HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2002-4684, by Representatives Woods, Rockefeller and Schmidt

       WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State House of Representatives to recognize achievements of Washington youth; and

       WHEREAS, Little League and Babe Ruth baseball has long been an important activity for children in communities throughout our state;

and

       WHEREAS, On July 24, 2001, the Bainbridge Island Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars team, managed by Mike Patterson, placed second in the state tournament; and

       WHEREAS, On July 31, 2001, the Bainbridge Island Little League 11 and 12-year-old All-Stars team, managed by Don French, won their first-ever state majors title, thus qualifying for the Western Regional Tournament; and

       WHEREAS, The Bainbridge Island Little League All-Stars team completed a six-game sweep of the regional tournament, thus qualifying for the Little League World Series as one of the 16 best Little League teams on Earth; and

       WHEREAS, The Bainbridge Island Little League All-Stars team posted a 1-2 record at the World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, winning one nationally televised game before being eliminated from the tournament by the two teams that played for the United States championship; and

       WHEREAS, The 13 members of the Bainbridge Island Little League All-Stars team, one of only three teams in the tournament that did not play year-round, earned the unofficial ranking of number five team in the United States through their play; and

       WHEREAS, The people of Bainbridge Island, who proudly supported the Bainbridge Island Little League All-Stars team throughout and even raised many thousands of dollars to help team family members travel to the World Series, honored their returning All-Stars with a downtown homecoming parade; and

       WHEREAS, The Bainbridge Island Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars are Jeremy Bjornson, Matt Frazee, Matt Koehler, David Lantz, Grant Leslie, Zach Peach, Kristopher Patterson, Kevin Roach, Ranger Sciacca, Joshua Truan, David Vander Hoek, and Jon Williams, managed by Mike Patterson, and coached by Geoff Roach, Kristian Patterson, and Butch Frazee; and

       WHEREAS, The Bainbridge Island Little League All-Stars are Adam Beck, Jesse Colkitt, Dalton Gent, Coby Gibler, Tal Glass, Michael Heald, Nash Hensen, Peter Huisinga, Austin Hurt, Peter Leslie, Rudy Sharar, Robert Stevenson, and Taurean Yamada, managed by Don French, with assistance from Dick Henshaw and Greg Stevenson; and

       WHEREAS, The Bainbridge Island Little League All-Stars comprised 13 members, more than any other team, because one of the original 12 members was injured during district and state play, and in a demonstration of sportsmanship, the coaches kept the 13th player on the team when the injured player returned;

       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives honor and offer its congratulations to the managers and members of the Bainbridge Island Little League All-Stars and the Bainbridge Island Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars, in recognition of their performance, sportsmanship, and representation of their community and state of Washington; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives immediately transmit copies of this resolution to the

players and the managers of the Bainbridge Island Little League All- Stars team and the Bainbridge Island Babe Ruth 14-year-old All-Stars team.

              I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

              4684 Resolution adopted by the House of Representatives

                                 February 1, 2002.

                           _____________________________

                           Cynthia Zehnder, Chief Clerk