-0) started and picked up the win. The freshman yielded just one hit but left after four due to a blister. Blake Randazzo held Everett in check for two frames before Reeves entered in the seventh.

The Tritons fell in the nightcap 7-2. 

Edmonds celebrated its 11 sophomores between games (David Garza, Jaimie Umbinetti, Conor Plaisance, Tyler Reeves, Vinny Catazaro, Joey Knight, Tanner Wessling, Ben Roquet, Kameron Miner, Brady Batt and Nate Richards). Thank you for all of your contributions! 

Tritons Split With Skagit on Sophomore Day

EdCC sophomores and their families

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LYNNWOOD -- The EdCC softball team split a North Region twinbill with Skagit Valley Friday at Triton Field. Edmonds took the opener 10-7 before losing a wild 17-8 nightcap.

The doubleheader was the final home games of the year for EdCC, and was the last time that sophomores Ryanne Fazio, Hollie Sharp, Lexie Gray, Audrey Rausch and Shawna Steele will play on Triton Field.

Edmonds fell behind 2-0 in the opener after an inning and a half of play but scored five runs in the bottom of the second and three more in the third to go up 8-2. The Cardinals plated five unanswered runs but the Tritons pushed across two more runs in the fifth. Pitcher Kaytlin Balyeat blanked SVC for the last two frames to seal the victory.

Center fielder Chantel Brown was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI to lead EdCC. Antoinette Watson, Maddie Wood and Audrey Rausch had two hits apiece. Wood belted a homer and drove in two runs.

Balyeat went the distance allowing four earned runs on 10 hits.

Skagit Valley jumped out to a 11-1 lead in the fourth inning of the nightcap but Edmonds made it a game with six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Wood did her part by belting her seventh and eighth round trippers of the year. 

The Cardinals would end things with their second 6-run inning, however. 

Bayleat started but gave way to Fazio in the fourth. Fazio had three hits, scored twice and drove in a pair in the loss. Brown, Watson, Wood and Steele had two hits apiece. 

Edmonds traveled to Canada on Saturday, losing twice to North champs Douglas. The Tritons ended the year with a 9-23 overall mark. 

EdCC Sweeps OC, Miner Tosses No-No

Kameron Minor tossed a no-hitter 

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The EdCC baseball team jumped from fifth to second in the NWAC North after a four-game sweep of Olympic College over the weekend. The Tritons now stand at 20-6 overall, 6-2 in league play.

Edmonds cruised to a pair of wins at Triton Field on Saturday, beating the Rangers 6-1 and 17-1. The series moved to Lacey on Sunday. The hometown starter for EdCC, Kameron Miner, tossed a no-hitter in an 8-0 game one win. The Tritons closed out the weekend by topping the Rangers 7-2 in the nightcap.

Starters Riley Storedahl (4-1) and Alec Kisena (5-0) notched wins for EdCC Saturday. Storedahl went the distance in the opener, allowing just one run on five hits. Catcher Tanner Wessling was 2-for-3 with a triple and a homer and three RBI to lead the offense.

Kisena lasted five frames in the nightcap, allowing just one run as well. The EdCC offense exploded for 15 hits. Conor Plaisance went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Ryland Kerr, David Garza, and Wessling had two hits apiece.

Miner (2-2) was in complete control in Sunday's opener. The sophomore lefty walked just one and fanned four in the 7-game effort. Spencer Green drove in two runs and David Garza homered.

Garza hit another round-tripper in the series finale and drove in three. Joey Knight, Jaime Umbinetti and Wessling all had two hits. Chandler Arrends (1-0) started for Edmonds and earned the win with a five-inning stint.

The Rangers fell to 8-20 overall, 2-10 against the North.

The Tritons host Skagit Valley College for a DH this Saturday at 1 p.m.

Softball Splits with Olympic

Hollie Sharp made a great play
Thursday and drove in a run

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LYNNWOOD - The EdCC softball team split a North Region DH with visiting Olympic College on Thursday, losing game one 7-0 before bouncing back to claim the nightcap 6-4. With the split the Tritons are 7-7 overall, 3-3 in league play. OC is now 9-6, 4-2 North.

The opener was all about Ranger starter Amanda Johnson. The lefty went distance and only gave up one hit, though she walked five batters. Johnson fanned 11 Tritons.

Meanwhile, the OC offense put up seven runs on eight hits, plating runs on the second, fourth, fifth and seventh frames. Jordyn Nicholson went 4-for-4 with two runs scored to lead Olympic.

The most positive outcome in game one was a perfect seventh inning pitched by reliever Ryanne Fazio.

Edmonds came back in game two, thanks to a gutsy pitching performance by Kaytlin Balyeat (7-7) and nine hits by the offense.

Balyeat went the distance, scattering 10 hits and four earned runs. The EdCC defense helped her out by making some terrific plays. Of note was a backhanded stop and out by first baseman Hollie Sharp that saved at least two runs.

Edmonds scored two times both the second and third frames. Madison Wood tagged her fourth homer of the year during that span and Sharp drove in another run on a single.

The Rangers tied up the game, though, with two in the fourth and fifth. OC brought in Johnson from the outfield to relieve starter Christina Bigelow. The Tritons got to Johnson for two runs in the sixth when Fazio and Watson each plated a runner.

Wood, Watson and Riley Davidson had two hits apiece in the win.

The Tritons travel to Belleuve on Saturday for a North DH that starts at 1 p.m.

Triton Softball Signs Lirpa Sloof for 2016

Lirpa Sloof pitches against team Canada in 2011

Ha April Fools!

LYNNWOOD – The Edmonds Community College softball team announced the signing of Finland National Team member Lirpa Sloof to a NWAACC Letter of Intent on Wednesday. Sloof is a right-handed power pitcher and an accomplished switch-hitter. 

Sloof last played in a 30-game tour against national competition in the summer of 2011. Against some of the world’s best teams she went 24-1 with a 0.32 ERA and 312 strikeouts in 199 innings pitched. The only blemish on her record was a 3-2 loss to team Canada, though Sloof accounted for both Finland runs by hitting two solo homers. During the tour she hit .650 with 17 round trippers and 54 RBI.

EdCC Softball Posts Sweep of Shoreline

EdCC's outfield talks during a break Saturday

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LYNNWOOD - The EdCC softball team evened its overall and league marks to 6-6 and 2-2 respectively after sweeping Shoreline 16-8 and 11-2 Saturday at Triton Field. Kaytlin Baleat tossed two complete games for EdCC while the offense pounded out 34 hits in the two contests halted by the 8-run mercy rule.

After two scoreless innings in the opener it was the Dolphins that scored first, pushing three runs across in the third. The Tritons responded with two in the bottom of the third and then exploded for eight in the fourth.

EdCC was a run away from ended the game in the fifth, but that eighth run proved elusive. SCC scored once in the fifth and four more times in the sixth to make the score 10-8, Edmonds.

The Dolphins (1-5, 0-2 North) looked as if they had all the momentum on their side but EdCC's offense tallied six runs in the bottom of the frame, capped by a base-clearing triple from Shawna Steele. Those three runs ended the opening game.

Every Edmonds starter had at least one hit. Madison Wood and Lexie Gray each had four hits with Steele and Ryan Fazio each collecting three hits. Steele drove in five; Fazio and Antoinette Watson both drove in three.  Hollie Sharp and Chantel Brown both went 2-for-4 in the win.

Balyeat (6-6) allowed just one earned run in the nightcap. Meanwhile the EdCC offense pushed runs across in every frame, with three spots in the first, second and fifth.

Fazio was 3-for-4 with four runs scored, Wood went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI, Watson was 2-for-2 with three RBI.

The Tritons welcome Olympic College on Tuesday (weather permitting). First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Tritons and Bulldogs Split Opening Series

Jaime Umbinetti had 3 RBI in game one Sunday

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LYNNWOOD – The NWAC defending champion Edmonds CC baseball team opened up North Region play with a four-game series against arch-rivals Bellevue. In 2014, the Tritons and Bulldogs finished 1 and 2 atop the North standings, played for the North Region Tournament title and met in the NWAC championship game. After four games in 2015, it’s a draw as both squads claimed two wins.

On Saturday, BC took game one at Courtier Park 3-1 with EdCC cruising to an 11-1 win in the nightcap. It was more of the same Sunday at Triton Field; Bellevue beat Edmonds in the 7-inning opening tilt 2-0 with EdCC evening things out with an 11-7 game two triumph.

With the split Edmonds is now 15-6 overall, 2-2 in North play while the Bulldogs are 15-7, 2-2. Unfortunately, the two region powerhouses won’t meet again unless it’s at the NWAC tournament in May.

Zander Clouse (4-0) went the distance for Bellevue in Saturday’s opener, allowing just three hits and one earned run. Riley Storedahl (3-1) was the hard-luck loser for EdCC. Storedahl tossed six strong frames in which he fanned five, but a 3-run was all that the Bulldogs needed.

Alec Kisena and Nate Richards combined to six-hit BC in the 11-1 nightcap win. Kisena (4-0) went seven innings to earn the win, yielding just four hits and no runs while fanning nine.

The EdCC offense knocked out 13 hits to back their freshman hurler, scoring two in the second, one in the third, two more in both the fourth and eighth and four in the sixth. Third baseman Jaime Umbinetti went 3-for-3 with three RBI to lead EdCC. Conor Plaisance, and Jesse Moore each had two hits and two RBI.

Starters Cody Anderson and Kameron Miner dueled for seven innings when the series shifted to Lynnwood on Sunday. Miner (1-2) allowed just six hits for Edmonds but he yielded single runs to the Bulldogs in the fourth and sixth frames. Trai Patrick and Evan Johnson collected RBI hits for Bellevue. Anderson (2-0) gave up just three hits to lift BC to the win.

The Bulldogs struck for four first innings runs in the nightcap, but the Tritons would chip away with two in the second, two both the fourth and fifth and four in the sixth to take a 10-5 lead. BC pushed two across in the eighth but it was too-little-too-late as EdCC hung on 11-7.

Leading the charge offensively was Steven Weber who went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and three RBI. Tanner Wessling added three hits to the tally with David Garza going 2-for-6. BC helped out with three crucial errors which led to three unearned Triton runs.

Blake Randazzo started for EdCC but was replaced in the fourth by Brian Way. Way (3-0) picked up the victory with 3.1 scoreless frames on the hill. Nate Johnson tossed one inning with Brady Batt closing out the ninth 1-2-3.

Edmonds has a bye this coming week, though the team will host its Alum for a scrimmage this Saturday at 2 p.m. EdCC will host Green River on Wednesday, April 8 at 4 p.m.

EdCC Softball Sweeps Highline

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LYNNWOOD - The EdCC softball team improved to 4-4 on the year after sweeping Highline at Triton Field Saturday 16-15 and 12-11. The wild twinbill saw Edmonds rally for seven runs in their final at-bat in the opener and nearly blow what looked like a sure victory in the nightcap.

The Tritons trailed early in game one. The Thunderbirds jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. Third baseball Madison Wood blasted a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame to pull EdCC to within two runs. 

The Tritons then scored five runs in the bottom of the third to take a 7-4 lead. All five runs came after two outs were recorded. Riley Davidson, Lexie Gray, Audrey Rausch and Hollie Sharp and delivered RBI hits.

Kaytlin Balyeat, who had been thrown three scoreless innings, gave up 11 runs over the last three frames with EdCC scoring two runs in the sixth when Shawna Steele homered. Still, Edmonds was down six runs heading into the bottom of the seventh.

The Tritons came through with six hits to plate six runs, however, and with two outs the HCC shortstop threw the ball away on a grounder, Davidson scoring to complete the rally and give EdCC the walk-off win. 

Steele and shortstop Ryanne Fazio each had four hits in the opener, with Wood, Rausch and Sharp collecting three hits apiece. 

Game two was wild, with HCC batters hitting out of order and strange calls like runner's interference. The Triton offense scored 10 runs through four innings and the team went into the top of the fifth with a 10-1 lead. 

Two outs were quickly recorded and the game seemed sure to be stopped via the 8-run mercy rule. But an indecisive play on an easy grounder allowed HCC to load the bases. The Thunderbirds would go on to plate five runs in the fifth, four more in the sixth and one in the seventh. EdCC pushed one run across in the fifth.

Tied 11-11 in the bottom of the seventh, EdCC plated the winning run when Wood hit a liner that deflected off the HCC third baseman's glove, allowing Rausch to score from third.

The two teams totaled 28 hits in the game. Catcher Antionette Watson led EdCC with two hits and four RBI. She hit a homer, as did center fielder Chantel Brown.

Bayleat went the distance for EdCC in both contests and earned two wins. 

Edmonds opens up North Region play with two against Everett CC on Thursday, March 28. First pitch at Triton Field is slated for 4 p.m.

Tritons Advance to NWAC Finals

Sam Omondi took off from the free throw line

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KENNEWICK - The EdCC men's basketball defeated North rivals Peninsula 69-57 in a NWAC semifinal game Monday night in the Toyota Center. With the win the No. 1-ranked Tritons advance to Tuesday's 8 p.m. title game -- the second finals appearance for Kyle Gray's squad in three years.

EdCC will face #3 Clark College in the NWAC championship game. The Penguins (24-6) defeated Green River 55-41 in the day's other semifinal.

Monday's margin of victory was 12 points but it wasn't easy and it wasn't always pretty. Edmonds (27-5), entered the second half with a 5-point lead but failed to score for nearly five minutes in the second. The Pirates eventually went up by seven points while the EdCC offense scuffled.

Triton guard Charlie Smith sank a three to stop the bleeding, with Sunday's hero Ian Tevis following with a jumper to cut the deficit to two.  Blake Fernandez scored his first points of the game on back-to-back possessions after a couple of buckets by PC and the EdCC offense finally started to gain momentum.

Tevis made a field goal at 8:44 to give EdCC a 49-48 advantage. The Pirates would retake the lead at 4:48 but a Zach Pederson bucket evened the score at 57-57. That basket started a 14-0 run that put the game away for Edmonds as PC would not record another point in the semifinal tilt.

"It was a tremendous defensive performance as a team," said Gray. "We held their two main scorers to single digits and our defense held on long enough for our offense to wake up and hit some clutch shots."

Edmonds started the contest strong thanks to a pair of treys by Devin Stoen. It looked early on that the Tritons would go up by double-figures. The Pirates rebounded, however, and eventually took the lead. EdCC would go into the half up by five. A big play in the opening half was a rebound and an and one by sub Umut Akkepenek.

Pederson led EdCC with 12 points and 14 boards with Stoen and Smith each with 11 points. Tevis added 8 points and Fernandez had 7 points and 5 assists in the win.

Chris Reis and Jal Dang each had 11 points for Peninsula. The Pirates (16-13) will play Green River in the 3rd-place game at 2 p.m.

Edmonds reached the title game in 2012, only to lose to Chemeketa. The lone championship for EdCC came in 1985.

Tritons Topple Top-Ranked Bellevue

A packed house watched a thriller Wednesday

box score | video of game-winner

LYNNWOOD – Triton sophomore Ian Tevis nailed a clutch 3-pointer to lift NWAC No. 2-ranked Edmonds over No. 1 Bellevue 84-81 Wednesday night in front of a packed house in Seaview Gymnasium. 

With the win EdCC improves to 21-5 overall, 8-2 in North Region play and handed the Bulldogs (23-3, 10-1) their first league loss of the year. The setback also snapped a 14-game BC win streak.

The two top-ranked squads split their two match ups this season, Bellevue beating EdCC 84-82 in an overtime thriller last month. Wednesday’s contest was just as action-packed.

Edmonds came out strong and grabbed an 8-2 lead three minutes into the contest and were ahead by 10 midway into the first half. The Bulldogs rallied and closed the gap to just two points at the 6:55 mark only to have the Tritons go on a 13-0 run. At the half it was Edmonds in front 40-31.

Bellevue scored the first eight points in the second stanza, thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Dominque Jordan. Another trey by Jordan put BC in the lead 47-45 at 16:07.

The two sides traded leads for the next few minutes. The Tritons took a three-point lead at 8:23 after back-to-back buckets by Jas Coulson. Edmonds quickly shot ahead by 10 points after Coulson hit a three and another jumper. Sam Omondi capped the run with a bucket to make the score 75-65 EdCC at 4:01.  

BC wasn’t done, though. Jalen Ward hit a jumper and made two free throws. Don Holub followed with a 3-pointer and Edmond’s lead was just three points with 1:33 left. EdCC missed on four-consecutive free throws over the last minute and BC made two more and shrank the deficit to one point.

Zach Pederson snapped the Triton offensive drought with a layup with 23 ticks on the clock to give EdCC another three-point lead.  Jordan hit another clutch 3-pointer on the following possession to even the score at 81-81.

It seemed like the two squads might go to overtime for the second straight game but Destine Kawaka found Tevis deep behind the arc and the guard delivered the shot of the night with 1.4 seconds left.

Edmonds ended up shooting 53 percent from the field Wednesday and also made nine treys, but the Tritons were terrible at the free throw line, making just 5-of-17. The Bulldogs shot 47 percent and also made nine threes, but were good on 24-31 at the stripe.

Blake Fernandez paced Edmonds with 18 points and dished out three assists. Coulson added 15 points with Omondi and Tevis each contributing 11 points. Pederson and Smith both scored 10 points with Pederson pulling down 12 rebounds.

Jordan led all players with 22 points. Holub scored 21 in the BC loss with Ward adding 21 points.

The Tritons host Shoreline on Saturday with the tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. Edmonds trails BC by one game in the standings and will need some help to claim the 2014-15 North Region title. Both teams have already qualified for the NWAC Championship Tournament. 

Edmonds Comes Close Against Whatcom

Shaleea Butler scored 25 points Saturday

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LYNNWOOD -- Edmonds CC and visiting Whatcom CC fought hard for 40 minutes in Seaview Gym Saturday in a game that saw 13 lead changes and six ties but it was WCC winning 71-64. 

The all-freshmen EdCC women led 59-58 with less than five minutes remaining in the NWAC North Region game but the visiting Orcas would outscore the Tritons 13-4 down the stretch.

The Tritons went into intermission down 35-31 but came out of the break with two quick buckets to even the score. Edmonds went up by as much as five points and trailed by as many as nine with 12 minutes remaining. A 12-2 run put EdCC in the lead at 56-55.

EdCC outshot WCC 49 to 43 percent and both squads made just two 3-pointers. What really hurt the Tritons and helped the Orcas was the free-throw line. Edmonds made just 10-of-21 from the line while Whatcom was good on 23-of-31. 

Shaleea Butler had her best game in a Triton uniform, scoring 25 points on an 8-for-11 shooting night and adding nine free-throws. The freshman guard also pulled in seven rebounds and had three steals and two assists. 

Asiyah Davis added 20 points, six boards, two steals and two assists. Mariah Martin and Mia Hayek contributed nine and six points respectively. 

Leading the Orcas with 20 points was Nikki Gilbert. Gilbert was especially effective at the stripe late, making 13-14 there. 

Whatcom improved to 7-10 overall, 2-2 in league play with EdCC falling to 1-13, 0-3. The Tritons will be on the road this week, playing at Bellevue on Wednesday at 5 pm and at Shoreline on Saturday at 2 pm. 

Tritons Top Whatcom for Eighth Straight Victory

Ian Tevis dunks against WCC

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LYNNWOOD -- The NWAC No. 2-ranked Tritons won their eighth-straight game Saturday night in Seaview Gym when they defeated visiting Whatcom 93-55. With the win Edmonds CC improved to 15-3 overall, 3-0 in North league play. 

WCC scored the game's first points but a 3-pointer from Triton guard Charlie Smith put the Tritons in the lead for good. Edmonds would extend its advantage to double-digits nine minutes in and be up by as much as 20 points before entering the break in front 42-28.

The Orcas closed the gap to 11 points in the second stanza but EdCC would quickly take back control of the NWAC North contest. With seven minutes remaining the advantage was 36 points. The EdCC lead was a game-best 41 points at 1:03. 

The Tritons led WCC in just about every offensive category, including shooting percentage (52 to 31 percent) and 3-pointers (12 to 2). Whatcom (2-13, 0-4)  did have the advantage in rebounds (44-31).

Smith paced Edmonds with 19 points and five assists with Ian Tevis adding 16 points. Zach Pederson had 11 points and Umut Akkepenek had nine points. Thirteen Tritons played Saturday with 11 scoring at least two points. 

No Whatcom player reached double-digits in points, though three Orcas (Isaak Davies, Casey Leek and Quinton Whitfield) scored eight points.

The Tritons will head to Bellevue on Wednesday, January 21. That 7 pm North tilt will be the top game in the NWAC as BC (16-2, 3-0) enters with as the League's top-ranked squad with EdCC sitting at No. 2. 

Triton Men Beat Everett, Win 7th Straight

Devin Stoen scored 19 points Wednesday

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LYNNWOOD - Edmonds CC, the NWAC's No. 2-ranked men's basketball team, defeated visiting Everett CC 88-62 Wednesday night in Seaview Gym and improved to 14-3 overall, 2-0 in North League play. The victory was the seventh-straight for EdCC.

Everett (10-7, 1-1) went ahead 7-3 but an 8-0 EdCC run erased the deficit and put the home team in front for good. The Tritons led by 10 points less than eight minutes into the contest and entered the half up 50-31. 

The second half saw EvCC nearly close the gap to single digits but Edmonds eventually went up by as much as 26 points, which was the final margin of victory.

The Tritons shot 41 percent, compared to just 28 percent from Everett and pulled down 52 rebounds to 45 from the Trojans. 

Charlie Smith and Devin Stoen did most of the offensive work for the Tritons, scoring 22 and 19 points respectively. Smith added eight rebounds. Zach Pederson contributed 14 points and seven rebounds with Sam Omondi scoring 10 points in the win.

Just two Trojans: Dominque McClendon (16) and Luke DuChesne (12) reached double-digits in points. 

The Tritons welcome Whatcom CC for a North League tilt on Saturday, tip-off is at 7 p.m.