
Reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss local sports first, but the highlight of this episode has to be Tony’s epic Mariners fandom story, and a jersey from a former M’s manager that was sacrificed for the betterment of the organization
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
In this episode of The Study of Sports, reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss hosting track and field meets, the decision for school districts to move middle school football to the spring, and some high school baseball.
While this podcast deals primarily with local, high school sports — from the perspective of expert administrators — we have to be honest with you: The best part of this episode is Tony’s story of winning a bizarre gift from the Mariners 14 years ago, and how in order to try to change the trajectory of the franchise, Tony had to sacrifice that gift this season.
Gotta hear from him!
Our podcast format is simple: A longtime sports reporter (Paul Valencia) discusses high school sports, and more, with longtime sports administrators and former coaches. Cale Piland is the former head football coach at Evergreen and Union and is now the athletic director for Evergreen Public Schools. Tony Liberatore is a former assistant coach and athletic director at Columbia River and is now an associate principal at Fort Vancouver.
We’re always interested in subject ideas for a future podcast. Email us a subject idea.
Send us your thoughts at: paul.v@clarkcountytoday.com.
Also read:
- The Study of Sports Podcast Dec. 30, 2025: A look ahead to 2026 with WIAA amendments, a year in review in high school sports, plus remembering the Mariners’ magical runThe latest Study of Sports Podcast looks ahead to proposed WIAA amendments, reviews high school sports in 2025, and reflects on the Seattle Mariners’ memorable run.
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- High school sports: Pac Coast Wrestling to showcase some of the best in the Northwest and beyond Clark County will host major high school sports events next week, highlighted by the Pac Coast Wrestling Championships in Ridgefield and holiday basketball tournaments featuring local teams.
- Columbia River salmon and steelhead endorsement goes into effect Jan. 1Beginning Jan. 1, anglers 15 and older must purchase a Columbia River salmon and steelhead endorsement to fish for those species in the Columbia River and many Washington tributaries.
- High school girls basketball: Union Titans give Brooklynn Haywood a homecoming in AlaskaUnion traveled to Anchorage for two games that allowed Brooklynn Haywood to play in front of her hometown crowd while the Titans bonded through travel, cold weather, and on-court adversity.






