5 Things to Watch in spring sports championships

Skyline boys soccer team just finds a way

1 Two Skyline starters suffered injuries in the KingCo 4A title game. Then the Spartans lost another starter in practice.

If that wasn't tough enough, in the first round of the state playoffs, they lost a fourth starter to a red card and a fifth to a knee injury.

Because of the red card, Skyline (14-2-2) had to play down a man much of the game against Central Kitsap, but still won 2-0 before rallying on the road to beat Mariner 3-2 in overtime in the quarterfinals.

"We just kind of patched it together," Spartans coach Don Braman said. "We have guys playing out of position, guys playing minutes for the first time, but they've been paying attention."

Because players like Austin Dodd — he scored the tying goal in stoppage time against Mariner — have stepped up, the Spartans are in the semifinals for the first time.

Glacier Peak back in semis, this time with its keeper

3 Asked how his shoulder felt after Glacier Peak's 3-2 quarterfinal boys soccer win over Lakeside, goalkeeper Andrew Weakly said: "Dislocated."

He suffered the injury in the first half, popped his shoulder back in and stayed in the game.

"There's no way I was going to come out," Weakly said.

After missing the end of the Grizzlies' state-title run in 2010 due to a commitment to his club soccer team, nothing could keep the senior off the field this season.

This weekend, the Villanova-bound standout will try to lead Glacier Peak (20-1-0) to a second straight Class 3A title.

"It's great," Weakly said. "We're so happy. It's just been a complete team effort all year. Everyone's stuck with each other, regardless of what happens. Everyone has each other's back."

Mount Si follows young baseball coach's lead

3 Elliott Cribby is only 25, just a few years removed from being the closer for the University of Washington baseball team.

After a season as an assistant at Eastside Catholic, Cribby got his first head-coaching job at Mount Si. He has led the fifth-ranked Wildcats (20-3) to their first state-playoff win and all the way to the 3A semifinals.

"Being as young as I am, I relate to the kids very well," Cribby said. "They understand that I know the game. I bring a huge focus toward fundamentals and playing the right way, but I also make it fun for the kids."

Hits keep on coming from

Terrace softball team

4 Whether it's pitcher and cleanup hitter Rene Bos, shortstop Mindy James or hard-hitting second baseman Chelsea Crews, Mountlake Terrace (17-5-1) has a penchant for stringing hits together.

"We've had a lot of consistent hitting, having base hits back-to-back and getting runners in scoring position," said Briana Knight, the Hawks' second-year coach and a former Terrace player.

That consistency will help them in the 3A state tournament Friday and Saturday in Lacey.

Bothell rides confidence provided by baseball ace

5 When the season started, Bothell coach Paul Moody knew he had a strong pitching staff.

But, in the very competitive KingCo 4A Conference, he wasn't willing to predict a league title. Now that the Cougars are preparing for the state semifinals, a lot of the credit goes to pitcher Brian McAfee.

Bothell (21-4) has gained confidence from its ace. McAfee had a string of 46 scoreless innings and has given up only six earned runs.

"When you have your pitcher going good and they know entering the game he's not going to give up a lot of runs, it just makes it so much better ... I think the kids feed off it," Moody said.