Well, it has come time that I move on.
As some readers are already aware, Sept. 9 will be my final day here with the Reporter Newspapers.
I will step away from the position with considerable emotion — happy, sad, excited — as I’ve been a sports reporter since 1995, when I was still attending Eastern Oregon University. I’ve covered everything from prep bowling and rodeo (really, I did cover a rodeo or two) to the Tacoma Rainiers and Seattle Mariners.

When I began, my goal was to cover Mariners. I was able to do that with the South County/King County Journal several years ago, which is when I came to the realization that the real fun was in covering the preps. Through the years, I’ve been able to cover some of the best prep athletes in the state  along with multiple state championship games and matches. Covering the kids always was a blast. I loved hearing and telling their stories and, quite frankly, they were the reason I’ve been in the profession so long.

Realizing I have a strong passion for the kids, I decided a little more than two years ago to enroll at City University of Seattle, where I recently completed a two-year Master’s in Teaching Special Education degree. A part of me that many people are unaware of is the fact that I grew up with 37 foster siblings, four brothers and one sister. That atmosphere had a profound impact on who I am today, and where I want to go as a teacher in the immediate future. That background also is the primary reason I chose to enroll in a special education program.

The road to becoming a teacher will become a reality to me this week. Monday morning (Aug. 29), shortly after I arrived here at the Kent Reporter office, I received a job opportunity that was too good to be true. Beginning Thursday, Sept. 1, I will be working as a special education teacher at Kent Mountain View Academy. It’s an opportunity that has overcome me with both excitement and nervousness. No doubt, my job ahead is going to take all my time and effort, but I am ready for the task at hand and look forward to making daily positive impacts on the children in my classroom.

That said, however, there are so many memories to recount that a simple blog post does not suffice (my son, Asher, taking on Demitrius Bronson in a footrace after a Kentwood football game several years ago comes to mind or Lou Piniella once asking me, “Son, don’t you understand, those questions are meant for before the game?”).

Several more posts might be in order.

I am quite certain that I will still be out at a good number of football games this season, probably with Asher, who is now 12 and who became my sidekick at many sporting events about six years ago. If you see us, please don’t hesitate to say “hi.” And, time pending, I likely will continue to post on this blog.

In the meantime, understand that it has been an absolute pleasure serving the local prep fans since I came to the area more than a decade ago.
Thanks so much.

Erick Walker

The Taylor Baseball Club, an 18U select team that includes several local players, won the United States Amateur Baseball Federation Wood Bat World Series on Saturday, Aug. 6 at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, Calif.
Behind a strong pitching performance by ace Spencer Hobson, a 2011 Tahoma High graduate, Taylor Baseball turned back the San Diego Hustle, 6-1. Hobson allowed one run while scattering three hits and striking out five in six innings of work. The tournament ran from July 29-Aug. 6. Taylor Baseball won 8 of its 11 games, culminating with the championship over the Hustle.
Other locals on the team along with Hobson include: Kyle Doyle (Kentwood), Avery Kain (Kentwood), Chris Kerwood (Tahoma), Austin Pernell (Kentlake) and Dylan Wright (Kentlake).

Tryouts for the 14U Kent Bulldogs baseball team, which practices out of Diamond Sports Training Center (13712 24th Street East, Sumner, Wa., 98390), will be held on Wednesday, July 27 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, July 30 at 9 a.m. Both tryouts will be held at Petrovitsky Park. Former Kentlake coach Jason Evans will be coaching the team. For more information, call 206-715-0327.

Matt Hague’s push for a spot on the major league roster of the Pittsburgh Pirates continued its torrid pace last week, when the former Kentwood High star was named to the International League All-Star team. Hague, a 2004 graduate who was drafted out of Oklahoma State University in 2008, is currently playing for the Indianapolis Indians, Pittsburgh’s Triple-A affiliate. During the month of June, the first baseman hit .385 with five home runs and a .625 slugging percentage. For the season, Hague, who also has played some third base, is hitting .329 with eight home runs, 46 RBIs and 40 runs scored in 313 at-bats. In addition, Hague also has struck out just 34 times compared to 28 walks.

What would it cost the Mariners to bring Hague to town? Hague isn’t one of Pittsburgh’s elite prospects, and he plays third base, too. In fact, he was drafted as a third baseman and has played a handful of games this year with the Indians. Sure, there’s a big gap between Triple-A and the Majors, but it’s worth considering. Especially when the Mariners are rolling out any warm body with a glove to play third base this summer.

There hasn’t been a hotter hitter on the minor-league circuit during the last couple weeks than former Kentwood High star Matt Hague. Hague, a first baseman who is playing with the Indianapolis Indians, a Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, entered play Tuesday night having posted 19 hits in his last 40 at-bats. The stretch  of hot hitting includes 10 runs scored, 10 RBIs and three home runs. It also helped Hague boost his batting average to .319, which leads the team. Hague’s path to the major leagues is currently blocked by eight-year veteran Lyle Overbay, who also is a Washington native. If Hague continues to produce, he stands a good chance of being called up this summer.

I got Hague on the phone yesterday and he’s keeping things in pretty good perspective.

When asked about a potential callup later in the season, he responded, “I figure it will take care of itself. I am hoping I get some time (in the majors) this year. I have a chance to go up. Really, we will have to wait and see.”

I received a rather intriguing e-mail the other day from an organization called Alumni Football USA, which is putting together a series of games for former local players.
Alumni Football USA is looking to comprise rosters with a maximum of 40 former players from the following schools: Auburn, Auburn Riverside, Federal Way, Highline, Jefferson, Kent-Meridian, Kentlake, Kentridge, Kentwood, Mount Rainier and Tahoma. Once the rosters are set, Alumni Football USA will be organizing games among the above listed schools. All players must be 18 or older.
As I mentioned, I am rather intrigued by the idea of seeing former local football standouts compete against one another one last time. Who wouldn’t want to see Carl Bonnell (Kentwood/2001) connect with Brent Weidenbach (Kentwood/2001) one more time. Or Kevin Broadbent (Kentridge/2002) finding tight end Joey Henley (Kentridge/2002) for a jump ball in the corner of the end zone again?

I have to say, I love the idea of bringing back some of the former standouts to relive the glory days. That said, I remain skeptical. Getting enough players together from each respective school to fill 40-man rosters will be a challenge. Add to it the practice time necessary to make it worthwhile, a coach willing to put in the time, and there certainly are some logistics to be worked out.

More information about the series of games can be found here: www.alumnifootballusa.com

The games currently slated on the schedule (time and place to be announced, though it’s tentatively schedule for October) are as follows:

Kent-Meridian vs. Auburn
Auburn vs. Auburn Riverside
Jefferson vs. Federal Way
Kentlake vs. Kentwood
Kentridge vs. Kentwood
Tahoma vs. Kentwood
Mount Rainier vs. Highline

What are your thoughts? Are there enough former players around from each school to make this work?

Kentwood High senior-to-be Karl Johnson enjoyed a big afternoon Saturday, June 18.
Johnson, 17, established a new age division state record during the Great Northern Bench Press and Dead Lift Championship at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia. Johnson bench pressed 364.8 pounds during the competition, shattering the previous mark of 330.5 pounds. Johnson also won the dead lift competition with an impressive lift of 468 pounds.