League-by-league softball preview
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Metro League
Favorites: Holy Names, Ballard.
Contenders: Seattle Prep, Blanchet.Players to watch: Allie Kunkel, P, Jr., Ballard; Lauren Curtis, CF, Jr., Ballard; Julie Magnano, INF, Sr., Seattle Prep; Carrie Potts, P-OF, Sr., Seattle Prep; Colleen McBride, C, Jr., Holy Names; Mikaela Wingard-Phillips, INF, Sr., Holy Names; Eileen Nutting, INF, Jr., Holy Names; Kristine Kuntz, OF, Sr., Holy Names; Kristina Malijan, P, So., Bishop Blanchet; Jen Segadelli, OF, Sr., Bishop Blanchet.
Outlook: Pitcher Chelsea Garrard, league MVP as a freshman at Holy Names last season, transferred to Inglemoor. Her departure marks first season since Metro went to fastpitch in 1996 that there hasn't been a dominant pitcher. It also opens up title race. Ballard is defending champion with a good nucleus back from team that beat Holy Names in title game last year. Seattle Prep returns nine seniors and beat Bishop Blanchet 3-0 Tuesday. Blanchet has good athletes and is overdue to win a Metro title after finishing second three of past four years.
-- Craig Smith
KingCo 4A
Favorite: Inglemoor.
Contenders: Woodinville, Eastlake, Bothell, Lake Washington.
Players to watch: Beth Sabin, P, Sr., Inglemoor; Jan Moshier, C, Jr., Inglemoor; Chelsea Garrard, P, So., Inglemoor; Brandi Gordon, C, Sr., Redmond; Lauren Sancken, P, Sr., Garfield; Loryn Showalter, RF, Sr., Woodinville; Kristy Ore, OF, Jr., Woodinville; Jen Edwards, OF, Sr., Juanita; Tara Alverson, C, Jr., Bothell; Chelsea Kanyer, 1B, Jr., Eastlake.
Outlook: Inglemoor has won five straight regular-season titles and is bolstered by addition of Garrard, a transfer from Holy Names who was Metro League MVP as a freshman. Other four contenders don't have that kind of star power, but are well balanced and dangerous.
-- Danny O'Neil
KingCo 3A
Favorites: Liberty, Sammamish, Skyline.
Contenders: Issaquah, Mount Si.
Players to watch: Jessica Johnson, P, Sr., Liberty; Carmen Kier, 3B, Jr., Liberty; Jami Lewis, P, Jr., Sammamish; Breanne Lewis, C, Sr., Skyline; Danielle Brittain, P, So., Cedarcrest; Holly Martinez, SS, Sr., Skyline; Nicole Dascenzo, CF, Sr., Issaquah; Kathy Phon, OF, Sr., Sammamish; Tara Wood, C, Jr., Newport; Teagan O'Leary, OF, Sr., Liberty.
Outlook: Skyline and Sammamish each have a Lewis leading the way. For Skyline, it's Marshall-bound catcher Breanne Lewis. Sammamish's Jami Lewis and Liberty's Johnson are league's best pitchers. Liberty was Class 3A state runner-up last year, and Kier probably has best bat in league.
-- Danny O'Neil
WesCo 4A
Favorites: South Division, Shorecrest, Kamiak; North Division, Snohomish, Marysville-Pilchuck.
Contenders: South, Shorewood, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds-Woodway; North, Cascade.
Players to watch: Kelli Johnson, P, Sr., Kamiak; Ciara Chaffee, P, Sr., Snohomish; Kristina Thorson, P, Jr., Shorecrest; Adrienne Moore, 3B, Sr., Shorecrest; Miranda Riley, C, Sr., Shorewood; Tracie Adix, P, So., Edmonds-Woodway; Jen Sweeney, 3B, Sr., Marysville-Pilchuck; Brooke Sweeney, 1B, Sr., Snohomish; Natalie Hardin, SS, Sr., Cascade; Ashleigh Ross, 1B, Sr., Marysville-Pilchuck.
Outlook: Two young teams, Shorecrest and Kamiak, have talent to contend in South. Defending division champ Knights possibly hold slight edge in pitching. In North, defending titlist Snohomish hopes to use experience, pitching and team speed to outduel Marysville-Pilchuck, which won last year's district title game.
-- Matt Massey
WesCo 3A
Favorites: Lake Stevens, Jackson.
Contenders: Everett, Stanwood, Meadowdale.
Players to watch: Amanda Nealer, P, Sr., Jackson; Stephanie Cochran, P, Sr., Lake Stevens; Christine Lee, 3B-OF, Sr., Everett; Jessica Nave, P-1B, Sr., Stanwood; Gina Carbonatto, SS-2B, So., Lake Stevens; Lindsey Signer, P, So., Stanwood; Rachel Mezich, P, Sr., Meadowdale; Kara Ewing, C, Sr., Monroe; Julie Vanek, P, Jr., Everett; Melissa Klein, CF, Sr., Jackson.
Outlook: It appears defending champ Lake Stevens, with 11 of 12 players back, will slug it out with runner-up Jackson again for the top. Jackson lost a pair of one-run games to Lake Stevens a year ago. Top pitchers Nealer (a Florida International signee) and Cochran (Montana State-Billings) will duel for third straight year. Lake Stevens is 3-3 after losses to top WesCo 4A schools - Cascade, Shorecrest and Snohomish.
-- Matt Massey
SPSL North
Favorites: Auburn, Kentlake.
Contenders: Enumclaw, Kent-Meridian, Kentridge.
Players to watch: Jodi Spino, C, Sr., Kentlake; Courtney Salmon, P, Jr., Auburn; Candace Howard, P, Jr., Sumner; Courtney Lacock, P, Jr., Kentridge; Heather Cochran, P, Sr., Kent-Meridian; Kate Folden, SS, Jr., Kentwood; Karin Smith, C, Sr., Sumner; Leilani Sebolboro, C, Sr., Auburn, Shelly Martin, SS, Sr., Brittney Osborn, So., SS, Enumclaw.
Outlook: Again, Kentlake is team to beat in North, but Auburn could win it. With just four playoff spots available, more than one good team will be left home.
-- Sandy Ringer
SPSL South
Favorites: Puyallup, Bethel.
Contenders: Emerald Ridge, Federal Way.
Players to watch: Katie Absher, SS, Sr., Puyallup; April Lee, SS, Jr., Rogers; Elissa Johnson, P, Sr., Bethel; Tiffany Bowser, C, Jr., Curtis; Erin Bryant, P, Jr., Emerald Ridge; Erin Johnson, 1B, Jr., Jefferson; Brianne Sember, P, Sr., Federal Way; Leslie Jacobsen, C, Sr., Puyallup; Jo Sonnett, P/OF, Jr., Emerald Ridge; Kelly Claar, P, So., Federal Way.
Outlook: Despite heavy graduation losses, Puyallup has a shot at third straight title. Injury to Johnson, one of the division's top pitchers, hurts Bethel's chances. Watch out for first-year Emerald Ridge.
-- Sandy Ringer
Seamount League
Favorites: Highline, Lindbergh.
Contenders: Hazen, Kennedy, Mount Rainier.
Players to watch: Hillary Schmidt, P/1B, Jr., Lindbergh; Lacey Walter, P, Sr., Highline; Karen Love, P/OF, Sr., Mount Rainier; Janessa Beckman, 3B/SS, Sr., Hazen; Melissa Rutherford, SS, Jr., Lindbergh; Nicole Garrett, 3B, Sr., Highline; Katie Campbell, 3B, So., Mount Rainier; Amanda Blanchard, P/1B, Sr., Renton; Jordan Eckman, SS, So., Kennedy; Chelsea Webster, P, Sr., Hazen.
Outlook: Lindbergh appears to have best all-around talent, but Walter gives Highline a chance to win every time out. Mount Rainier could surprise some people and rebuilt Hazen should have a say.
-- Sandy Ringer