Let’s go back outside.
Spring sports returned last week for some schools and by the end of this week, all Whatcom County high schools will have games in.
The weather hasn’t quite cooperated, but spring athletes are back on the field, track, course and court.
Stakes are also back for the first time since 2019. Teams will be competing with the postseason in play again this year.
At least two state championships have been won by a Whatcom high school every season this school year. Can it be done again this spring? We’ll know in a little more than two months.
Most of the first-week action belonged to the baseball teams around the county.
Squalicum started its season off right with a 2-0 win over Highline on March 12.
Junior Eli Knowlton earned the win on the mound for the Storm. He pitched a one-hitter, striking out 14.
Also in the win column was Ferndale. The Golden Eagles beat Marysville-Pilchuck 12-6 for their first win of the season.
Junior Jake Mason led the team on the mound and at the plate. He struck out nine and tallied three hits.
Lynden rolled by Cedarcrest for a 12-0 win highlighted by a two-run home run from senior Cade Slayton. Sophomore Lane Simonsen was the winning pitcher for the Lions.
Meridian got help from a pair of freshmen in its 9-3 win over South Whidbey to open the season.
Jonah Aase notched the win on the mound and Jaeger Fyfe connected for two hits in the Trojans’ victory.
Lynden Christian was toppled by Friday Harbor 9-3. The Lyncs will look for their first win of the season Wednesday against Coupeville.
Mount Baker beat Coupeville 6-4 and Nooksack Valley dropped both games of a doubleheader against Overlake, 16-1 and 15-0.
The only other sport with available scores was boys soccer.
Bellingham earned a 2-0 win over Marysville-Pilchuck while Squalicum cruised by Cedarcrest.
Ferndale narrowly beat Marysville-Getchell 3-2. Lynden will look to turn things around this week after a 2-0 loss to Arlington and was scheduled to play Tuesday at Blaine after press time.
Looking ahead, the rest of the county should have a game or two played by the end of the weekend in all sports.
The last time any spring sports teams were playing with the postseason in mind was three years ago. The current seniors were only freshmen then.
No team’s roster is even close to the same as it was in 2019.
The frontrunners in each sport should start to emerge in the next few weeks or so.
