Metro League Baseball Capsules

Ballard

Coach - Eric Chartrand, 2nd year.

1997 results - 7-4, 13-9 (lost in state round-of-16 to Liberty)

Returning starters - Kris Hanson, 3B, sr.; Travis Foltz, CF, sr.; Adam Seumae, 1B, jr.; Dan Curnea, C, jr.; Nick Erdahl, 2B, so.; Mike Turinski, LHP, jr. (threw perfect game last year).

Impact newcomers - Chris Sabella, SS, sr. (transfer from O'Dea); Jake Martens, OF, jr., transfer from Blanchet.

Miscellany - Eliminated Seattle Prep 4-3 in Metro playoffs with a suicide squeeze in the seventh inning.

Outlook - Contender has good hitting and defense but lacks experienced pitching. Beavers or West Seattle are best public-school team in the city.

Blanchet

Coach - George Monica, 19th season.

1997 results - 10-1, 15-6 (Metro League champions, lost in state round-of-16 to Jackson).

Returning starters - Kevin Teeter, P, sr. (1st team All-Metro); Chris Plymale, P, sr.; Blake Fisher, 2B, jr.; Billy Condon, SS, jr.; Jeff Bourgette, OF, sr.; Mike Wood, C, sr.

Impact newcomers - Jeff Beatty, P-1B, sr.; Rob Kirschner, OF, sr.; Matt Miller, 3B, so.; Pete Kanyer, 1B, sr.

Miscellany - Monica was Metro coach of the year last season. . . . Braves won Metro title in regular season then lost to Eastside Catholic in Metro seeding tournament. . . . League MVP Jake Minter, who batted .579 with 10 home runs, graduated.

Outlook - The Braves, who won the 1996 state title and won Metro last year, have excellent pitching in Teeter and Plymale. . . . Team is contender for Metro title and could make waves at the state level.

Cleveland

Coach - Moses Tover Jr., 2nd season.

1997 results - 4-12.

Returning starters - Minh Kah, IF-P, sr.; Andy Chow, SS, jr.; Pat Kelly, P-3B, jr.; Mike Kelly, P-SS-2B, so.; Jerry Kah, C, so.

Miscellany - 2A school that is ineligible to win Metro title but will have a berth in 2A playoffs. . . . Games in Metro won't count on opponents' league records.

Outlook - Should win some games.

Eastside Catholic

Coach - Gary Seefried, 4th year.

1997 results - 9-2, 14-9 (Second in league, won Metro seeding tournament, lost in round-of-8 state playoffs to eventual state-champion Gig Harbor 8-7 in eight innings.)

Returning starters - Evan Hecker, CF, sr. (All-Metro); Dereyk Christensen, OF-P, jr.; Mark Brandeberry, OF, sr.; Sean Ingalls, P, jr.; Dan Rooney, P, sr.

Impact newcomers - Matt Kennedy, SS, sr.; Tyler McLean, P, jr.; Alan Taylor, P-2B, so.; Ryan Thompson, C, jr.

Miscellany - EC started last year 1-7 but then went on a tear. . . . Crusaders won Metro seeding tournament by beating Blanchet 6-3 in 10 innings. . . . Team rallied from 9-0 deficit to eliminate R.A. Long-Longview in state round-of-16.

Outlook - Top-tier team that will contend for title.

Nathan Hale

Coach - Tauno Latvala, 6th year.

1997 results - 3-8, 7-11.

Returning starters - Tom White, P-OF, jr.; Blake Pranger, C, sr.; Nick Burt, 1B-P, jr.; Josh Lurie, 3B, jr. (All-Metro); Aaron Nudelman, SS, jr.; Bryan Wilder, P, sr.

Impact newcomers - Matt Sotebeer, 2B-P, so.; Geroge Ferrer, P-1B, so.; Cory Balph, OF, so.

Miscellany - Team has players from four schools - Hale, Summit, King's and Shoreline Christian.

Outlook - Might be a surprise club. Raiders look like they can hit and have good infield and above-average pitching and catching. Concerns are outfield and team speed.

Ingraham

Coach - Randy Jacob, 3rd year.

1997 results - 4-7, 7-11.

Returning starters - Jamie Robinson, LHP-OF, sr.; Tony Heath, 1B, sr.; Neil Kappen, RHP-C, sr.; Seb Wilson, RHP-3B, jr.; James Hunt, LF, sr.

Impact newcomers - Jeremy Robinson, CF, jr.; Shawn Gidley, SS, so.; Jeff Westling, 2B-C, so.; Julian Herrera, 2B-SS, fr.

Outlook - Should win games. Good speed and defense will help. Concerns are young players at key positions.

Lakeside

Coach - Dana Papasedero, 3rd year.

1997 results - 5-6, 7-12-1.

Returning starters - Dale Sherrow, P-INF., jr.; Bryan Hale, P-CF, so.; Alex Raines, OF, so.; Shane Parris, 1B, jr.; David Mandley, C, jr.; Kyle Beffa, SS-P, so.; Blake Garfield, P-3B, jr.

Impact newcomers - Kito Pitre, OF, so.; David Smart, P, fr.; Tom Wilson, OF, fr.; Steve Johnson, INF., fr.; Lucas Roth, P-C, fr.

Miscellany - Team has just missed Metro tourney past two years.

Outlook - Young team without a single senior. Papasedero likes speed and athleticism of team. May challenge again for playoff spot.

O'Dea

Coach - Bob Blair, 1st season.

1997 results - 11-10.

Returning starters - Mike Colon, RF, sr.; Matt Slagle, SS, sr.; Ian Glass, LF, sr.; Joe Toner, P, sr.

Miscellany - Blair, a key assistant in the program for years, takes over for Mark Zender.

Outlook - Could challenge. Irish can hit and key will be pitching depth.

Rainier Beach

Coach - Robert Smith, 1st year.

Returning starters - Chris Williams, CF-P, sr.; Chris Frazier, SS-P, jr.; Chris Patterson, 2B, jr.

Key newcomers - Lamar Conley, LF, so.; Dylan Daniels, OF, so.

Miscellany - Started season with 1-run losses to Lakeside and Roosevelt.

Outlook - Vikings have good team speed and show signs of being a good hitting club. One concern is pitching depth. Not likely to challenge for title but should win some games.

Chief Sealth

Coach - Gary Thomsen, 2nd year.

1997 results - 0-23.

Returning starters - Ryan Elliott, C, so.; Ryan Davis, INF, so.; Andy Shatto, 2B-P, sr.; Joe Woodbury, 2B, so.; Will Newlove, 1B, so.

Impact newcomers - Robert Feegan, OF, fr.; Bill Ingle, INF, fr.; Gary McKay, C-P, fr.

Miscellany - Two years ago, Sealth baseball team didn't even finish season. "The kids are turning the program around," said Thomsen, who has been a major-league scout. "They are mature beyond their years. They epitomize what kids can do."

Outlook - Young team that took its lumps last year should win some games this year.

Seattle Prep

Coach - Ed Paulter, 13th season.

1997 results - 12-2 (second in league), lost in league playoffs.

Returning starters - Mike Pontius, C, jr.; Lindy Larson, 3B-P, sr.; Mike Henderson, 2B-P, sr.; Stanford Wyatt, OF, sr.; Brian Gattis, P-1B, jr.; Charlie Meyer, OF-P, jr.

Miscellany - Larson and Gattis have two of the best arms in the league.

Outlook - As usual, the Panthers are a team that can hit and will be in the thick of the pennant race.

West Seattle

Coach - Velko Vitalich, 12th year.

1997 results - 7-4, 11-8 (4th place finish) then beat O'Dea 8-7 in playoffs before losing 12-10 to Ballard for state round-of-16 berth.

Returning starters - Nick Thorburn, SS, sr.; Mark Denniston, CF, sr.; Jake Tomaselli, LF, jr. (1st team All-Metro); Ryan Caple, P-DH, jr. (1st team All-Metro); Corey Caple, P-2B, jr.; Tim Preston, RF, so.

Impact newcomers - Adam Stalker, P, jr.; Scott Olsen, P-OF, jr.; Sean Wooten, INF, sr.; Eli Armitstead, 2B-P, jr.; Travis Yanda, P-DH, jr.; Nick Johnson, C, so.; Blake Webb, P-C, jr.

Miscellany - West Seattle won Metro title in 1990-91-92.

Outlook - Indians were contenders last year and should be even better this year. ------------------------------- Metro League baseball players to watch

Nick Erdahl, 2b, so., Ballard

Definitely a player to watch next 2 years

Kris Hanson, 3B, sr., Ballard

Leader on returning state round-of-16 team

Kevin Teeter, P, sr., Blanchet

All-Metro pick, 1.95 ERA in league

Chris Plymale, P, sr. Blanchet

Strong pitcher on strong team

Mike Wood, C, sr., Blanchet

Might be league's best catcher

Evan Hecker, CF, sr., Eastside Catholic

Generally considered best player in league

Dereyk Christensen, OF-P, jr., Eastside Cath.

Outstanding junior on good team

Josh Lurie, 3b, sr., Nathan Hale

All-Metro selecton last season

Chris Williams, CF-P, sr. Rainier Beach

Hit .475 last season

Brian Gattis, P-1B, jr., Seattle Prep

6-foot-5 pitcher will get scouts' attention

Lindy Larson, 3B-P, sr., Seattle Prep

Another reason Panthers are tough

Jake Tomaselli, SS, jr., West Seattle

Hit .483 in league last season

Ryan Caple, P-DH, jr., West Seattle

All-Metro as a sophomore

Nick Thorburn, SS, sr., West Seattle

Tough; played football game with broken hand