Spring Crusade -- Eastside Catholic Teams Have High Hopes For Success

The best teams at Eastside Catholic High School this spring start with the best individuals - which include some of the best returning athletes in the state in their sports.

The Crusaders should finish among the top half of the Metro AA League in all six spring sports - baseball, softball, soccer, boys track, girls track and co-ed tennis. And much of the hope springs from last year's state meets and tournaments.

Aside from the individual-sport athletes returning from state, the soccer team returns one of the top five scorers in Metro; the baseball team returns three all-leaguers; and the softball team returns four all-Metro players and an all-KingCo Conference transfer.

The spring in Eastside's spring step:

-- In boys track, EC returns perhaps the top Class AA distance runner in the state, senior Andy Heily. Heily won the state cross-country title last fall and is the Metro AA League's defending champ in the 800, the mile and the two-mile run.

-- In girls track, Rebecca Schermann, a junior, returns after qualifying for state in the discus, an event not offered in Metro competition.

``I wish they could combine the scores for boys and girls,'' track Coach Jim Walters said. ``I think we'd be pretty tough that way.''

-- No. 1 singles player Aaron Girvin led the tennis team to a 6-3 season last year and placed seventh at state. The senior might win the whole thing this year if he can get by league rival Marco Magnano of Seattle Prep. Girvin defeated Magnano in their league match last season, then lost in the Metro tournament and Sea-King District tournament.

``He should get to state,'' tennis co-coach Virginia Robinson said. ``And who knows? We might be able to get some more.''

Magnano beat Girvin 6-3, 7-5 in both teams' league opener last week.

-- Eastside's leading scorer in soccer, sophomore forward John McMillen, returns after finishing among the Metro's top five in scoring to lead the Crusaders to the Sound Division championship.

-- Pete Summa, senior right-handed pitcher, is back after a first-team all Metro season. He leads a deep EC pitching staff that could help the Crusaders improve on last year's third-place league finish.

-- Michelle Acosta, a senior second baseman, had three hits in four at-bats in Eastside's 16-4 victory over Hale in the Metro opener. She was a first-team all-league second baseman last year.

SOCCER

-- 1989 RECORD - 9-2-2 in Metro AA League, first in Sound Division, 10-5-2 overall.

-- HEAD COACH - Lauro Pizzuto, sixth year.

-- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - F John McMillen (so.); MF/F Brian Osterbeck (so.); D Joe Geary (sr.); MF/F Phil Babas (sr.); MF Jason Gardiner (jr.).

-- OUTLOOK: Strength is attack positions, where EC returns all-Metro forward McMillen, team's top scorer last season and among top five in league. Returning starters Osterbeck and Gardiner scored EC's goals in its season opener, a 2-0 victory over Bellevue, and captain Babas brings three years of varsity experience. Weakness is defense, where Pizzuto lost all-Metro keeper Greg Braukus and all-Metro sweeper Mark Williamson. Crusaders are 1-2 in nonleague - all AAA opponents - and open Metro season at home today against Ballard. ``If we could play three more preseason games, I'd feel confident we're ready for league,'' Pizzuto said. EC should again battle Lakeside for Sound Division title.

BOYS TRACK

-- 1989 RECORD - Third in Metro AA League.

-- HEAD COACH - Jim Walters, 11th year.

-- TOP RETURNING ATHLETES - Senior Andy Heily, distance; junior David Colter, pole vault, sprints, long jump; senior Chad Neil, pole vault; junior Brad Baumann, hurdles, sprints, pole vault; senior Zac Evans, high jump, throws; junior Kevin Pettigrew, distance; senior Pete Brennan, distance.

-- TOP NEWCOMERS - Senior Bobby Raiford, hurdles, sprints; senior Mike Collier, sprints, relay, high jumper.

-- OUTLOOK - The Crusaders, who fielded the Metro League's top five pole vaulters and took first and fifth in the event at state last season, lost state champ J.J. Shephard, now at the University of Oregon. No. 2 vaulter Todd Campbell, who took fifth at state, graduated to Washington. But EC's boys remain strong with the return of vaulters Colter, Neil and Baumann, and Heily, one of the state's top distance runners. Heily, the defending state AA cross-country champion, already has posted a 4:20 indoor mile. He won Metro titles in the 800, mile and two-mile last year. Raiford, an Eastern Washington football signee (wide receiver), transferred from Rainier Beach with strong sprint and long jump talent. ``Overall, I think we're probably a little bit stronger even without J.J. and Todd,'' Walters said. O'Dea appears team to beat in Metro, but few Metro teams will earn as many points at state as EC.

GIRLS TRACK

-- 1989 RECORD - Sixth in Metro AA League.

-- HEAD COACH - Jim Walters, 11th year.

-- TOP RETURNING ATHLETES - Junior Rebecca Schermann, shot and discus; sophomore Courtney Pollard, middle distance; senior Kelly Cox, distance; junior Jennie Quinn, middle distance; senior Bridget Franklin, sprints; sophomore Michelle Jones, distance; junior Anne McDermott, sprints; junior Jennifer Whitton, field events and jumps.

-- TOP NEWCOMERS - Senior Alicia Molitor, shot, triple jump; freshman Ingrid Seibert, distance.

-- OUTLOOK - EC girls aren't as strong as boys this year, but ``I think we might surprise some people,'' Walters said. Schermann returns after qualifying for state in discus - an event not included in Metro League meets. Schermann and Molitor, a standout volleyball player who decided to turn out for track this year, should make strong shot-put combination. Seibert had turned in strong distance times in early practice. Pollard took fifth in the 800 at district last year - ``She's the best freshman 800 runner we've ever had at Eastside,'' Walters said. Few stars among EC girls but many solid athletes.

COED TENNIS

-- 1989 RECORD - 6-3, fourth place in Metro AA League.

-- HEAD COACH - Virginia Robinson, fourth year, and Sid Goss, first year as co-head coach.

-- TOP RETURNING GIRLS - Kathleen O'Neil (sr.); Ragen Bradfield (jr.); Noelle Vukov (sr.); Joanne Wenger (sr.).

-- TOP RETURNING BOYS - Aaron Girvin (sr.); John O'Neil (so.); Kjell Schei (sr.); Brad Howard (sr.); Denis Farmer (sr.); Tony Valluzzo (jr.).

-- TOP NEWCOMERS - Vicki Sarhanis (sr.); Erin Brown (fr.); Bob Ho (so.);Chris Mathias (fr.).

-- OUTLOOK - Girvin finished seventh at state last year, and he leads a strong boys group that returns top three singles players. Girls beyond No. 1 singles player O'Neil are mostly young and inexperienced. Crusaders have Metro's top sister-brother team in the O'Neil's (John is No. 2 singles player), but team must surprise some teams to avoid slipping a spot or two in league.

BASEBALL

-- 1989 RECORD - 13-5, tied for third in Metro AA League, 13-7 overall.

-- HEAD COACH - Charlie Acosta, 10th year.

-- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - RHP Pete Summa (sr.); DH/OF Cody McCawley (sr.); OF Scott Derouen (sr.); C Kevin Rooney (sr.); CF Jeff Tenace (sr.); RHP Aaron Cooley (sr.); 3B John Luger (sr.).

-- TOP NEWCOMERS - LHP Heath Mclellan (jr.); RHP Pete Coleman (jr.); 2B Ryan McDonald (so.); SS Danny Ballough (jr).

-- OUTLOOK - The Crusaders return three all-Metro players: Summa (first-team pitcher), McCawley (first team outfielder) and Derouen (honorable mention catcher/outfielder). McCawley (rotator cuff nerve) and Derouen (knee) are at least two weeks from playing defensively because of football injuries.

SOFTBALL

-- 1989 - (Record unavailable), fourth Metro AA League seed to Sea-King District tournament.

-- HEAD COACH - Cara Hoyt, first year.

-- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - SS Sarah Westendorf (so.); 2B Michelle Acosta (sr.); P Kelly Schoenfield (sr.); LF Laura Jump (sr.); C Annemarie Vivolo (sr.).

-- TOP NEWCOMERS - P/OF Tracie Heschel (jr.); 3B/OF Jenny Whitaker (fr.); 1B Theresa Westcott (so.)

-- OUTLOOK - The Crusaders return four all-Metro AA League players: Westendorf, Acosta, Schoenfield and Jump. Heschel, a transfer from Issaquah, was an all-KingCo Conference pitcher last year. Vivolo, who caught as freshman and sophomore, returns after missing last season because of knee injury. Must adjust to first-year coach, but Eastside graduated only one starter from last year's team, and after 16-4 pounding of Hale in league opener EC bats look strong. ``I think this team's going to do really well,'' Hoyt said. ``They've come together well so far.''