On Tuesday, June 2, the softball association of high schools met for an all league meeting, and at this meeting an astounding ten players from the Orcas softball program were named to the all league list. There are three levels of awards. Honorable Mention, Second Team, and First Team awards.

For Orcas, in the Honorable Mention category, were:

Bobby Lowry, junior, pitcher

Lindsey Anderson, sophomore, catcher

Halley Parnell, senior, outfielder

Placing in the Second Team category for Orcas were:

Emily Bodenhamer, sophomore, second base

Brook Bruland, sophomore, first base

Mackie Taylor, junior, third base

And in the First Team category awards were:

Lanie Padbury, junior, short stop

Alison O’Toole, junior, outfield

Adria Garcia, sophomore, pitcher

Sydney Harris, senior, outfielder

For Orcas as well, Coach Harris was honored with the Coach of the Year award for his perseverance, dedication, and unwavering determination to create an outstanding softball program. In his fourth year coaching the Orcas softball program, he has also coached football for 10 seasons, holding the assistant varsity coach position with head football Coach Dennis Dahl for Orcas high school. Harris has also been the assistant coach on volleyball for eight seasons in eastern Wash. in Colville, Wash. for Colville high school. He was assistant volleyball coach there, as well as for select volleyball teams in the area.

“This Coach of the Year award represents not just me, but the entire coaching staff and the team. It is truly a team award. I want to accept this award on behalf of our entire coaching staff. That includes Jason Nichols, Jim Passer, Bernie Sturing, Rachel Harvey, Joanne Price, and the entire softball program. Being the league champions is something we all achieved together.”

On June 7, Sunday evening, the Orcas softball program had its own awards ceremony.

“We had our end of season banquet, where we, as parents and the community and the team, celebrated the great success of the softball program. We thanked the seniors, Halley Parnell and Sydney Harris, and the legacy they leave us with.

“Everyone gets their own award at this ceremony that highlights their contribution. Even if a team member never played an inning, we could not have gotten where we are without everyone’s support. Whether you read about them in the paper or you don’t, they are important to the health of the organization. We had an incredible amount of community support, and that culminates in a very successful year, and is not just reflective of wins and losses.

“Our program is on an incredible upwards swing, and we are going to be an exciting program to continue to watch.”