Prep Baseball / Kingco 4A Preview -- Bottom Seen For City's 4A Kingco Ballclubs
The three city schools in the 4A KingCo Conference are predicted to finish at the bottom of the baseball standings, according to an informal poll of league coaches.
Juanita is picked to win followed by Redmond, Lake Washington, Inglemoor, Lake Washington, Eastlake, Bothell, Woodinville, Roosevelt, Garfield and Franklin.
The league's best player appears to be Bothell pitcher Josh Karp, who may be the No. 1 pick in the nation in this spring's amateur draft.
City schools
Roosevelt Roughriders
Coach - John Mitchell, fifth year.
1997 results - 3-1 league, 17-7 overall, Metro AAA co-champions, eliminated in Sea-King district tournament.
Returning starters - P-OF Darin Olsen, sr.; P-OF Ross McMeekin, sr.; C Morgan Bell, sr.; P-OF Alex Gooch, sr.; Mike Silva, jr.
Impact newcomers - IF Tiernan Gillan, sr.; IF Zack Zimmerman, so.
Outlook - Teds appear to be the best of the three Seattle schools. Five starters return, but loss of Alex Gordon to arm surgery in the offseason will hurt. Hitting and scoring runs shouldn't be a problem. Play of inexperienced middle infield is key.
Franklin Earthquake
Coach - Tim Moody, fifth year.
1997 results - 3-1 league, 12-9 overall, Metro AAA co-champions, eliminated in Sea-King district tournament.
Returning starters - RHP-1B Peter Morris, sr.; RHP-C Chad Yarbrough, jr.; 3B Benito Ybarra, sr.; OF-LHP Tyler Brownfield, sr.; OF-RHP Jonah Knutson, sr.
Impact newcomers - 2B Matt Chernicoff, jr.; OF Kevin Lew-Hailer, sr.; RHP-1B Joel Zimmerman, sr.
Outlook - Morris and Yarbrough both were first-team All-Metro players last season and should be among KingCo's best players this season. Three other starters return from a district-tournament team. With their pitching and defense, they can beat anybody on a given day. Consistency will be critical.
Garfield Bulldogs
Coach - Joe Staton, third year.
1997 results - 0-4 league, 10-8 overall, third in Metro AAA League.
Returning starters - SS Jeron Gates, sr.; 2B Will Hanley, sr.; 3B Robin Twelker, jr.; CF Nick Cross, jr.; LF Byron Ong, sr.
Impact newcomers - 1B Nathan Bourgford-Parnell, sr.; RF Hashim Mehter, sr.; C Casey Thoreen, sr.; P David Yaffee, so.; P Christopher Young, jr.; P Jesse Saunders, fr.; P Kurt Hynes, jr.
Outlook - Young team hurting right now. Hynes broke his right foot and will be out until April. Yaffee having eye surgery during spring break, and will miss time after that. Ong struggling to recover from broken back. Gates and Twelker are excellent players and Bulldogs are fast, but pitching depth is poor.
Suburban schools
Bothell Cougars
Coach - Tom Robinson, second year.
1997 results - 5-11 league, 6-13 overall, seventh in KingCo's Crown Division.
Returning starters - RHP Josh Karp, sr.; LF Cory Eagon, sr.; CF Craig Bruce, sr.; C James Hummel, sr.; 3B Josh Arsenault, jr.; RHP Jon Bubnis, sr.; RHP Andrew Bumell, sr.
Impact newcomers - 2B Eric Eagon, so.; SS Jason Davis, sr.
Outlook - Cougs picked sixth in preseason poll, but there is reason to believe they'll finish higher. Lost just three starters from last season and have nine seniors on roster. One, pitcher Josh Karp, might be the first pick in June's Major League draft. With him on the mound, Cougs can beat anybody.
Eastlake Wolves
Coach - J.T. D'Amico, first year.
1997 results - 11-7 league, 14-8 overall, tie-3rd in Crown Division, eliminated in Sea-King district tournament.
Returning starters - LHP-1B Eric Focht, sr.; RHP-IF Matt Brewer, sr.; SS Chad Oevella, jr.; 3B Seth Haye, sr.
Impact newcomers - CF Chad Coder, jr.; 2B Matt Sorenson, jr.; RHP Bert Vigeland, so.; C Michael Halverson, jr.; RHP Karl Lehrmann, jr.; OF T. Montgomery, so.; OF Matt Berry, jr.; RHP-OF Jason Blyth, sr.
Outlook - Two strong pitchers - Focht and Brewer - return, and sophomore Vigeland has excellent potential, giving Wolves perhaps league's best pitching depth. Should be solid up the middle defensively. Brewer was first-team all league last season. If hitters hit, Wolves could challenge for regional berth.
Inglemoor Vikings
Coach - Paul Mullen, 15th year.
1997 results - 13-5 league, 17-7 overall, KingCo champions, eliminated in Sea-King district tournament.
Returning starters - SS Brett Elness, sr.; P Wes Engelbach, sr.; OF Justin Magruder, sr.; P-OF Tyson Thompson, sr.
Impact newcomers - 2B Jeremy Skogsbergh, sr.; OF Justin Sotelo, sr.; Of Myles Taylor, sr.; OF-P Ryan Toivola, sr.; P Beau Watson, sr.; 3B Pete White, sr.; C Adam Zaitz, sr.
Outlook - Vikings return two of league's premier players in Magruder and Thompson, but defending league champs must replace their entire infield. Pitching should be solid. Staff is among the league's deepest and could carry Vikings back to top of league. Development of new players is critical.
Juanita Rebels
Coach - Gary Groenen, 26th year.
1997 results - 11-7 league, 16-9 overall, T-3rd in Crown Division, third in Sea-King district tournament, lost to Hudson's Bay in Region III tournament.
Returning starters - P Ryan Koenig, sr.; P-OF Eric Lyon, sr.; SS Mike McKay, sr.; C Jefferson Thiel, jr.; P Joe Vandemark, sr.; P David Waack, sr.
Impact newcomers - 1B Trevor Everitt, sr.; OF-P Ryan Nelson, jr.; 2B Robert Headlee, sr.; 3B David Beach, sr.; 2B-SS Matt Hooper, sr.; OF Ryan Overland, sr.; OF Keegan Tachell, jr.
Outlook - Rebels generally considered league favorites and hope to return to regional tournament. Entire pitching staff returns and is backed by an excellent defense, which should keep Rebels in most games. Thiel should be one of the league's best hitters. If they hit, Rebels will win.
Lake Washington Kangaroos
Coach - Dave Chambers, 16th year.
1997 results - 12-6 league, 15-9 overall, second in Crown Division, Sea-King district runners-up, lost to Port Angeles in Region II tournament.
Returning starters - CF Pete Bishop, sr.; IF Jason McCracken, sr.; P Kyle Corra, jr.; C Nick West, sr.
Impact newcomers - P Mark McFadyen, jr.; OF Nick Sciola, sr.; 1B Adam Herman, sr.; OF Brian Harvey, sr.
Outlook - Kangs a perennial contender for league title. This year should be no different, despite the loss of three first-team All-KingCo players. Cora leads another deep pitching staff and the Kangs have enough speed and power to generate runs. Success of inexperienced infield will be critical.
Redmond Mustangs
Coach - Ray Cassidy, seventh year.
1997 results - 10-8 league, 12-11 overall, fifth in Crown Division, eliminated in Sea-King district tournament.
Returning starters - IF Kevin Harasimowicz, sr.; OF Tom Larson, sr.; OF Will Cheney, sr.; IF Hans von der Hoffen, sr.; P Sean Donlin, sr.; P Matt Tobey, sr.; C Wes Falkenborg, sr.; OF Aaron Breenlee, sr.; P Stephen Simpson, jr.; IF Brad Ditter, jr.
Impact newcomers - IF Grant Zorwelg, jr.; C Stephen Moore, sr.; Mike Hass, so.
Outlook - Return of seven position players makes Stangs the coaches' choice for second place. Harasimowicz and Larson both were first-team all-league picks last season and there is plenty of talent surrounding them. Should hit and run well. Pitchers have to reduce the 100-plus walks they yielded last season.
Woodinville Falcons
Coach - Terry Agnew, eighth year.
1997 results - 8-10 league, 9-11 overall, sixth in Crown Division.
Returning starters - SS Kris Billmaier, jr.; P Shaun Kohn, sr.; OF Jon Yasuda, jr.
Impact newcomers - IF Justin Hart; P Joe Bauer; P Jason Snyder.
Outlook - Falcons picked seventh in preseason because of their youth. Only three starters return and they lost four first-team All-KingCo players. Billmaier is an excellent shortstop and Kohn was an honorable mention all-league choice. Defense should determine their success.