Softball Summer

The grand climax of another summer has passed, and school is here. For me, this summer was about the love of softball, enjoyed with 11 other girls on our summer team, the Tigers.
Since I was 8 years old, I have played for the Tigers with my dad, Randy Souers, as the coach.
This summer, we competed in the age 16 and under, or 16U, division in six tournaments across the Pacific Northwest.
Our team lives and competes as a family during the summer. We grow attached to each other, and usually spend most of our waking hours outside of softball with other girls from the team.
Four years ago, the Tigers picked up a treasured member, Molly Rubidoux, who had recently moved here from California. Molly and I share several similarities and became immediate friends. We both have a passion for softball, art and shopping.
It became obvious early on that Molly is an exceptional pitcher. She led us to a second place finish in the 14-and-under division. And throughout the past four years since she came to the team, Molly has helped make us the strongest we have ever been.

Last spring, along with six other Tiger girls, I made the varsity softball team for West Valley High School. In West Valley history, the best the softball team had ever placed was eighth place in the state tournament; we took third.
A week before the state championships, however, we were struck with heart-wrenching news: Molly was going to move back to California in August.
Sorrow gripped the Tigers when we realized we would be having our last summer with Molly. So did a new vigor.
As school ended, we began another summer of traveling and tournaments. Though we didn’t place in our first two tournaments in Selah and Coeur d’Alene, we hit our streak back in Selah on June 25 to 27. That tournament, we took first place.
The Tigers took another hit when we discovered one of our newest players, Whitney Biehl, was injured in a four-wheeling accident.
Luckily, she wasn’t badly hurt and didn’t break anything, but there wasn’t a chance of her competing in the next tournament. Fortune was on her side because she had tumbled approximately 50 feet and hit her head on a rock. A mild concussion and several bruises were the worst of her injuries.
Two weekends later, we traveled to Richland for the 16U state tournament. In three days, we played seven games and took third place out of 15 teams. It was a victory we could be proud of, but there were two more tournaments that would pose an even greater challenge.
The next weekend, the regionals tournament took place in Lewiston, Idaho. Only six teams from Washington, Oregon and Idaho competed. But our fire seemed to have left us. We only took fourth place and played a mere four games.
We had two solid weekends before our final tournament, and the break wasn’t wasted on relaxation. We trained and practiced.
There was an unsaid understanding among all of the team members that we had to end the summer on a positive note.
The Tigers arrived in Hillsboro, Ore. on Aug. 3 for registration. The games didn’t start until the following day but all 34 teams had to be checked in. Seventeen teams arrived from California, 12 from Oregon, four from Washington, and one from Montana.
My dad, our coach, warned us to expect any outcome in the Western Nationals tournament. We didn’t know if we would be able to compete with any of the other teams or if we would even place. The girls accepted that the tournament was a time for fun and making memories, but we weren’t going to go down without a fight.
We fought like devils and beat the odds the next four days. Our first game was against the Valley Invasion. We beat them 15-3 in five innings. It wasn’t until after the game that we realized that they were the Southern California state champions. That same weekend, we beat the Oregon State champions, the Extreme, 4-1.
During the day, we played softball. We spent the evenings locked in one hotel room until we were ordered to bed.
Molly Rubidoux, Makenzie McFeeley, Shae Sunwold, Nicole Schultz and Hannah Rumbolz had a room to themselves and attempted to tie-dye their clothing. This included several shirts, tank-tops, sports bras and socks. The end result was brown clothing, a colorful bathtub and stained hands.
We went out with a bang, playing seven games in four days and losing to only two teams. Our last game, on Aug. 7, was played against the Strike-Force, and we lost 4-1.
The other team didn’t seem to realize the reason behind our tears. The loss was meaningless to us next to the realization that Molly Rubidoux was leaving for California the next day.
Our starting catcher, Megan Wetzel, begged us all to go out to dinner as a team one last time, and in a unanimous decision, the Tigers and all our parents went to a Shari’s Restaurant that night at 10:30 p.m.
We sat as a team and disrupted the other customers’ meals with our loud laughter. A spit-wad war broke out between the two sides of the table, ending only when Nicole Schultz took a wet wad in the face and angrily stopped the battle.
We entertained each other for more than an hour and a half with everything from YouTube video reenactments by Madison Roberts and Hannah Kivi and embarrassing stories to drawing contests with crayons and napkins between Astoria Rice, Kayla Ziegler, and Hannah Kivi’s 5-year-old sister, Gracie Kivi.
The party didn’t end when we arrived at the hotel, but continued for several hours with 12 teenage girls sitting and talking in one room. There was no bed time, so the conversations wore on into the early morning. Finally, last good-byes were in order.
An incredible summer ended with several plaques and trophies and a new long-distance friendship. The Tigers softball team won’t be the same, but we will go on.
Molly will still be a part of the team. She always will be, regardless of where she is. And we will continue with the Tigers motto: “Don’t Talk About It; Be About It.”

— Hannah Souers is a junior at West Valley High School and a member of the Herald-Republic’s Unleashed journalism program for high school students.

“Charlie St. Cloud”

There’s no pre-determined date at which the grieving process ends and the recovery and acceptance process begins.
In the romantic fantasy film “Charlie St. Cloud,” directed by Burr Steers and based on the book “The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud,” the main character for which the film is named after spends five years grieving his brother’s death.
Charlie St. Cloud (Zac Efron) graduated from high school with a full-ride, competitive sailing scholarship at Stanford University. These plans were shattered when Charlie and his 11-year-old brother, Samuel (Charlie Tahan) were both in a car wreck. Both St. Cloud brothers died in the accident, but a paramedic brought Charlie back to life on the way to the hospital; after he was claimed to be a lost cause.
It wasn’t until Samuel’s funeral that Charlie realized the side effect of his death and return to life: Charlie could see and interact with the ghosts of the dead before they “moved on.” Samuel hadn’t moved on. Charlie made a promise with his deceased younger brother that he would practice baseball with him everyday at sunset. This is where the movie starts and continues from.
For five years, Charlie has kept his vow to Samuel, throwing away the scholarship and any chance of a regular relationship. He most likely would have continued in the same rhythm had Tess Carroll (Amanda Crew) not stumbled into Charlie’s life. Now, he has to chose to remain with his dependent departed brother, or depart with the girl with whom he’s falling in love.
Zac Efron has come a long ways since his days in the “High School Musical” trilogy. In “Charlie St. Cloud,” the actor shows a mature side that the audience isn’t prepared for. This movie cannot be entered in the same category as his previous works, including “High School Musical,” “Hairspray” and “17 Again.”
I don’t have any desire to see romantic movies; I prefer action and adventure.
“Charlie St. Cloud,” however, kept my attention throughout the entire hour and 49 minutes. This is an exceptionally high-quality movie with commercial trailers that did not do it justice.
I would recommend this movie to anyone with a love for romance, a thick plot and an itching for adventure.

— Hannah Souers is an incoming junior at West Valley High School and a member of the Herald-Republic’s Unleashed journalism program for high school students.

‘Inception’

The architecture of the mind is a place of marvel and exceptional landscapes.
However, if you change the dreamer’s design, the subconscious will attack the invading force: you.
“Inception” is a one-of-a-kind film about Dominic Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a man who specializes in intuitive security and steals ideas from his clients. Though he appears cool and assembled, Cobb struggles with his inability to decipher whether or not he is in reality or the subconscious world containing his deceased wife.
The title refers to the placing of an idea in the mind, or the opposite of extraction, which is something more familiar with Cobb.
The first 25 minutes of the movie present a perplexing scene between Cobb and an aged Saito (Ken Watanabe). Cobb attempts to extract confidential information from Saito’s mind with the help of his associate Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), but they are unsuccessful because Saito is prepared for them.
The scene ends with a flash of water, where Cobb and Arthur wake up. Confusing the viewers, they wake up again, reveling the characters had entered through two levels of the subconscious.
Written, directed and produced by Christopher Nolan, known for his successful productions “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight,” “Inception” contains several well-known actors and actresses, including DiCaprio, Watanabe, Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Marion Cotillard and many more.
Though it may be difficult to describe and understand the multifaceted film in words, the movie itself is the new summer hit that everyone should see.

— Hannah Souers is an incoming junior at West Valley High School and a member of the Herald-Republic’s Unleashed journalism program for high school students.

‘Alice in Wonderland’

“How is a raven like a writing desk?”
This was the question the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) asked throughout Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.”
Shown in digital 3-D, the movie offers a new adventure in the already famous Wonderland. Rather than twisting the original story, this plot takes place years later with a new Alice (Mia Wasikowska).
Wonderland has fallen into despair under the rule of the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), and the creatures of Wonderland need Alice’s help in restoring peace as well as the White Queen’s (Anne Hathaway) throne.
The problem is The White Rabbit, sent by the Hatter to retrieve Alice, manages to return with wrong girl.
This is a new take on a well-known story. But there is darkness within the movie that tells the audience this isn’t the happy story of a girl finding her way home.
Though the tale is less gleeful, there is some humor as well. The Hatter provides many examples of why he is considered “mad.”
The majority of the characters have been digitally altered. The most obvious is the Red Queen, whom has a head three times larger than the rest of her body.
There are more subtle changes as well. For example, the Hatter’s appearance is mostly made up make-up and wigs, but movie-goers will also notice his right pupil is larger than his left one.
Over all, this is an excellent movie with unique ideas and scenery that’s unmatched.
It’s a must-see movie for almost all ages; it’s suggested small children avoid it due to several fight scenes.
Everyone else will just have to see it to learn how a raven is like a writing desk!

— Hannah Souers is a sophomore at West Valley High School and a member of the Herald-Republic’s Unleashed journalism program for high school students.

In line for ‘New Moon’

By HANNAH SOUERS
WEST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
It takes real commitment to sit outside in a fold-up chair in near-freezing temperatures, especially if the wait extends for more than five hours straight.
But 15-year-old Mariah Wildgen, a sophomore at West Valley High School, recently did just that.
For almost a year, Wildgen and a group of her friends had planned to be first in line on opening night for “New Moon,” the sequel to “Twilight,” the top-selling teenage vampire romance movie released last December.

So Thursday, they dedicated all evening — including several hours of sleep — in order to get a first look Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner in the second film in the Twilight series.
Members of the first-in-line party  — including Nicole Schultz, Keely Hausken, Taylor Bobovsky, Rachel Roll and Sarah Joffs, all West Valley sophomores — wore orange tie-dyed shirts announcing their “team.”
Fans sided with the popular “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob” and even “Team James” — all based on male characters in the film.
Wildgen wore a “Team James” shirt, despite the fact the character, played by Cam Gigandet, dies in the first movie, and never does return throughout the rest of the series.
“I don’t care,” Wildgen said. “James is still my first choice.”
Not far behind in line the West Valley sophomores was Justine Repp-Faith, a freshman at Perry Technical Institute.

The 19-year-old arrived at the theater at exactly 7:56 p.m. with three friends: Kelsey Berry and Amber Fernald, both 18-year-old freshmen at Yakima Valley Community College, as well as 19-year-old Chelsie Aucutt.
The four friends have visited Forks, Wash., the setting of the Twilight books and movies.
“We’re all die-hard book fans,” Repp-Faith said. “The movie is good, but the books are better.”
Repp-Faith became acquainted with the vampire series when a close friend gave her the first book. Within a week, she had read the final book in the four-book series and owned them all.
Some fans brought their copies of the books to the midnight showing. Other movie-goers managed to keep themselves entertained by playing games. And many came well-equipped with snacks, such as a gallon of Goldfish crackers and assorted Twilight-themed candies.

Wildgen and her friends were playing a game of “Twister” on one side of the cinema. Their group also stood out in the crowd also because they brought cardboard cut-out of Edward to wait with them in line.
Once inside the theater, the atmosphere grew from impatient to ready to race for the best seats in the house. And seeing the screen only managed to increase the excitement. The normal before-movie chatter was all based on a single theme.
“All I heard while we waited for the movie to start was people counting down,” said Makenzie McFeeley, another West Valley sophomore. “Everyone had their phones out, checking the time for the countdown to ‘New Moon’.”
As the lights dimmed and a gigantic orange moon engulfed the screen, several high-pitched screams shot through the audience. This reaction reemerged when Pattinson, who plays Edward, entered the movie for the first time.
Lautner, who plays Jacob, was a different story. His first sight on screen caused a unique-sounding sigh from seemingly every girl in the room. This was soon followed by an outbreak of embarrassed giggles.

And Hausken’s might have been the loudest.
“I was almost worried I was annoying the people around me,” Hausken said after the movie. “I was sure I was the loudest in there during the best scenes.”
Hausken claimed to be on Team Edward, regardless of the handsome werewolves. (The cardboard cut-out of Edward belonged to her.) Still, she couldn’t help but notice them.
“I was the closest I’ve ever been to being a Jacob fan,” she said.
Two more movie installments of the Twilight series remain. And fans are already planning to sit outside in line for hours again next year.
Only it should be warmer.
“Eclipse,” the third installment in the saga, is slated to hit theaters June 30, 2010.

— Hannah Souers is a sophomore at West Valley High School and a member of the Herald-Republic’s Unleashed journalism program for students.

‘New Moon’ shines

It’s finally here.
The Twilight saga continues with the second movie in the series.
Ever since I saw the first movie, I’ve been following all of the monthly trailers and reading all of the rumors: Who would be in the second movie? What scenes would be left out? And how was Taylor Lautner preparing for his many shirtless scenes?
“New Moon” picks up where “Twilight” left off — with Bella and Edward still in their unique vampire-human relationship, and Bella still very much human.
In this movie, Edward leaves Bella forever, along with the rest of the Cullen clan, and she falls apart inside. (Don’t act surprised: That was all in the main trailer, not to mention the book.)
After months of deep depression, Bella (Kristen Stewart) returns to Jacob (Lautner), the 16-year-old member of the Quileute tribe whom she befriended in the first movie.
Throughout the second movie, Bella struggles with her life without Edward (Robert Pattinson), fighting for any chance to have “visions” of him. The only way these visions happen, though, is if she does something reckless and dangerous. That includes hanging out with Jacob, who is in fact a werewolf. (And a handsome one at that!)
Director Chris Weitz does a remarkable job of drawing in all types of audiences with his variety of shots.
Plus, there are many scenes in which the majority of the male actors were shirtless — and sporting very distinctive six-packs.
On the other hand, there are far more fight scenes in the movie than in the book. My guess is the scenes were created so male audience members felt this was a movie for them as well.
“New Moon” blows “Twilight” out of the water with the special affects, better acting, and more intense moments between Bella and Jacob.
And there’s more comedy in this movie than the first.
Mike Newton (Michael Welch) has several entertaining scenes in which his reactions are the punch line, including one when Jacob calls him a “marshmallow” due to the fact he couldn’t stand a gory movie.
I feel that as long as you have seen the first movie, “New Moon” would be an excellent choice to go and see.
Opening night in Yakima, I saw a wide variety of ages of the viewers — from girls around 10 years old to women in their 50s and 60s.
Now, I’m anxiously waiting for the third installment of the Twilight saga, “Eclipse,” which is expected to hit theaters June 30, 2010

— Hannah Souers is a sophomore at West Valley High School and a member of the Herald-Republic’s Unleashed journalism program for students.

Novelty of new school hasn’t worn off for West Valley highschoolers

By HANNAH SOUERS
WEST VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Two months have passed since the new West Valley High School opened its doors, just in time for the start of the school year.
By now, students and staff alike have learned to find their way around the 240,338-square-foot building.
Getting around the new building is much easier than the old high school down Zier Road. In the new high school, more than 94,000 square feet — including the second-story skybridge overlooking the commons area — is earmarked for hallways and movement around the building, giving students a chance to experience a truly spacious school.
They seem to like it.

Getting a new building “is the biggest deal of high school,” says 17-year-old Nashrah Mazhar. A senior, she’s a member of the first class — the Class of 2010 — that will graduate from the new West Valley High School.
“The best thing in the new high school is how we aren’t crammed into little classrooms, hallways and the cafeteria,” says 16-year-old Mikele Cluff, a junior. Plus, “All the students can park in the actual parking lot, not a dirt field.”
Students have a fresh start in keeping the school clean and preventing wear and tear on the shiny, new building. And most of the time students show remarkable amounts of respect — and pride — in their new $60 million school.
But there seems to be a certain laziness within the school’s commons area, which also serve as a cafeteria.
“There’s still a litter problem,” says 18-year-old senior Preston Wade, gesturing toward a Gatorade spill on the floor.
And, “In a few spots, there is already writing on the desks,” says another student, 17-year-old Marshall Kent, a junior.
Classrooms are starting to take on personal touches. For example, art teacher Debbie Sundlee has given her classroom walls a bit of color by covering almost every inch with students’ paintings, drawings and any other forms of art.

Sundlee says she likes the building’s natural light and center courtyard. Plus, she says, “I love the architect’s choice of color and texture.”
Most classrooms have a view of the courtyard, located in the middle of the building. Classrooms also feature increased technology, such as Smartboards, or interactive whiteboards with the enhancements of a computer.
Classrooms also have the capability of turning into computer labs and feature many more electrical outlets than the old school. And that’s not all.
“There is actually heating and air-conditioning,” says 16-year-old junior Ashley Packard. “The portables at the old high school were always freezing or roasting.”
There were a couple of quirks in the construction of the new high school. For example, many students don’t know that three weeks before the start of school there were no floors in the commons area. Apparently, the contractors were sent the wrong tiles, orange and cream rather than red and blue.
School started on time, but there were still some punch list items to complete.
“The school was opened because school had to start,” says assistant superintendent Tom Fleming, “not because it was finished.”
In fact, work is still being done on the grounds, including the baseball and softball fields. But that hasn’t stopped students from being excited to be going to school.
“I don’t think the novelty has worn off,” Packard says. “Because it’s so much bigger than the old high school, it probably won’t wear off for a while.”
Cluff compares the new school to something seen on the big screen. “Honestly, I feel like we are in ‘High School Musical,’ because that’s what it looks like,” she says. “I just want to break out dancing and singing.”
Wade also compares it to the movies: “It feels like the way the king in ‘The Lion King’ felt as his son was held up on the rock: Astronomical!
• Hannah Souers is a sophomore at West Valley High School and a member of the Herald-Republic’s Unleashed journalism program for students.

Tips for passing your driver’s test

The feeling of getting your driver’s license and driving alone for the first time is both terrifying and exciting — even if it is just to go get your dad a paint roller so he can paint the basement, like it was for me.
I’ve just taken my driving test, and it happened to be the single scariest moment of my life.
The steps to getting a license are confusing and took me many hours of practicing, memorizing and, yes, crying.
So I’ve decided to dedicate this column to making sure all teenagers who are about to get their driver’s license, or even just taking driver’s education, have the best fighting chance possible.
First, don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions. Don’t think your question is stupid. The instructor is there to help you. So ask anything that pops into your head. You might even stump the instructor, and he or she might learn something as well.
OK, so you’ve just passed driver’s ed. Congratulations. It was boring, but it’s over, and the real testing times begin. Do all of the driving and studying you can. You’ll need both the physical and mental skills to pass both the written and driving tests.
If people told you the written test was easier than the driving test, they’re wrong. Personally, I failed my written test the first time, so don’t feel bad if you do, too.
Those tests are made to try to trick you. Read every question VERY carefully. There will be times when it looks like there are two or even three correct answers. If all else fails, go with your gut.
Once you passed your written test, I suggest you sign up for a driving test ASAP. It could be a few weeks before there’s an opening. I waited until after I finally passed the written test, and it took me a month to actually take the driving test.
In fact, I ended up taking my driving test in Ellensburg because I was tired of waiting for a date in Union Gap.
Before I signed up for my test, I heard from some kid that Ellensburg has easier driving tests than Yakima.
There is no easier test. At all of the Departments of Licensing, the test is the same. So don’t expect special treatment at one over another.
Even with an extra month of practicing, I only passed my driven test with an 80 percent, which happens to be the lowest score you can get and still pass.
I got marked down for parallel parking, stopping twice at a stop sign, and not setting the emergency or parking brake when I parked on a hill.
At the Web site for the state Department of Licensing at www.dol.wa.gov, there’s a list of everything that you will be tested on during your driving test. I suggest making a checklist of those items to make sure you know exactly what you need to learn.
Even if you think you know how to parallel park, or back around a corner, you might want to practice that.
No matter how much you study, prep and memorize, don’t be surprised if something strange pops up that you need to know, such as being marked down for driving to low under the speed limit. It could happen.
When things get tough, just keep reminding yourself this is a huge responsibility. And after it’s all over, you’ll be super-relieved and overjoyed. I am.

— Hannah Souers is a sophomore at West Valley High School and a member of the Herald-Republic’s Unleashed journalism program for students.