Latest news with #Yakima
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mount Vernon's offense explodes in 3A state championship win over Kennewick
Kennewick tried to pitch around Mount Vernon's Xavier Neyens in the Washington WIAA Class 3A state championship game at Parker Faller Field in Yakima on Saturday. Three times, the Lions intentionally walked Neyens, the No. 1 prospect in the state and a projected first-round pick in this summer's MLB Draft. But it turns out the rest of the Bulldogs can hit the ball pretty well, too. The game went back and forth early on and Kennewick led 5-2 at one point, but Mount Vernon exploded in the later innings, piling it on and walking away with a 14-6 win. 'We all love it when that happens,' Mount Vernon first baseman Bode Webb said of Kennewick's decision to keep intentionally walking Neyens. 'We always want (Neyens) to hit, but whatever happens, we love it. We never quit.' As a team, Mount Vernon racked up 13 hits in 28 at-bats and drew nine walks. Webb drove in six runs for the Bulldogs, part of an offensive explosion that stretched close to three hours. When the dust settled, it was almost hard to believe Mount Vernon had ever trailed. 'Dawgs don't quit,' Webb said. 'Never do.' Mount Vernon designated hitter Moises Lucatero hit three doubles. In total, five Mount Vernon players had multi-hit days. Kennewick, which came from behind a day prior to beat Gig Harbor in extra innings in the tournament semifinals, hit the ball pretty well, too. Kennewick nine-hole hitter Dierks Chavez went 2-for-2 and drove in three runs. First baseman Cameron Owen went 2-for-3 with two RBI. The Lions collected 10 hits, but couldn't keep pace with Mount Vernon's offensive explosion. The title is Mount Vernon's third total and first since 1992, when the program defeated Sehome in the 3A championship game. 'It's a super tight group,' Webb said. 'We all love each other so much. I'm happy our seniors went out this way. I can't even explain it, it's awesome.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Light fight: Controversy postpones Puyallup vs. Lake Washington state baseball game
Trailing 8-0 to Lake Washington after four innings, it looked like the lights were about to go out on Puyallup's undefeated baseball season. Instead, the lights at Parker Faller Field in Yakima started going out as the sun was setting in the final game of the day, a Class 4A state tournament semifinal game. Puyallup coach Marc Wiese voiced his frustration with the lighting conditions as the game wore on, then the umpires paused the game and began having conversations with both team's coaches, event staff and Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) staffers on hand for the event. Most of the lights, particularly in the outfield, were operational and working fine, but several of the lights in the two fixtures on both baselines closest to home plate were out. Each light fixture at the stadium had between six and eight individual lights. On one of the baseline fixtures, only two were functioning. Several were out on the other, as well. After almost an hour-long delay, the umpire crew and WIAA officials decided to postpone and resume the game at 10 a.m. Saturday. 'When the lights didn't fully come on, the umpires decided to suspend the game because they couldn't see the balls coming in,' Justin Kesterson told The News Tribune. Kesterson is the WIAA's assistant executive director. 'The home plate umpire made that decision with his crew, that it was just too hard to see the ball, to be fair with both teams and for safety.' Puyallup coach Marc Wiese had pointed words for the WIAA. 'You can't play baseball in this,' he said. 'We've got four lights (total) basically on both bases. And here's the thing: Yakima Valley (Community College), their coach even told them, you cannot play night games here, etc. The WIAA knew about this. They've got some explaining to do.' Kesterson said he was not personally aware of any issues with the stadium lighting during night games prior to the event. 'I'm not aware, myself, of any situations where there were issues with the lights,' he said. It looked likely Lake Washington was closing in on a win, stunning the undefeated, nationally-ranked Puyallup Vikings from the first pitch. The game was billed as a potential pitcher's duel — Puyallup's Mason Pike and Lake Washington's Shane Johnson — but Lake Washington jumped on Pike early. Johnson, meanwhile, was rolling. Lake Washington coach Derek Bingham said it was a difficult situation. 'It's really tough,' he told the TNT. 'You prepare all season for the final four, play your best game of the year for four innings and now you've gotta come back and do it tomorrow.' Whether or not the rules would allow for Bingham to use Johnson, an Oregon commit, again on Saturday, he wasn't sure. But he said he won't throw him again. 'He's got too bright of a future for me to put him back out there after a full warm-up, pitching four innings,' Bingham said. 'I would never do that, regardless of what's on the line.' Bingham said he also didn't feel there was any gamesmanship from Wiese, with Puyallup trailing 8-0. 'I have too much respect for Marc for that,' he said. 'It was dark. I agree it's dark. I don't know if it's unplayable, but when it got darker, it looks like maybe.' Wiese said he felt the site, which is a bit dated, simply isn't adequate to host the 3A and 4A baseball championships. What's available to the WIAA in any given year depends on the schedules of minor league baseball teams around the state, a WIAA spokesperson told the TNT. Last year's 3A and 4A state tournament semifinals and championship games were played at Gesa Stadium in Pasco. 'This is not suitable,' Wiese said. '100 percent. The biggest thing is, for (the WIAA) to know about this lighting, it's just a disappointment, to be quite honest with you. At the end of the day, we've got three innings left and we still have a shot to win. Tomorrow, we're gonna roll over, it's gonna be a new day. Maybe we'll have some good fortune.' The game will resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The 3A and 4A third/fourth place consolation games have been canceled. The 3A state championship game will be played at 1 p.m. and the 4A state championship game will be played at 4 p.m. The WIAA said it considered trying to move the consolation games to other local sites, but it didn't look like it'd work. 'We had that conversation, just talking through the facilities and what might be available, especially on short notice,' Kesterson said. 'We didn't feel that would be able to be done, to be able to set up all the other components of that. There was no other stadium available to help mitigate the issue of trying to push and keep the games at their scheduled times.'
Car and Driver
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Best Hitch Bike Racks for 2025, Tested
We tested these bike racks the only way that matters: by actually using them. We assembled each one, mounted it on a vehicle, loaded it with everything from lightweight road bikes to fat-tire e-bikes, and drove over city streets filled with the kind of potholes that would likely count as craters on the moon. We tilted them, folded them, cursed at their hardware, and figured out which racks would make our weekends easier—and which made us question our career choices. Some bike racks impressed us with their precision and polish. Others reminded us that a low price often comes with compromise. But every one of these hitch-mounted racks was put through the same gauntlet, and we've ranked them based on what matters most: ease of use, bike compatibility, stability on the road, and whether you'd actually want to live with it long-term. Key Takeaways Our Best Overall pick was the Thule Verse 2 because of its versatility in stowing a wide range of bikes, its reliable locking system, and its robust materials and construction. pick was the because of its versatility in stowing a wide range of bikes, its reliable locking system, and its robust materials and construction. The Yakima StageTwo was a close runner-up because it has the build quality and polish of a high-end rack, but with a more user-friendly design that's simple, effective, and quick to use; we especially liked the squeeze-handle tilting mechanism. was a close runner-up because it has the build quality and polish of a high-end rack, but with a more user-friendly design that's simple, effective, and quick to use; we especially liked the squeeze-handle tilting mechanism. The Küat Piston Pro X earns the Best Premium badge with performance, polish, and usability that's second to none; it's pricey but worth every penny. Things to Consider Not all hitch-mounted bike racks are created equal. Once we started testing them back to back, it became clear how much subtle (and not-so-subtle) variation there is between models. Here's what really matters once you get past the marketing: Hitch Compatibility Like hitch receivers, hitch bike racks come in 1.25- or 2.0-inch versions. Some models are available in both sizes, some come with an included adapter, and others might only be compatible with a single-size hitch receiver. While hitch compatibility varies by model, nearly any rack can be made to work with any vehicle using inexpensive aftermarket adapters, so long as you're mindful of your vehicle's and the rack's weight ratings. That said, adding an additional adapter adds yet another friction point in the process that you may not want to deal with. Pro Tip: If you're looking for a hitch adapter, this from MaxxHaul is a reasonably priced choice from a company we've had positive experiences with. It's also available in a . Bike Compatibility Not every rack fits every bike. When we originally planned out this test, we meticulously collected bikes with various wheel sizes with the thought that wheel diameter would be the biggest indicator of compatibility. As it turns out, that wasn't the case. Instead, we found out things like wheelbase, whether the bike had fenders, and frame design were the key determining factors more than anything else. Specifically, here are a few issues we ran into that you might want to consider when looking for a bike rack for your hitch: Step-through frames , which often require a separate adapter bar , which often require a separate adapter bar Carbon-fiber frames , which shouldn't be clamped directly , which shouldn't be clamped directly Fat tires , which require racks rated for wider tires (3.5–5.0 inches wide) , which require racks rated for wider tires (3.5–5.0 inches wide) Small kids bikes , which many platforms can't accommodate , which many platforms can't accommodate Bikes with fenders, which didn't always play nice with the ratcheting fold-down mechanism that folds over tires Load Capacity E-bikes and larger cruiser bikes can easily weigh north of 60 pounds. If that's your cargo, look for racks rated for 60 pounds per tray or more. Anything less and you're risking damage to the rack—or worse. Access to Rear Hatch or Tailgate The best racks tilt down or swing away even when loaded, so you can grab gear from the cargo area, trunk, or truck bed without unloading bikes. Some do this easily; others turn it into an upper-body workout. Ease of Use You'll be loading and unloading bikes a lot. Some racks are intuitive and quick to operate; others have fiddly locks, tricky ratchets, or awkward arms that don't quite cooperate. Storage Footprint When not in use, how much space does it eat up? Racks that fold flat against the vehicle or stand upright are easier to live with than those that demand their own ZIP code in your garage. Security Some racks offer integrated locks for both the rack and the bikes. Others don't. In this test, we saw everything from beefy keyed mechanisms to Velcro straps and prayers. Best Hitch Bike Racks
Car and Driver
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
Tested: How Rooftop Boxes and Hitch Carriers Affect Fuel Economy
In working to find the best hitch-mounted cargo carriers, we tested to see how roof boxes and hitch-mounted carriers affect fuel consumption We ran back-to-back tests with our long-term Toyota Grand Highlander, first carrying a Yakima EXO SwingBase hitch carrier, then a Thule roofbox. The hitch-mounted carrier was the clear winner, returning 25 mpg compared with 21 mpg for the rooftop carrier. Welcome to Car and Driver's Testing Hub, where we zoom in on the test numbers. We've been pushing vehicles to their limits since 1956 to provide objective data to bolster our subjective impressions (you can see how we test here). If you've ever looked at an electric car and wondered why so many of them have flush-mounted door handles, the reason is to reduce aerodynamic drag. It's the same reason you see cyclists wearing funny helmets and Olympic speed skaters wrapped in skin-tight spandex. It's also why hitch-mounted cargo carriers are generally viewed as a more fuel-efficient alternative to rooftop carriers. Since our Gear Team was already working on a test of the best hitch-mounted carriers, we decided to put the numbers to the test to see just how much more fuel a roof box burns. See Long-Term Photos Michael Simari To keep things fair, we ran back-to-back highway fuel-economy tests on our long-term Toyota Grand Highlander. For the hitch-mounted test, we selected the Yakima EXO SwingBase carrier equipped with Yakima's GearLocker. The carrier and locker weigh 93 pounds combined and together measure 59.5 inches wide. As for the roofbox, we pulled an older Thule model down from the storage rafters in our HQ garage and then mounted it to a set of Thule SquareBar Evo crossbars. The box itself weighed 42 pounds and measured 90.0 inches long. The test results were clear: The Grand Highlander averaged 25 mpg with the hitch-mounted carrier but only 21 mpg with the rooftop box attached, a significant 4-mpg difference. Michael Simari Michael Simari We ran a similar test on our long-term 2022 Kia Carnival back in 2023. After continuing to be disappointed by subpar fuel-economy figures, we decided to do some digging and test the Carnival with and without the factory crossbars. With the crossbars attached, our initial highway fuel-economy test returned 25 mpg. With the bars removed, that number jumped to 28 mpg. Jack Fitzgerald Associate News Editor Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1. After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sold! Washington State Ferries unloads the Elwha for $100K to Everett buyer
The Elwha, a decommissioned state ferry, was on the move Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 to its now home in Everett. Washington State Ferries sold the Elwha, which was retired in 2020, to Everett Ship Repair. (Courtesy of Washington State Ferries) Washington State Ferries completed the sale of the Elwha on Thursday, four months after a deal with a different buyer sank. Everett Ship Repair bought the retired passenger ferry for $100,000 and had it tugged to its shipyard Thursday morning from the state's Eagle Harbor Maintenance Facility on Bainbridge Island. The plan is to convert the ferry into a floating office and warehouse space, according to Washington State Ferries. 'We're excited to see one of our ferries with so much history and memories for millions of passengers is being repurposed locally,' Steve Nevey, assistant secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation in charge of ferries, said in a statement. 'I'm confident it's in good hands with a local shipyard.' The Elwha, with capacity for 144 cars, was one of four Super-class ferries built in the mid-1960s. It primarily operated on the route between Anacortes, Friday Harbor and Sidney, British Columbia before being retired on April 8, 2020. Two Super-class ferries, Kaleetan and Yakima, are still in service. Meanwhile, Washington State Ferries is still trying to sell two remaining retired boats, Klahowya and Hyak, to free up dock space at its Eagle Harbor facility. Last year, state ferry officials said they had an agreement to sell the Elwha and Klahowya for $100,000 each to a person who planned to tow them to Ecuador to be scrapped. But on Sept. 5 they announced the deal was off when the buyer, Nelson Armas, failed to haul them away due to malfunctioning equipment on the tugboat he planned to use. A few days later came reports that Armas' four hired workers on the tugboat — who hailed from Columbia, Panama and Peru — had been mistreated and underpaid. At the time, Nevey said it was in the 'best interest' of the state to sever ties due to his multiple failures to meet contractual obligations and deadlines. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
