From Ballard High School

Last night, our Ballard Beavers defeated Stadium 10-5 within the hallowed confines of Tacoma’s Stadium Bowl. We meet Nathan Hale Wednesday May 29th at 5:45 PM for the right to face the winner of Richland at Garfield for the Division II Lacrosse State Championship.

The Stadium Bowl, a concrete amphitheater constructed in 1913 out of a gulch, has now hosted Presidents, victorious generals and a dominating performance by the Ballard Boys Lacrosse team.

The game was 2-1 starting the second period when the Stadium goalie attempted to clear from the crease. With his four seconds to leave the crease expiring and Ballard Attackman Josh Schwartzenberger riding, he passed instead of dodging into a run. His pass travelled three feet into Josh’s stick for a Stadium shocking goal. Moments later, middie Thomas Christensen’s speed down the topside alley left him open for a quick stick from “X” goal. By halftime Ballard had pushed the lead to 5-2.

Stadium opened the 2nd half with a quick goal, but Ballard began to pound on its strengths: Nick Garton winning face-offs, John DeGarmo’s sideline force-outs, Jacob Marks dancing from “X” through the defense gaining assists and a team-wide grinding pursuit of ground balls. Forty-nine ground balls won – second-most of the season – kept Stadium down and Ballard pounding. Stadium’s goalie was valiant saving 15 during the evening’s onslaught.

Our Goalie James had a tidy game with 8 saves and a clear efficiency nearing 90 percent.

Next Up: Nathan Hale at Nathan Hale. But not really Nathan Hale because nearly half the student-athletes attend school elsewhere. Of the Final Four teams, Ballard Boys Lacrosse is the only team pure to its namesake school.

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