CONNOR’S PICKS
Boys soccer: Meridian at Blaine
7 p.m. Tuesday, March 26, Blaine High School
Last season, Meridian beat Blaine in the 1A District 1 championship, 4-2, to advance to bi-districts for the first time since 2019. There’s history here.
Blaine has not made it past districts since 2014. The Borderites returned 13 players from last year’s team, which was on the cusp of a bi-district berth. Meridian is returning the same number following its best season in five years.
Now, both programs are trying to re-create their success from a season ago. Meridian (2-2-0) shut out both Sedro-Woolley and Lakewood by a combined score of 11-0 before losing to Bellingham, 2-0, on Saturday, March 16. The Trojans then lost to another quality 2A team in Lynden on Tuesday, March 19.
Blaine (2-0-1) has beaten Anacortes and Granite Falls by a combined 10-2 score. The Borderites most recently tied Cedar Park Christian, 1-1, on Monday, March 18.
Only five programs in the Northwest Conference compete in 1A District 1, and these two could certainly be back in the title game this season. This early season matchup is a revenge game for Blaine and a “prove it” for Meridian.
WWU: Softball vs. Saint Martin’s
12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. March 29–30, Viking Field
Even though Western Washington University softball is the 14th-ranked NCAA Division II team in the nation, it’s currently in fifth place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Saint Martin’s is leading the league.
There’s a simple explanation for this, of course. Saint Martin’s (16-8, 7-1 GNAC) has played eight conference games, while Western (17-4, 2-2 GNAC) has played four. The Vikings are fresh off splitting a four-game series with No. 16-ranked Northwest Nazarene, while Saint Martin’s hasn’t made the national poll.
Western and Northwest Nazarene have each played Saint Martin’s this season already, but in non-league play (games that don’t go on a team’s GNAC record, whether in-conference or not). Saint Martin’s is 1-4 in those games, beating only Northwest Nazarene once in a 10-9 thriller on Friday, March 1.
Regardless of previous results, the GNAC is always a toss-up. After starting its season with a program-best 13-0 record, Western is 4-4 in its last eight games. The Vikings will need to bring it against their league foe in this four-game series.
Recreation: Badminton at Bloedel
10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, Bloedel Gymnasium/Multipurpose Room
I grew up playing a lot of backyard badminton with my family, which is why this caught my eye.
Not everybody has the financial or living space capabilities to enjoy a sport like badminton regularly, which is why these events are such a great community opportunity. It’s free, there are morning and night sessions to fit different scheduling needs and you can meet new people while getting active.
Two indoor courts are set up, with all the equipment provided for two-hour sessions beginning at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. All ages are also welcome.
FULL CALENDAR
Friday, March 22
Fastpitch Softball
Mount Baker at Burlington-Edison, 4 p.m.
Sedro-Woolley at Blaine, 4 p.m.
Meridian at Granite Falls, 4 p.m.
Lynden at Auburn, 4 p.m.
Boys soccer
Anacortes at Nooksack Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Track and field
Bellingham, Squalicum at Twilight in the Ham Invite, 3:30 p.m., Civic Field
Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Meridian, Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley at Bedlington Invite, 3:30 p.m., Lynden Christian High School
WWU
Track and field at Oregon Preview, all day, at University of Oregon
Softball vs. Academy of Art, 11:30 a.m., Turlock, California
Softball vs. Cal State Bernardino, 7 p.m., Turlock, California
NHL
Seattle Kraken at Arizona Coyotes, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 23
Baseball
Lynden at Cedarcrest, 12 p.m.
Overlake at Blaine, 12 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Friday Harbor, 12 p.m.
Lynnwood at Ferndale, 12 p.m.
Chief Sealth at Nooksack Valley, 12:30 p.m.
South Whidbey at Bellingham, 1 p.m.
Mount Baker at Granite Falls, 1 p.m.
Fastpitch Softball
Peninsula vs. Lynden, 9 a.m., at Auburn Riverside High School
Bellingham at South Whidbey, 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Orcas Island at Sehome, 12 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Friday Harbor, 12 p.m.
Coupeville at Blaine, 2 p.m.
Boys soccer
Blaine at South Whidbey, 1 p.m.
Sultan at Lynden Christian, 1 p.m.
Lynden at Bellingham, 6 p.m.
WWU
Track and field at Oregon Preview, all day, at University of Oregon
Softball vs. Cal Poly Humboldt, 2 p.m., Turlock, California
Softball vs. Cal State San Marcos, 7 p.m., Turlock, California
Recreation
Honeywagon Runs, 8 a.m., Nooksack Valley Middle School
Full Moon (almost) Snowshoe Adventure, 11 p.m., Civic Athletic Complex (depart/return)
Sunday, March 24
WWU
Track and field at UBC Invitational, all day, at University of British Columbia
Softball vs. San Francisco State, 12 p.m., Turlock, California
NHL
Montreal Canadiens vs. Seattle Kraken, 6 p.m.
Monday, March 25
Fastpitch Softball
Sehome at Shorecrest, 4 p.m.
Girls golf
Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Meridian, Nooksack Valley, Squalicum, 3 p.m., Semiahmoo Golf Club
Boys soccer
Sehome at Lynden, 4:30 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Mount Baker, 4:30 p.m.
Oak Harbor at Squalicum, 7 p.m.
Anacortes at Bellingham at 7 p.m.
Girls tennis
Lynden at Anacortes, 4 p.m.
WWU
Men’s golf at Hanny Stanislaus Invitational, all day
Recreation
Gangball, 4 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Community Building
Tuesday, March 26
Baseball
Sehome at Lynden, 4 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Ferndale, 4 p.m.
Squalicum at Lakewood, 4 p.m.
Meridian at Oak Harbor, 4 p.m.
Anacortes at Blaine, 4:30 p.m.
Mount Vernon at Nooksack Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Mount Baker at Bellingham, 6:30 p.m.
Fastpitch Softball
Anacortes at Meridian, 4 p.m.
Ferndale at Lakewood, 4 p.m.
Lynden at Oak Harbor, 4 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Sedro-Woolley, 4:30 p.m.
Mount Vernon at Mount Baker, 4:30 p.m.
Burlington-Edison at Lynden Christian, 4:30 p.m.
Sehome at Squalicum, 6:30 p.m.
Boys golf
Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Lynden Christian, Meridian, 3 p.m., Swinomish Golf Links
Boys soccer
Ferndale at Burlington-Edison, 6:30 p.m.
Meridian at Blaine, 7 p.m.
Girls tennis
Sedro-Woolley at Lynden, 4 p.m.
Squalicum vs. Bellingham, 4 p.m., at Western Washington University
Lakewood at Ferndale, 4 p.m.
Blaine at Anacortes, 4 p.m.
Burlington-Edison at Sehome, 4:30 p.m.
WWU
Men’s golf at Hanny Stanislaus Invitational, all day
NHL
Anaheim Ducks at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 27
Baseball
Ferndale at Juanita, 4 p.m.
Fastpitch Softball
Blaine at Bellingham, 6 p.m.
Track and field
Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley at Sedro-Woolley, 3:30 p.m.
Blaine, Squalicum at Anacortes, 3:30 p.m.
Lynden, Lynden Christian, Bellingham, Meridian at Ferndale, 4 p.m.
Girls golf
Bellingham, Lynden Christian, Mount Baker, Sehome, 3 p.m., Swinomish Golf Links
Boys soccer
Bellingham at Oak Harbor, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Badminton at Bloedel, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Multipurpose Room
Thursday, Month 28
Baseball
Blaine at Mount Vernon, 4 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Burlington-Edison, 4 p.m.
Bellingham at Meridian, 4 p.m.
Lynden at Anacortes, 4:30 p.m.
Ferndale at Sehome, 4:30 p.m.
Lakewood at Lynden Christian, 4:30 p.m.
Sedro-Woolley at Mount Baker, 4:30 p.m.
Oak Harbor at Squalicum, 6:45 p.m.
Fastpitch Softball
Ferndale at Lynden, 4 p.m.
Meridian at Lakewood, 4 p.m.
Mount Baker at Oak Harbor, 4 p.m.
Anacortes at Nooksack Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Squalicum, 6:30 p.m.
Boys golf
Ferndale, Meridian at Everett Invitational, 3 p.m., Legion Memorial Golf
Bellingham, Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley, Sehome, Squalicum, 2 p.m., Camaloch Golf Course
Girls golf
Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Lynden Chrisitan, Meridian, Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley, Sehome, Squalicum at Whatcom County Championships, 3 p.m., Sudden Valley Golf Course
Boys soccer
Nooksack Valley at Lynden, 4:30 p.m.
Meridian at Mount Baker, 4:30 p.m.
Ferndale at Sedro-Woolley, 7 p.m.
Burlington-Edison at Squalicum, 7 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Blaine, 7 p.m.
Lakewood at Sehome, 7 p.m.
Girls tennis
Blaine at Burlington-Edison, 3:45 p.m.
Lakewood at Squalicum, 4 p.m.
Ferndale at Mount Vernon, 4 p.m.
Anacortes vs. Bellingham, 4 p.m., at Western Washington University
Lynden at Sehome, 4:30 p.m.
NHL
Anaheim Ducks at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Friday, Month 29
Fastpitch Softball
Sehome at Blaine, 4 p.m.
Meridian at South Whidbey, 4 p.m.
Burlington-Edison at Bellingham, 6 p.m.
Track and field
Blaine, Lummi Nation, Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley at Trojan Twilight, 4 p.m., Meridian High School
Boys golf
Blaine, Meridian at Joe Lenburg Invite, 10 a.m., Appletree Golf Course
WWU
Men’s track and field at Stanford Invitational, all day, Stanford University
Softball vs. Saint Martin’s, 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., Viking Field
Saturday, March 30
Fastpitch Softball
Ferndale at Lake Stevens, 10 a.m.
Boys soccer
Blaine at Lakewood, 12 p.m.
Sultan at Meridian, 7 p.m.
WWU
Track and field at Stanford Invitational, all day, Stanford University
Softball vs. Saint Martin’s, 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., Viking Field
NHL
Dallas Stars at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Community Work Party at Hundred Acre Wood, 9 a.m., 2330 Old Fairhaven Parkway, Bellingham
Swing the Gates 5K/10K, 10 a.m., Deception Pass State Park
Sunday, March 31
Recreation
Public skate, 1 p.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
CDN’s sports calendar is published online Thursdays and in print Fridays. To submit an event for consideration, email connorbenintendi@cascadiadaily.com. News Producer Eric Trent compiled the featured listings.
Connor J. Benintendi is a former CDN sports reporter, send tips and information to newstips@cascadiadaily.com.
