Kingco Conference Fastpitch Softball Capsules
Crest Division
Bellevue
1994 - 2-15 KingCo, 3-16 overall.
Head coach - Jim Butcher, fourth year.
Top returning players - 3B Keeley Burnfin, jr.; 1B Jocelyn Kidd, so.; P/OF Erin Dickinson, sr.; OF Carissa Howrey, so.; OF Amber Hodge, so.; OF Dawn Peterson, so.; OF Lynn Luft, sr.
Key newcomers - C Heather Ratushny, so.; SS Myah Nielson, fr.; C Gina Herrera, fr.; 3B/1B Meg McLise, fr.; P/OF Shayla Klinger, fr.; P/IF Anna Lewison, fr.; OF Jenelle Short, fr.
Outlook - Talented freshmen and sophomores offer strong hopes for turning program around.
Interlake
1994 - 4-13, 4-18 (eliminated KingCo playoffs).
Head coach - Dar Bullock, fifth year.
Top returning players - SS Tina Baker, sr.; OF Jennifer Kusler, sr.; 2B Sandy Sogabe, sr.; 1B Carrie Martin, sr.; OF Karin Hall, sr.; OF Casey Cunningham, sr.; RHP/OF/3B/C Laurie Rasmussen, jr.; RHP Erika Goeckeritz, so.; 3B Leslie Henthorn, so.
Key newcomers - OF/RHP Lisa Henthorn, fr.; OF Jennifer Park, so.; C Rosalie Shaw, fr.
Outlook - Summer work and strong returning group might mean turn in right direction for Saints in third year of fastpitch. Should be in three-team fray for two division playoff spots behind Issaquah.
Issaquah
1994 - 13-4 (1st Crest), 16-6 (eliminited by Woodinville in winner-to-state district game).
Head coach - Pat Dinsmore, third year (30-12).
Top returning players - SS/C Courtney Zobell, sr.; 2B Jamie
Formisano, sr.; CF Kirsten Hallum, sr.; LF Brenda Lundberg, sr.; 3B Erica Griffiths, sr.; SS/LF Meghann Desmond, jr.; P Andrea Schunke, jr.; 1B/P Lisa Sabado, so.; C/P/1B/SS Michelle Fosner, so.
Key newcomers - P Cherstin Johnson, fr.; OF Lisa Bach, jr.; OF Amanda Nickel, so.; OF/IF Nicole Campion, jr.; IF Britta Bergman, fr.
Outlook - Eight starters back, including two all-Crest first-team picks (Zobell, Hallum) and three second-teamers.
Mercer Island
1994 - 0-17, 1-17.
Head coach - Maureen Atkins, third year (1-17; M.I. played JV schedule only in '93).
Top returning players - RHP Heather Hinkle, sr.; Of Becky Myers, sr.; OF Jenn Krivosha, sr.; Of Jacalyn Tapper, jr.
Key newcomers - CF/3B/P Zandy Creamer, so.; C Julienne Oyler, fr.; LF/3B Amanda Clements, so.; SS Meghan Lorenzo, so.; 2B Lauren Janes, so.; 1B Leah Harris, so.; OF Amy Parker, jr.; OF Nadia Olivo, sr.
Outlook - Only two starters return, and sophomores and freshmen start at every infield position. Defense looks like a strength.
Newport
1994 - 7-10, 11-15 (eliminated at district).
Head coach - Nancy Coyle, first year.
Top returning players - CF Jenelle Schoeppach, jr.; 1B Katy Wescott, so.; LF Erin Dixon, sr; C Allyson Kaya, jr.; P Stacy Rasmussen, jr.
Key newcomers - SS Tilynn Rebuhn, sr.; RF Katie Smith, jr.; 3B/P Jamie Maners, jr.; 3B Wallina Diles, so.; 2B/DH Melissa Ferguson, fr.
Outlook - With at least three playoff spots in more forgiving Crest, Knights look like contender for return trip to postseason.
Sammamish
1994 - 12-5, 13-10 (eliminated at district).
Head coach - Mike Eckhart, second year (13-10).
Top returning players - OF Jill Butler, sr.; C Krystal Ritter, sr.; OF Danielle Peterson, sr.; OF Monica Hendsch, sr.; Of Katie Cox, so.
Key newcomers - RHP Kelly Reil, fr.; RHP/1B/RF Jessica Reil, jr.; SS Rachel Bonnington, fr.; 1B Brittany McDowell, fr.; 3B Colleen Dillon, jr.; 2B Jamie White, so.
Outlook - Four starters return, and leadoff-hitter Bonnington adds quickness and speed. Development of Kelly Reil will be key.
Crown Division
Bothell
1994 - 14-4, 22-8 (lost in AAA state semifinals).
Head coach - Marlie Davis, first year.
Top returning players - OF Jen Brandolini, sr.; SS Jessica Jobes, jr.; C Trish Stotko, sr.; 3B Melissa Downs, jr.; P Joelle Whitescarver, sr.; P Jodie Pierce, sr.; 2B Becky Cays, sr.; OF Monica Hashiguchi, jr.; 1B Kristi Siegmeth, sr.
Key newcomer - Shanin Clark, so.
Outlook - Only Woodinville has depth of returning talent and only Juanita has two-deep quality of returning pitching of Cougars.
Eastlake
1994 - 5-13, 6-14.
Head coach - George Crowder, second year (6-14).
Top returning players - SS Ingrid Anderson, sr.; CF Lisa Baker, sr.; RHP/OF Addie Schroeder, sr.; C Anne Clear, sr.; 1B Berni Hughes, sr.; 2B Shannon Stanford, sr.; RF Kaisse Stanford, jr.; LF Kelley Kimm, jr.; 2B Cari Loveless, sr.; 3B Cindy Wilke, sr.; C Brenda Vreeke, jr.
Key newcomers - RHP Lindsay Noble, so.; LHP Sara Smiley, jr.
Outlook - Wolves return every full-time starter, including pitching-ace Schoeder. Biggest obstacle is strength of division.
Inglemoor
1994 - 13-5, 15-8 (eliminated by Bothell at district).
Head coach - Jeff Skelly, 10th year.
Top returning players - 3B Cheryl Pennant, sr.; OF Phedra Martin, sr.; SS Kristin Mak, jr.; 1B Kehau, Akana, jr.; CF Lara Hollingworth, jr.; OF/C Heidi Ellis, jr.; 2B/OF Jenn Maxwell, jr.
Key newcomers - P Kacey Crowder, so.; C Jocelyn Brown, so.; 2B Mikelle Morrison, so.; P Meagan Stemerick, so.; OF Jackie Fryberg, sr.
Outlook - Crowder might have KingCo's best sophomore arm. Seven position starters back, including all-Crown players Mak, Akana.
Juanita
1994 - 13-5, 16-10 (eliminated by Woodinville at district).
Head coach - Michelle Moore, first year.
Top returning players - CF Heather McKay, sr.; P/1B Carrie Gibbons, sr.; P/2B Hayley Christensen, sr.; SS Traci Hiraoka, jr.; C Nikki Craig, jr.; SS/3B Nicole Bahr, jr.; OF Brandi Bangerter, jr.; OF Lisa Bishop, sr.; 2B/OF Roshini Daniel, jr.; 3B Erin Watters, jr.
Key newcomers - LF/SS Amber Engen, so.; 1B Jennifer Kasemeier, jr.
Outlook - Rebels return most of varsity, including pitchers Gibbons and Christensen. Should return to district, but must survive possible six-way battle for five playoff berths.
Lake Washington
1994 - 11-7, 13-7.
Head coach - Pat Ellinger, first year.
Top returning players - RHP Katie Crossett, jr.; SS Melinda Worchester, sr.; 3B Marria Ferry, sr.; RF Jessica Ellinger, sr.; C Kristine Collum, jr.; 1B Gretchen Moore, jr.; OF Nicole Snyder, jr.; LF Tiffany Tenant, jr.
Key newcomers - IF Andi Ahlquist, so.; DH/1B Kelly Arthur, so.; 2B Jana Wahl, jr.; 2B Stacy Johnston, jr.
Outlook - In early-season battles with Crown powers, LW lost to Juanita 4-3 and beat Woodinville 9-0. One of five contenders for division title.
Redmond
1994 - 4-14, 4-15.
Head coach - Dave Gertlar, second year. (4-15).
Top returning players - RHP Koni Hardesty, sr.; RHP Julie Taylor, sr.; SS Nicole Cerelejia, jr.; IF/C/RHP Amber Johnson, jr.; OF Sara Stephens, sr.; IF Tonya Bergman, sr.; OF Allyson Smith, sr.
Key newcomers - 3B/RHP Melissa Engel, so.; CF Suzanne Soine, so.; RHP/LF Amy Hicks, so.; IF Heather Fuqua, so.; 1B/C Jennifer Hunter, so.; IF Nicole Smith, so.; IF Kaethe Carl, jr.
Outlook - Mustangs are much-improved but will have tough time showing it in tough division.
Woodinville
1994 - 16-2 (1st Crown), 22-6 (advanced to AAA state quarterfinals).
Head coach - Mark Leander, first year.
Top returning players - C Megan Rabin, sr.; RHP Annie Stockton, jr.; 1B Reagan Freed, jr.; 2B Erin Ellsworth, sr.; SS Salena Goodreault, sr.; 3B Mandy Cobrea, jr.; OF Stephanie West, sr.; OF Leslie Griego, sr.
Key newcomers - OF Cynthia Cruz, so.
Outlook - Eight starters return from Crown champ that went 18-2 during regular season. Team has struggled in early going (2-2) after losing KingCo's coach of year, Michele Slotemaker, who was fired in offseason. But good-hitting, experienced, talented team should rebound in time to contend for another state berth.
----------------------------------------------------. Coaches' forecast. . -- Predicted order of finish, based on survey of division coaches (who were not allowed to vote for their own teams). In Crown, six points awarded for first-place vote, five for second place, etc. In Crest, points were awarded on 5-4-3-2-1 scale (first-place votes in parentheses). . Crown Division. . Team '94 W-L Pts. . Bothell (3) 22-8 31. . Woodinville (2) 22-6 29. . Juanita (1) 16-10 25. . Inglemoor (1) 15-8 24. . Lake Washington 13-7 19. . Eastlake 6-14 13. . Redmond 4-15 6. . . Crest Division. . . Team '94 W-L Pts. . Issaquah (5) 16-6 25. . Sammamish 13-10 20. . Newport (1) 11-15 16. . Interlake 4-18 15. . Bellevue 3-16 8. . Mercer Island 1-17 6.