
Reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss high school sports first, and we have fun with other topics, too, including Paul’s obsession with trolling Tony and Cale and their Mariners fandom
Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com
It is the middle-of-summer edition of The Study of Sports.
It is difficult to get everyone on the same schedule during the summer, but reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland met in the studio on Wednesday to continue their discussion of sports.
In this episode, we touch on two first bases coming to high school baseball by 2027. We agree it’s a good idea.
We also discussed a high school sports story that went national. NFL quarterback who is now a high school coach, Teddy Bridgewater, was recently disciplined in Florida for paying for food and rides for his players. Was that wrong?
We veer from high school sports to the Mariners.
And another shoutout to John Scukanek, who plays catch with someone … every day.
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 Jan. 15, 2026: We discuss some hot topics in high school sports across the state, plus we talk college and pro footballReporter Paul Valencia is joined by Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland to discuss current issues in high school sports, along with college and professional football topics.
- Opinion: Kindness is always welcome, even in places where one does not always find itPaul Valencia reflects on how a brief moment of kindness between a journalist and a football coach underscores the importance of respect in journalism and public life.
- 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.
- Virginia Rodeman defies limits and wins No-Gi World Championship in Brazilian Jiu-JitsuBattle Ground athlete Virginia Rodeman won two divisions at the No-Gi World Championship in Las Vegas, continuing an eight-year rise in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition.
- 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.






