Track & Field
Rangers Compete with the Best at Vernacchia Open, Win Two Relays and Log Big Marks
The Olympic College Track & Field team made a powerful showing at the Ralph Vernacchia Open on April 26 at Civic Stadium in Bellingham, hosted by Western Washington University. Battling against some of the top NCAA Division II and NAIA programs in the Pacific Northwest, the Rangers rose to the challenge with two relay wins, multiple top-10 finishes, and a wave of personal bests.
On the men's side, freshman Octavian Clark led the sprint crew with a 14th-place finish in both the 100 meters (10.93) and 200 meters (22.34), both team-leading times. The 400 meters saw freshmen Aiden Smith and Zachary Cummings post strong showings, finishing 7th and 9th respectively with times of 51.21 and 51.43.
That trio—Clark, Smith, and Cummings—joined forces with freshman Jaxson McCrimmon to win the men's 4x100-meter relay in 44.26, topping a competitive field and making a statement against larger programs. In the jumps, sophomore Jaden Bluitt cleared 1.75 meters to place 6th in the high jump, while McCrimmon went 6.09 meters in the long jump for 7th. Sophomore Thaden Bauch soared to 5th in the triple jump with a mark of 12.28 meters.
In the throws, sophomore Ivan Picazo had another busy and productive day, placing 7th in the shot put (13.62m), 13th in discus (39.7m), and 8th in the hammer (49.29m).
The Ranger women were equally impressive, headlined by sophomore N'dya Hudson, who ran a personal-best 12.54 in the 100 meters to finish 13th. She also took 12th in the 200 meters with a strong 25.87. Hudson anchored the winning 4x100-meter relay, teaming up with freshman Na'Riyah Jones, Shay-Lah Squally, and sophomore Aalliya Alcorn to cross the line in 50.97 and claim first place.
Squally also made her mark in the high jump, taking 3rd with a leap of 1.57 meters. Teammate sophomore Avery Thompson followed right behind with a personal best of 1.52 meters for 4th place.
In the throws, freshman Nashayla Fellows landed top-10 finishes in both shot put (8th) and discus (4th), continuing her standout debut season. Meanwhile, fellow freshman Mariah Silva moved up to 5th in the NWAC with her shot put mark of 11.23 meters, adding more strength to OC's formidable women's throws unit.
Reflecting on the day, Coach Austin shared, "The team continues to make strong progress, and I can't wait to see what they accomplish at the championships!"
With NWAC Championships looming on the horizon (May 19), the Rangers are peeking at the right time. Mark your calendars to come support our Rangers at home when we host the NWAC North-West Region Championships on Sunday, May 11. Stay up to date with meet details at the Olympic College Track & Field Schedule.
Softball
Rangers Sweep Four-Game Weekend Series
The Olympic College Rangers softball team put together a perfect 4–0 weekend, combining dominant shutout wins at home with clutch comebacks on the road. On Friday, April 25, the Rangers hosted Highline College and showed no mercy, sweeping the doubleheader in two run-rule shortened games by scores of 14–0 and 15–0. The offense came out firing in both contests, and the pitching staff was lights out—allowing just five total hits across both games and not surrendering a single run.
Tatem Miller and Jennaleigh Whitehead split duties in Game 1, combining for a three-hit shutout with five strikeouts. At the plate, Olivia Pater led the charge with a couple of early doubles and three RBI. Abigail Aribal was all over the scorebook logging hits, runs, RBI, walks, and even a strikeout. In Game 2, Shelby Avery and Madison Kelker matched the earlier efforts from inside the circle and threw a combined 2-hit shoutout themselves. The Rangers were running rampant around the bases tallying 6 stolen bases. Pater got her steps in for the day with one of those steals and, again, clocking 2 more doubles, making it 4 on the day. Miller's 1st inning double scored 3 and would lead to a ten-run inning with nearly every Ranger pitching in to put the game out of reach early.
Sunday brought a change in scenery as Olympic traveled to Everett College, but the Rangers' winning ways continued. In Game 3, Olympic edged out a 10–9 victory in a game that featured a pair of Tatem Miller homers. She went on to tally another hit and an impressive 6 RBI. Kelker went the distance for the Rangers, striking out four and endured a late threat by the Trojans. In the finale, both teams continued to trade blows, but Olympic's offense proved deeper and held on to preserve the perfect weekend. Miller was massive again with 2 more homers and 7 strong in the circle. Her 5 RBI were tops on the team and her 3 hits matched those of Hayley Garber. Every Ranger had a hit in the game, including a triple from Sienna Kauhi and a clutch 2 RBI double from Kelker in the 7th that preceded Miller's 4th homerun of the weekend.
With the weekend sweep, Olympic improves to 19–17 overall and 14–7 in NWAC North Region play. The Rangers now look ahead to a midweek trip to Shoreline and a weekend doubleheader at Pierce. With only 10 games left in the season, the Rangers are surging at the right time.
Friday, April 25 vs. Highline College
Game 1: Olympic 14, Highline 0
Offense: 14 runs [Aribal (2), Brierly (2), Garber (2), Kelker (2), Whitehead (2)], 9 hits [Aribal (2), Pater (2)], 3 doubles [Pater (2)], 1 triple [Aribal], 10 RBIs [Pater (3)], 7 walks [Kelker (2)], 1 steal [Kelker].
Defense: 5 IP [Miller (3), Whitehead (2)], 0 earned runs, 3 hits allowed [Miller (1), Whitehead (2)], 5 strikeouts [Miller (4), Whitehead (1)], 1 error [McBee].
Game 2: Olympic 15, Highline 0
Offense: 15 runs [Aribal (3), Pater (3)], 13 hits [Aribal (3), Pater (3)], 3 doubles [Pater (2)], 12 RBIs [Miller (4)], 3 walks [Brierly (2)], 6 steals [Aribal (2)].
Defense: 5 IP [Avery (3.0), Kelker (2.0], 0 earned runs, 2 hits allowed [Kelker], 5 strikeouts [Avery (4), Kelker (1)].
Sunday, April 27 at Everett College
Game 3: Olympic 10, Everett 9
Offense: 10 runs [Kelker (3), Miller (3)], 11 hits [Miller (3)], 3 doubles [Kelker, Brierly, Whitehead], 2 HR [Miller], 9 RBIs [Miller (6)], 7 walks [Kelker (2), Garber (2)], 2 steals [Aribal, Garber].
Defense: 7 IP [Miller], 9 earned runs, 15 hits allowed, 3 walks allowed, 4 strikeouts, 1 error [Garber].
Game 4: Olympic 14, Everett 13
Offense: 14 runs [Kelker (3)], 16 hits [Miller (3), Garber (3)], 5 doubles [Pater (2)], 1 triple [Kauhi], 2 HR [Miller], 12 RBIs [Miller (5)], 5 walks [Aribal (2)], 2 steals [Kelker, Brierly].
Defense: 7 IP [Miller], 13 earned runs, 18 hits allowed, 4 strikeouts, 7 walks allowed, 1 error [Kelker].
Baseball
Rangers take three of four from Pierce, giving them a shot at the playoffs!
The Olympic College Rangers put together a strong weekend showing, winning three of four league games against Pierce College. Saturday's doubleheader at home began with a 7-6 win where the Rangers used a five-run third inning to surge ahead and hold off the Raiders late. Freshman Andrew Ahn's 3-run homer was the highlight, with freshman Evan Tordiffe shutting the door and securing the victory after freshman Itsuki Fukuda's start. Game 2 saw sophomore ace, Nicho Crowley, take the ball for the Rangers. Crowley's 87 strike outs lead the league and when he is on the hill, the Rangers are tough to beat. His 3-hit, one earned run outing added 6 more strikeouts to his season total and allowed the Ranger offense to do its thing. First inning hits and RBIs by sophomore catcher, David Matthew, and freshman DH, DJ Batalona, started the game on the right foot for OC. A 5th inning homer by sophomore Sean Shaffer was all the Rangers needed to finish a perfect Saturday.
On Sunday in Puyallup, the Rangers picked up right where they left off with a 10-4 victory behind a 13-hit outburst and a solid outing from freshman, Crosspoint High grad, Silas Stenerson. Sean Shaffer was at it again consolidating his Saturday home run with a 4-hit outing and clutch hits from freshman Iain Loverink and Batalona allowed Stenerson to go the distance and pick-up the win. Though the sweep was just out of reach after a 4-0 shutout loss in Game 4, Olympic's balanced effort across all phases of the game showed the team's continued growth. The Rangers only managed one hit, but left 8 on base, as freshman Ben Spitzer combined with freshman righty Nathan Burke and Maui's own sophomore Ky-Mani Corpuz to keep Pierce close. Now 15-23 overall and gaining momentum in NWAC West play, the Rangers go to Grays Harbor this weekend with the playoffs still in their sights.
Saturday, Game 1: Rangers 7, Pierce 6
Offense: 7 runs [Imai (2)], 6 hits [Harris, Matthew, Castro, Imai, Corpuz, Ahn], 1 HR [Ahn], 5 RBI [Ahn (3)], 3 walks [Imai (2)], 1 steal [Ahn]
Defense: 9 IP [Fukuda (7), Tordiffe (2)], 5 earned runs [Fukuda], 7 hits allowed [Fukuda], 6 strikeouts [Fukuda (2), Tordiffe (4)], 5 walks allowed [Fukuda (3), Tordiffe (2)], 4 errors [Castro (2)].
Saturday, Game 2: Rangers 5, Pierce 2
Offense: 5 runs [Shaffer (2)], 9 hits [Shaffer (2), Batalona (2)], 1 double [Matthew], 1 HR [Shaffer], 4 RBI [Batalona (2)].
Defense: 7 IP [Crowley], 1 earned run, 3 hits allowed, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks.
Sunday, Game 3: Rangers 10, Pierce 4
Offense: 10 runs [Harris (2), Corpuz (2)], 13 hits [Shaffer (4)], 1 double [Loverink], 9 RBI [Loverink (2), Castro (2), Batalona (2)], 7 walks [Harris (2)], 3 steals [Castro, Batalona, Brown].
Defense: 9 IP [Stenerson], 3 earned runs, 10 hits allowed, 3 strikeouts, 1 walks, 3 errors [Loverink, Shaffer, Corpuz].
Sunday, Game 4: Rangers 0, Pierce 4
Offense: 0 runs, 1 hit [Batalona], 5 walks [Brown (2), Elton (2)], 1 steal [Harris]
Defense: 6 IP [Spitzer (4.0), Burke (1.2), Corpuz (0.1)], 4 earned runs [Spitzer (3), Burke (1)], 3 hits allowed [Spitzer], 1 strikeout [Spitzer], 5 walks [Spitzer (2), Burke (3)], 2 errors [Imai, Elton].
Golf
Rangers Battle Narrow Fairways and Firm Greens in Centralia
The Olympic College golf teams took on the elements and tough scoring conditions this week at the Centralia College League Match, held at Riverside Golf Course. With firm greens and a steady west wind throughout both days, scoring was at a premium, but the Rangers showed grit and consistency as league play rolled into its second leg.
On the women's side, Columbia Basin College continued its dominant run with a team total of 522, while the Ranger women placed sixth at 584. Bellevue's Jaclyn Woo claimed the individual title with rounds of 83 and 78 for a 161 total, winning by three strokes.
Sophomore captain Elizabeth Mellum led the way for Olympic, tying for seventh with rounds of 84 and 90 for a 174 total. Freshman Ava Guthrie followed closely, tying for 13th at 183 after a strong Day 2 bounce-back. Sophomore Kate Peterson carded a 227 to place 31st, while freshman Kiyomi McKenzie made her league debut, posting a 118 on Day 2 and gaining valuable tournament experience.
In the men's field, Southwest Oregon Community College took home the team title with a total of 596, powered by medalist Finn Smolders, who shot 74–69 to finish at +1 and win by a single stroke.
For the Rangers, captain Orlando Chiquiti paced the squad with a +13 total to tie for 12th, while fellow sophomore Seth Headrick fired a 77 on Day 2 to finish at 160 and tie for 26th alongside freshman Casey Carter, who bounced back from an 85 with a 75. Freshman Inde Turgeon tied for 40th at 170, and sophomores Ashton Purser and Spencer Harader each posted 171 to tie for 44th.
The Rangers now turn their attention east, where they'll finish NWAC league play at Latah Creek Golf Course in Spokane. With playoff spots on the line and the Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima still within reach, both teams will need strong, steady play throughout the lineup to secure a trip to the NWAC Championships.
