A Look Ahead

By Tim Clinton

High schools

Baseball

Decatur hosts Kennedy Catholic for a 4 p.m. Wednesday game as Thomas Jefferson gets a visit from Auburn at Brannan Park and Todd Beamer entertains Auburn-Mountainview.

Federal Way visits Mount Rainier at the same time.

Todd Beamer hosts Mount Rainier at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Decatur will be at home against Kentwood at 4 p.m. next Tuesday as TJ travels to Kent-Meridian and Federal Way to Auburn Mountainview.

Todd Beamer visits Auburn at 7 p.m.

Softball

Thomas Jefferson entertains Auburn at 3 p.m. Thursday at the South County Ballfields on Military Road.

Federal Way hosts Kent-Meridian at 4 p.m. and Todd Beamer travels to Kentlake at 7 p.m.

TJ hosts Kent-Meridian at 3 p.m. Monday and Decatur goes to Kennedy Catholic at 3:15 p.m.

Federal Way plays a 4 p.m. Monday home game against Auburn Mountainview as Todd Beamer hits the road to Mount Rainier.

TJ hosts Decatur at 3 p.m. Tuesday with Federal Way entertaining Todd Beamer at 4 p.m.

Boys soccer

Federal Way gets a 5:30 p.m. Friday visit from Kentlake ahead of a 7:30 p.m. home game for Thomas Jefferson against Mount Rainier.

Also at 7:30 p.m., Decatur visits Auburn Mountainview and Todd Beamer travels to Tahoma.

A doubleheader is scheduled for Monday as Todd Beamer hosts Federal Way at 5:30 p.m. and TJ entertains Decatur at 7:30 p.m.

Girls tennis

All four Federal Way School District teams are on the road for 3:30 p.m. Thursday matches.

Decatur goes to Kentridge, Federal Way to Tahoma, Thomas Jefferson to Auburn Mountainview and Todd Beamer to Auburn-Riverside.

Friday at the same time it's TJ at Kent-Meridian, Todd Beamer at Kentlake and Decatur at Kentwood.

TJ visits Auburn at 3:30 p.m. Monday before hosting Decatur at noon Tuesday.

Federal Way visits Todd Beamer at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Track and field

Decatur hosts Auburn for a 3:30 p.m. Wednesday meet and Todd Beamer visits Auburn Mountainview at the same time Thursday.

Federal Way and Thomas Jefferson, meanwhile, go to French Field in Kent to face Kent-Meridian and Kentridge at 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

Todd Beamer visits Kent-Meridian on Saturday.

Pros

Mariners

Seattle hosts its season opener at 7:10 p.m. Thursday at T-Mobile Park against the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox stay for 6:40 p.m. games Friday and Saturday and for 1:10 p.m. action Sunday.

The Cleveland Guardians come to town for 6:40 p.m. action Monday and Tuesday and for a 1:10 p.m. Wednesday matinee.

ROOT Sports Northwest will televise the games live.

Kraken

Seattle entertains Anaheim at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Climate Pledge Arena before getting a visit from Dallas at the same time and place Saturday.

The Kraken visit the San Jose Sharks at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

ROOT Plus will carry the games live.

Sounders

Seattle visits the Los Angeles Galaxy for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday men's soccer match on Apple TV+.

Reign

Seattle goes to San Diego for 7 p.m. Friday women's soccer action shown on Amazon.

Seawolves

Seattle's rugby team visits Chicago for a 3 p.m. Saturday match on ROOT Sports Northwest.

Thunderbirds

Seattle saw its season end with a wild 4-3 shootout loss to the Portland Winterhawks on Sunday at the Showare Center in Kent.

The Thunderbirds miss the playoffs for the first time since 2011-12.

Silvertips

Everett is hosting two Western Conference playoff games this weekend.

The action at the Angel of the Winds Arena starts at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday.

Stars

Tacoma's indoor soccer team wraps up its regular season on the road, visiting the San Diego Sockers at 7:05 p.m. Saturday and the Empire Strykers at 4:05 p.m. Sunday.

Rainiers

Tacoma opens its season Friday, hosting the Oklahoma City Dodgers for a 7:05 p.m. game at Cheney Stadium.

The Dodgers stay for more action at 6:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:35 p.m. Sunday.

The Rainiers visit the Salt Lake Bees at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday.

Colleges

Husky vs. Cougar baseball

Washington hosts Washington State for games at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday.

Husky softball

Oregon State comes to town for action at 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday followed by a 1 p.m. game Saturday.

Cougar women

Washington State continues its Women's Basketball Invitational Tournament run Thursday, hosting Toledo for a 6 p.m. game.

Keeping Track

By Tim Clinton

Kelyn Rowe retires

Federal Way High School graduate Kelyn Rowe has announced his retirement after 12 years of playing Major League Soccer.

The 32-year-old midfielder last played for the hometown Seattle Sounders.

He scored one goal for them last year.

Tacoma draws foursome

Tacoma College has the talents of four area players on its baseball team.

Decatur graduate Jack Bergstrom is a freshman catcher for the Titans and Federal Way graduate Isaiah Afework plays a utility role in his freshman season.

Federal Way graduate Austin Crawford joins the club as a freshman right-handed pitcher.

Chase Cretti is a Federal Way resident who graduated from nearby Fife High School.

Cretti is a sophomore infielder at Tacoma.

Two jumping for UW

Two Federal Way graduates are currently jumping for the men's track and field team at the University of Washington.

Kunle Akinlositu is in his senior season with the Huskies while Roman Hutchinson joins the team as a freshman.

Green River has a pair

Two Thomas Jefferson graduates are competing in track and field at Green River College in Auburn as freshmen.

Nico Nava Roman runs in the distance events for the Gator men's team and Alexis McVey is with the women's team as a thrower.

Junk sent to Sounds

Decatur graduate Janson Junk has been sent to Class AAA Nashville by the Milwaukee Brewers to start the baseball season.

Junk is expected to be in the starting rotation for the Sounds.

A Look Ahead

By Tim Clinton

High schools

Baseball

Todd Beamer hosts Evergreen of Seattle for a 4 p.m. Thursday game and Decatur visits Auburn at 7 p.m.

Federal Way entertains Bainbridge at 4 p.m. Friday as Thomas Jefferson goes on the road to Mount Rainier.

Todd Beamer goes to Washington of Parkland for a noon Saturday contest.

Tuesday at 4 p.m. it will be TJ at Auburn, Mount Rainier at Federal Way, Todd Beamer at Auburn Mountainview and Decatur at Kennedy Catholic.

Softball

Todd Beamer visits Kent-Meridian at 4 p.m. Thursday and Decatur goes to Gig Harbor at 6 p.m.

Federal Way travels to Spanaway Lake at 4 p.m. Friday.

Thomas Jefferson drops in on Todd Beamer at 4 p.m. Tuesday as Decatur hosts Kentlake and Federal Way visits Auburn.

Boys soccer

Federal Way entertains Auburn-Riverside for a 5:30 p.m. Friday match and at 7:30 p.m. it's Thomas Jefferson at Kentridge, Decatur at Kent-Meridian and Mount Rainier at Todd Beamer.

Decatur is home facing Auburn at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday with Federal Way going to Auburn Mountainview and TJ to Kentwood at 7:30 p m.

Girls tennis

Decatur travels to Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center to play Kennedy Catholic at 2 p.m. Thursday and Thomas Jefferson hosts Federal Way at 3:30 p.m.

Federal Way goes to Kennedy at 2 p.m. Friday with TJ traveling to Auburn and Todd Beamer to Kentridge at 3:30 p.m.

Federal Way hosts Mount Rainier at 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Todd Beamer visits Auburn at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday and TJ hosts Auburn-Riverside at 3:30 p.m. as Decatur entertains Tahoma.

Track and field

Todd Beamer visits Kentlake for a 3:30 p.m. Thursday meet.

Pros

Mariners

Seattle hosts Cincinnati for a 6:40 p.m. Thursday game in Peoria, Ariz.

The Mariners go split squad Friday, hosting Milwaukee and visiting Arizona for 1:10 p.m. games.

The Seattle prospects host the San Diego prospects at 1:10 p.m. Saturday and the Majors team visits the Chicago White Sox at 1:05 p.m.

Seattle hosts the Chicago Cubs at 1:10 Sunday in Peoria before breaking camp and going to San Diego for exhibition games at 6:40 p.m. Monday and 1:10 p.m. Tuesday.

Kraken

Seattle visits Las Vegas at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Arizona at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Kraken come home to the Climate Pledge Arena to face Montreal at 6 p.m. Sunday and Anaheim at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

ESPN will televise Thursday's game and the rest can be seen on ROOT Sports Northwest.

Sounders

Seattle finds its way to San Jose for a 7:30 p.m. Saturday game on Apple TV+.

Reign

Seattle visits Chicago at 1 p.m. Saturday on NWSL+.

Seawolves

Seattle entertains Houston at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Starfire Stadium in Tukwila.

FS2 will broadcast the rugby action.

Thunderbirds

Seattle hosts Spokane at 7:05 p.m. Friday at the Showare Center in Kent before visiting Portland at 6 p.m. Saturday on Fox 13+.  The Thunderbirds host Portland for their regular season finale at 5:05 p.m. Sunday.

Silvertips

Everett hosts Wenatchee at 6:05 p.m. Saturday and the Tri-City Americans at 4:05 p.m. Sunday.

Colleges

Husky women

Washington entertains Georgetown in a 7 p.m. Thursday WBIT game on ESPN+.

Cougar women

Washington State hosts Lamar at 6 p.m. Thursday on ESPN+

Cougar men

WSU plays Drake in a 7:05 p.m. Thursday NCAA tournament game in Omaha, Neb. on truTV.

Four J's in pro ranks

By Tim Clinton

Four athletes from Federal Way whose first names start with the letter "J" are leaving their marks right now in professional sports.

They are Jaden, Jalen, Janson and Jeff.

We have Jaden and Jalen McDaniels playing in the National Basketball Association and Janson Junk and Jeff Brigham in Major League Baseball spring training camps.

The McDaniels both hail from Federal Way High School, while Junk is a Decatur graduate and Brigham comes from Thomas Jefferson.

Jaden McDaniels played one season with the University of Washington before being drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He is seeing regular action as a 23 year old this year, averaging 10.3 points per game along with 3.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

He is in his fourth season with the Timberwolves.

Jalen McDaniels was drafted after two seasons of college ball at San Diego State by the Charlotte Hornets.

He is currently with the Toronto Raptors.

The 6-foot, 9-inch center/forward is averaging 3.0 points per game along with 1.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists.

He is now 26 and spent three full years with the Hornets before splitting time between there and Philadelphia last year.

Junk has also seen limited playing time in his top tier career -- for the baseball Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers.

He has made nine appearances in the Majors, including seven starts, with a 1-3 record and an earned run average of 4.78 over three years.

Junk, 28, is currently in camp on the Brewers' 40 man roster.

He was reportedly eyeing a pitching job in Japan before spring training started.

The 32 year old Brigham just signed a minor league deal with a camp invitation for the Minnesota Twins.

His career started with the Miami Marlins before taking him to the New York Mets on his way to Minnesota.

Brigham, now a reliever after being a starter early in his career, has appeared in 90 Major League games.  He has posted a combined record of 4-10 with two saves and a 4.76 ERA.

He made 37 appearances for the Mets last year, going 1-3, 5.26 with 42 strikeouts in 37.2 innings.

For Miami in 2022 he was 0-1, 3.38 with one save.

He spent parts of four seasons with Miami over five years.

Aside from having the letter "J" in common, all four players list Federal Way as their place of birth.

Maybe it's something in the water at St. Francis Hospital.

A Look Ahead

By Tim Clinton

Baseball

Thomas Jefferson will host Decatur for a 4 p.m. Thursday game at Brannan Park in Auburn and Federal Way entertains Auburn at the same time Friday.

TJ travels to Blanchet for noon Saturday action and Decatur visits Peninsula at 2 p.m.

Decatur gets a 4 p.m. Tuesday visit from Auburn Mountainview as TJ hosts Kennedy Catholic.

Softball

Federal Way hosts Thomas Jefferson at 4 p.m. Thursday and Decatur travels to Rogers at 7 p.m. before visiting Enumclaw at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

TJ travels to Kennedy Catholic at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Boys soccer

Thomas Jefferson visits Rogers for a 7:30 p.m. Thursday match before entertaining Tahoma at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Federal Way Memorial.

Todd Beamer plays Kennedy Catholic at 6 p.m. Friday at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila and at 7:30 p.m. it's Federal Way at Auburn and Kentlake at Decatur at Federal Way Memorial.

Lewis and Clark visits Federal Way at 5 p.m. Saturday and Kent-Meridian drops in on the Eagles at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

TJ goes to Starfire to play Kennedy Catholic at 6 p.m. Tuesday with Decatur going to Auburn Memorial to battle Auburn-Riverside and Todd Beamer visiting Kentwood at 7:30 p.m.

Girls tennis

Todd Beamer visits Kentlake at 3:15 p.m. Thursday and at 3:30 p.m. it will be Kentwood at Decatur, Kent-Meridian at TJ and Federal Way at Auburn Mountainview.

The Eagles comes home to play Kentwood at 3:30 p.m. Friday as TJ hosts Tahoma and Todd Beamer travels to Kent-Meridian.

Decatur hosts Auburn-Riverside at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday as Todd Beamer entertains Auburn Mountainview, TJ travels to Kentlake and Federal Way to Kentridge.

Track and field

Decatur hosts Tahoma at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday as Thomas Jefferson goes up against Kennedy Catholic at French Field in Kent.

Pros

Mariners

Seattle is still in Arizona for spring training, visiting the Los Angeles Dodgers at 1:05 p.m. Wednesday before hosting Milwaukee at 1:10 p.m. Thursday in Peoria

The Mariners visit the Los Angeles Angels at 1:10 p.m. Friday and the Cincinnati Reds at 1:05 p.m. Saturday.

They come back to Peoria to play Arizona at 1:10 p.m. Sunday, visit Texas at 1:05 p.m. Monday and host Colorado at 1:10 p.m. Tuesday.

Sounders

Colorado comes to Lumen Field to play Seattle in a 12:30 p.m. Saturday match that will be televised live on Channel 13.

Kraken

Seattle entertains Washington at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Climate Pledge Arena before Nashville flies in for action Saturday at the same time and place.

Buffalo roams in for a 7 p.m. Monday battle.

All three games can be seen on ROOT Sports Northwest.

Reign

Seattle opens its women's soccer season Sunday, hosting Washington at 3 p.m. on NWSL+.

Seawolves

Seattle visits Utah for a 6 p.m. Saturday men's rugby match carried on Fox 13+.

Thunderbirds

Seattle plays Portland at 5:05 p.m. Sunday at the Climate Pledge Arena before entertaining Kamloops at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at the Showare Center in Kent.

Sunday's game can be seen on Fox 13+.

Silvertips

Everett hosts Kelowna at 7:05 p.m. Friday before visiting the Rockets at the same time Saturday.

Stars

Tacoma hosts the Chihuahua Savage for 7:05 p.m. indoor soccer at the Showare Center in Kent this Friday and Saturday.

Colleges

Husky men

Washington plays USC in a noon Wednesday game in Las Vegas on the Pac-12 network.

Cougar men

Washington State waits until 6 p.m. Thursday to play an opponent to be determined.

The Pac-12 network will air the game played in Las Vegas.

Husky baseball

Washington visits Texas at 5 p.m. Friday, 12:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday on the Longhorns network.

Husky softball

The UW is at Arizona for action at 5 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday on Pac-12WA.  The Huskies stay for a noon Sunday game on the Pac-12 network.

Sports wrap

By Tim Clinton

Boys soccer

Todd Beamer 3, Decatur 2

Todd Beamer outgunned the Gators in Monday's non-division season opener for both teams.

Baseball

Federal Way 6, G-K 5

Federal Way opened with a non-league win over Graham-Kapowsin this past Saturday.

Bothell 8, Decatur 3

The Gators journeyed to Bothell and took a non-league loss Saturday.

Softball

Chief Sealth 13, Todd Beamer 7

The Titans were outslugged by the host Seahawks in White Center Saturday.

Lincoln 18, Todd Beamer 0

Beamer was blanked in Saturday non-league tournament action.

A Look Ahead

By Tim Clinton

High schools

Baseball

Federal Way launches its new season with a 1:15 p.m. Saturday home game against Graham-Kapowsin with Decatur opening at Bothell at 2:30 p.m.

Decatur entertains Auburn-Riverside at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Softball

Decatur goes to Curtis for a 9 a.m. Saturday jamboree with Todd Beamer traveling to Chief Sealth along with Lincoln of Seattle for a 10 a.m. jamboree.

Boys soccer

Decatur visits Todd Beamer on the Titans' home campus at 5 p.m. Monday.

Pros

Mariners

Seattle still finds itself in Arizona for spring training, visiting the Kansas City Royals for 12:05 p.m. Wednesday action before hosting the Los Angeles Angels at 12:10 p.m. Thursday in Peoria.

The Mariners visit the Chicago Cubs at 12:05 p.m. Friday and the Milwaukee Brewers at 12:10 p.m. Saturday.

They return to Peoria to play San Francisco at 1:10 p.m. Sunday and San Diego at 1:10 p.m. Monday before visiting the Oakland A's at 1:05 p.m. Tuesday.

Sounders

Seattle goes to Philadelphia for 4:30 p.m. Saturday action carried on Apple TV+.

Kraken

Seattle hosts the Winnipeg Jets for 7 p.m. Friday hockey at the Climate Pledge Arena before entertaining Las Vegas at the same time and place Tuesday.

Seawolves

The Tukwila-based Seattle rugby team hosts Miami at 7 p.m. Saturday at Starfire Stadium.

Thunderbirds

Seattle will be at home at the Showare Center in Kent playing Spokane at 7:05 p.m. Friday before going to Spokane for 6:05 p.m. Saturday action.

Both games will be aired on Fox 13+.

Silvertips

Everett entertains Victoria at 7:05 p.m. Friday and visits Victoria at 6:05 p.m. Saturday.

Stars

Tacoma's indoor soccer team drops in on the Texas Outlaws for a 5:05 p.m. Saturday match.

Colleges

Husky vs Cougar men

Washington goes to Pullman to play Washington State at 6 p.m. Thursday on Fox Sports 1.

Husky women

The Pac-12 tournament opens Wednesday in Las Vegas with the UW playing Arizona in a 6 p.m. game on the Pac-12 network.

Cougar women

WSU plays California in a 2:30 p.m. Wednesday contest in Las Vegas.

The Pac-12 network will carry it live.

Husky baseball

Washington hosts Stanford at 6:05 p.m. Friday, 2:05 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday.

Husky softball

Arizona State visits the Huskies at 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.

Athletes: The Next Generation

By Tim Clinton

There I was, sitting at court side at the Tacoma Dome writing up Todd Beamer's state boys basketball story as Auburn was introduced for the ensuing game.

Suddenly the word caught my ears, "Mentink."

As in Chase Mentink, a starting guard for the Trojans.

I wondered if he was related to the three Mentink brothers -- Jarrett, Justin and Rick -- that I knew from when they competed in sports at Decatur during my days at the Federal Way News.

Sure enough, a Facebook Messenger note to youngest brother, Rick, brought the answer.

Chase is the son of oldest brother Jarrett Mentink and his wife, ROOT Sports Northwest television reporter Angie.

"He's a good little player," wrote proud uncle Rick.

Then I got to thinking, a lot of former area athletes have been writing about their offspring and their athletic accomplishments on Facebook.

Take former Decatur baseball and golf standout Steve Murphy, for instance.

His daughter, Emma, just celebrated her senior game as a member of the University of Washington women's hockey team by scoring her first goal.

His son Eli is currently playing baseball at Enumclaw High School -- where Steve serves as the golf coach.

Then there is former Federal Way and University of Hawaii star running back Travis Sims, whose son, Lando, has followed in his footsteps at Hawaii.

And former Federal Way baseball and football standout Milt DeAsis has a son, Brogan, who starred for the Sumner High School football team and is now bound to play for Weber State.

Justin Mentink lives is Sumner, too, and has had sons Jay and Jaxen on the Spartan baseball team he helps coach.

And former Thomas Jefferson baseball player Marc Bolam has sons Carter and Preston on the Emerald Ridge team this spring.  Carter is a senior and Preston made the team as a freshman.

If you know of any other next generation athletes, be sure and let me know under comments, on Facebook or on northwestwanderings@gmail.com.  I can put them in Keeping Track, or in another column if I get enough.

Some athletes I covered in the early 1980s, for instance, could have grandchildren competing by now.

As for younger area graduates who are still in sports themselves, I always want to hear about them, too.

Then there are the former area athletes from before I worked at the News and their descendants.

Like my brother, Dave, who played tennis at Thomas Jefferson in 1971.

He is the grandfather of Lake Stevens swimmers Wyatt and Hannah Keith and middle school baseball player Garrett Keith, as well as Leif and Merritt Clinton, who wrestled this winter in Virginia.

Guess I'm a proud great uncle!

.