Capsule previews: State spring championships
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Class 4A, 3A baseball
Where — Everett Memorial Stadium
Address — 3721 Oakes Ave., Everett
Today's semifinals — 10 a.m., (3A) Burlington-Edison (23-2) vs. Issaquah (20-4); 1 p.m., (4A) Hudson's Bay (23-1) vs. Kentwood (15-9); 4 p.m., (3A) Columbia River (20-4) vs. Selah (25-0); 7 p.m., (4A) Lake Washington (19-6) vs. Southridge (17-9).
Saturday's finals — 10 a.m., (3A) 3rd-4th place game; 1 p.m., (4A) 3rd-4th place game; 4 p.m., (3A) championship game; 7 p.m., (4A) championship game.
Tickets — Day passes $8 adults, $6 students and senior citizens. Tournament passes $13 adults, $10 students and senior citizens.
Class 3A semifinalists
Burlington-Edison Tigers (23-2)
Coach — Jim Clem, 26th season
Key players — LF Ty Binschus, Sr. (.494, 6 2B, 7 HR, 29 RBI); RF Austin Swagerty, Jr. (.400, 6 2B, 14 RBI); 2B Nick Owens, Sr. (.370, 26 runs, 18 RBI); 1B Jacob Clem, So. (.369, 3 HR, 25 RBI); DH Chris Fine, Sr. (.338, 4 HR, 27 RBI); SS Bobby Jensen, Sr. (.345, 26 runs, 17 RBI); RHP Mike Hegwood, Sr. (5-0, 2.24 ERA, 43.6 IP, 36 Ks, 19 BBs); RHP Jake Lazzari, So. (4-1, 3.27 ERA, 40.6 IP, 30 Ks, 10 BBs).
Issaquah Eagles (20-4)
Coach — Rob Reese, 11th season
Key players — SS Scott Suttmeier, Sr. (.449, 9 2B, 2 HR, 28 RBI); RF Benji Tornberg, Sr. (.437, 11 2B, 3 HR, 41 RBI); 2B Mark Gray, Sr. (.409, 5 2B, 20 RBI); LF Anthony Sanelli, Jr. (.368, 3 2B, 14 RBI); LHP Matt Wickswat, Sr. (9-0, 2.50 ERA, 63 IP, 73 Ks, 17 BBs); RHP Brian Justice, Sr. (5-1, 3.53 ERA, 35.3 IP, 36 Ks, 15 BBs).
Columbia River Chieftains (20-4), Vancouver
Coach — Travis Ramberg, seventh season
Key players — 1B Joel Johnson, Sr. (.569, 3 HR, 25 RBI); RF Brad Mady, Jr. (.448, 6 HR, 26 RBI); SS Ty Stanley, Sr. (.343, 22 runs); LHP Kyle Beitey, Sr. (9-0, 0.27 ERA, 52 IP, 90 Ks, 11 BBs); RHP Jesse Boehm, So. (8-0, 2.70 ERA, 35 IP, 24 Ks).
Selah Vikings (25-0)
Coach — Mike Archer, ninth season
Key players — SS Marcus McKimmy, Sr. (.539, 12 2B, 4 HR, 35 RBI); 3B Garrett Brown, Jr. (.494, 13 2B, 4 HR, 34 RBI); 2B Taylor Dailey, Sr. (.481, 5 2B, 31 RBI); RHP Travis Pendleton, Sr. (11-0, 1.10 ERA, 63.6 IP, 76 Ks, 14 BBs); RHP Dustin Brader, Sr. (10-0, 1.71 ERA, 65.3 IP, 83 Ks, 22 BBs).
Tournament notable — Top-ranked Selah makes eighth Final Four-appearance since 1990. Vikings are the only unbeaten team left in any classification, and have outscored opponents 251-36 with a team earned-run average of 1.32. ... Second-ranked Issaquah, state champion in 2000, finished third at state last year. Eagles' Suttmeier (WSU), Wickswat (Gonzaga) and P Brian Yoakum (Portland) have made college commitments. ... Third-ranked Columbia River has won 14 straight. Team batting average is .380. Depth of pitching staff has been a strength. ... Fourth-ranked Burlington-Edison, winner of 15 straight, is making its 13th state-tournament appearance in 26 seasons under Clem.
Class 4A semifinalists
Hudson's Bay Eagles (23-1), Vancouver
Coach — Tom Adams, fifth season
Key players — RHP/INF Greg Peavey, Fr. (7-0, 1.84 ERA, 45.6 IP, 60 Ks, 13 BBs; .421, 8 2B, 20 RBI); RHP/2B Tyson VanWinkle, Jr. (6-0, 1.40 ERA, 35 IP, 36 Ks, 12 BBs; .538, 11 2B, 28 RBI); RHP/3B Casey Amundson, So. (5-1, 1.33 ERA, 42 IP, 34 Ks, 9 BBs); C Jay Ponciano, So. (.393, 3 2B, 13 SB); SS Jackson Evans, So. (.311, 4 2B, 14 RBI).
Kentwood Conquerors (15-9), Kent
Coach — Jon Aarstad, first season
Key players — RHP/1B Matt Hague, Sr. (8-2, 3.57 ERA, 64.6 IP, 61 Ks, 44 BBs; .524, 10 2B, 5 HR, 43 RBI); C Nathan Soper, Sr. (.481, 9 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 32 RBI); CF Jameson Lange, Jr. (.361, 5 HR, 24 RBI); 2B Ricky Reavis, Sr. (.352, 5 2B, 15 RBI); LHP Chris West, Jr. (4-0, 2 saves, 6.14 ERA, 21 IP, 28 Ks, 18 BBs).
Lake Washington Kangaroos (19-6), Kirkland
Coach — Dave Chambers, 22nd season
Key players — LF/3B Josh Ashenbrenner, So. (.473, 3 2B, 10 RBI); 1B Mike Morris, Sr. (.339, 4 2B, 12 RBI, 1.000 fielding %); C Eddy Gonzalez, Sr. (.367, 2 HR, 11 RBI); RHP Will Loseke, Sr. (6-0, 1.60 ERA, 35 IP, 34 Ks, 25 BBs); RHP Mike DeDonato, Sr. (4-1, 2.07 ERA, 44 IP, 53 Ks, 11 BBs); RHP Jared Krall, Sr. (4-1, 1.85 ERA, 34 IP, 38 Ks, 16 BBs); RHP Paul Dickey, Jr. (3-3, 2.35 ERA, 48 IP, 56 Ks, 16 BBs).
Southridge Suns (17-9), Kennewick
Coach — Tim Sanders, eighth season
Key players — 2B Travis Coulter, Jr. (.370, 10 2B, 10 RBI); SS Lonnie Lechelt, Sr. (.354, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 14 SB); 3B Jordan Reeder, So. (.346, 4 2B, 9 RBI); C Tim Young, Sr. (.301, 5 2B, 14 RBI); RHP Matt Crowe, Jr. (8-3, 1.24 ERA, 68 IP, 84 Ks, 10 BBs); LHP Forrest Rice, Sr. (4-5, 2.93 ERA, 57.3 IP, 51 Ks, 24 BBs).
Tournament notable — Second-ranked Hudson's Bay of Vancouver has won 21 straight with its only loss coming against Kelso in the third game of the season. Eagles are young with 10 underclassmen, including nine sophomores. Adams coached Kelso to big-school state title in 1995. ... Kentwood's Hague (UW) and Southridge's Lechelt (Oregon State) have made college commitments. ... Unranked Lake Washington has ridden experience (nine returning starters) and pitching depth to the school's fifth Final Four appearance. Kangaroos are 6-3 in one-run games this season. ... Unranked Southridge of Kennewick is making second consecutive state appearance, first ever in Final Four.
Class 3A/4A track and field
Where — Edgar Bown Stadium, Pasco.
When — Today and Saturday. First field-event finals at 9:30 a.m. both days, running events start at 10:30 a.m. both days.
Defending team champions — 4A boys, Inglemoor. 4A girls, Curtis. 3A boys, O'Dea. 3A girls, Bellevue.
Top contenders — 4A boys, Inglemoor, Mead, Kentridge, Everett. 4A girls, Curtis, Rogers (Spokane), Eastmont, Lake Stevens. 3A boys, O'Dea, Yelm, Ellensburg, West Valley (Yakima), Skyline. 3A girls, Skyline, Holy Names, Bellevue, Columbia River, Bellevue, Rainier Beach.
Athletes to watch
4A boys — James Fredrickson, Sr., Kentridge, 100-meter dash, hurdles (defending 110 and 300 hurdles champion); Norris Frederick, Sr., Roosevelt, high jump, long jump, triple jump (defending champ in HJ and LJ, has cleared 7-1 this season and leaped 24-8-1/2); Kyle Jenkins, Sr., Jefferson, triple jump (defending champ, set state record of 50-2 earlier this year); Nate Rolfe, Sr., Inglemoor, shot, discus (monster throw of 206-2 this year).
3A boys — Chancellor Young, Sr., O'Dea (defending 100 and 200 champion, but knee injury makes him questionable); Taylor Mays, So., O'Dea, sprints; Matt Wauters, Sr., Bainbridge, (defending champ in discus and shot, has thrown state-best 64-8-1/2 in shot this year and 188-1 in); Tyler Cathey, Jr., Hanford, javelin (200-5 this year).
4A girls — Princess Joy Griffey, So., Decatur, sprints (state leader at 11.8 in 100); La Shawnda Porter, Sr., Kent-Meridian, sprints (defending champ in 100, 200), Becca Noble, Jr., Rogers (Spokane), 400 (state leader at 53.5); Whitney Hooks, Sr., Cascade (Everett), shot, discus (state shot-put leader at 47-7); Sarah Burns, Sr., Curtis, sprints, horizontal jumps, leading scorer at last year's meet with 26-1/2 points.)
3A girls — Jacqua Williams, Jr., Rainier Beach (defending champion in 100 and 200, has run 23.79 200 this year, third best in state history; state leader in long jump at 19-2-1/4); Christina Tupper, Jr., Skyline, 100 hurdles, triple jump (became fourth girl in state history to go over 40 feet when she jumped 40-0-1/2).
Class 4A softball
Where — South End Recreation Area (SERA) Fields, Tacoma.
Address — 6002 South Adams, Tacoma
When — Today, Class 4A first-round games 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., Class 3A first-round games 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday, championship games (4A and 3A), 5:30 p.m.
Tickets — Day passes, $8 adults, $6 students and senior citizens. Tournament passes, $13 adults, $10 students and senior citizens.
Last year — University (Spokane) beat Prairie (suburban Vancouver) 3-0 in championship game.
Favorites — Kamiak (22-1), Eastlake (22-1), Richland (24-1), Wilson (22-2), Olympia (23-2), Skyview (21-3).
Contenders — Mead (22-2-1), Pasco (21-4), Prairie (20-6), Auburn Riverside (22-5), University (21-4).
Players to watch — P Caitlin Noble, Eastlake, Sr. (KingCo MVP, 15-1, 0.44 ERA 135-1/3 IP, 259 K's); SS Heather Hansen, Eastlake, Jr. (.357 BA, 18 BB); SS Krista Colburn, Kamiak, Sr. (.500 BA, .700 OBA, 1.054 slugging pct., 8 2B, 7 3B, 3 HR; P Kate Defenbach, Kamiak, So. (15-1, 0.45 ERA); P Stacey Ellingsworth, Richland, So. (24-1, 0.46 ERA in regular season, 202 K's in 20 regular-season games); 2B Laura Segall, Richland, Sr. (Defensive Player of Year in Big Nine, .580 BA in regular season); 1B Holly Morris, Richland, Jr. (led Big Nine with 10 HR, 33 RBI, .460 BA); P Amanda Antonovich, Pasco, Sr. (21-4, 0.88 ERA, 167 K's); C Andrea Rogers, Pasco, Jr. (2-time Big Nine MVP, .592 BA, 1.056 slugging pct., 10 2B, 4 3B, 5 HR, 41 RBI); P Megan Schuler, Inglemoor, Sr. (Gatorade State Player of Year; 13-6, 0.96 ERA, .341 BA); P Kelsey Reynolds, Kentlake, So. (16-8, 0.89 ERA, 157 IP, 175 K's); CF Dani Monson, Marysville-Pilchuck, Jr. (.425 BA); RF Kelly Matthews, Evergreen, Sr. (.410 BA in regular season); P Amanda Pulley, Wilson, So. (17-2, 1.10 ERA, .568 BA); C Stacey Lien, Wilson, Jr. (.538 BA, 26 RBI); SS Heather Minniti, Wilson, Jr. (.535 BA); 2B Cristel Neal, Wilson, Sr. (.456 BA, 7 HR, 26 RBI); P Kim Watson, Mead, Jr. (GSL MVP, 18-1, 0.44 ERA, 126 inn., 206 K's); 3B Lacey Parry, Mead, Sr. (.462 BA in regular season, 28 runs); P Lisa Holombo, Jr., Sumner (21-6, 1.82 ERA, .471 BA, 24 runs, 20 RBI); P/LF Whitney Baker, Skyview, So. (18-2, 0.18 ERA, .348 BA, 6 HR, 28 RBI); P-2B-RF Molly Owen, University, Sr. (led GSL with .516 BA); P Ashley Sellers, Auburn Riverside, So. (18-5, 0.70 ERA); SS Denise Benedict, Prairie, Sr. (.510 BA); P Brooke Woodward, Prairie, Jr. (16-6, 0.50 ERA, .410 BA); P Ryanne Horton, Olympia, Sr. (Narrows Bay MVP, 20-2, averages 12 K/s/game, .350 BA). Notable — Mead's chances depend largely on whether officials allow pitcher Kim Watson to play with the "cast" she is wearing on her pitching hand after tearing a tendon and chipping a bone in her thumb trying to bunt in the regional semifinals. Without her, the Panthers lost badly to Richland in the East Regional championship game, ending a 12-game winning streak. Teammate Halley Cey, a senior outfielder, is the niece of former Dodgers great Ron Cey, a Tacoma native. ... University, which last season became the first school from East of the mountains to win the big-school softball title, is back despite losing both of its pitchers to graduation. It's the ninth straight trip for the Titans.
Class 3A softball
Where — South End Recreation Area (SERA) Fields, Tacoma.
Address — 6002 South Adams, Tacoma
When — Today, Class 3A first-round games 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday championship game 5:30 p.m.
Last year — Hanford beat Shorecrest 6-5 in championship game.
Favorites — North Mason (22-0), Hanford (23-2), Skyline (23-2), Shorecrest (15-5), Chehalis (16-4), West Valley (Yakima) (19-5).
Contenders — Mount Rainier (20-4), Sequim (19-3), Sedro-Woolley (18-5).
Players to watch — P Tiffany McDonald, North Mason (17-0, 0.00 ERA); P Sarah Losleben, Skyline, Sr. (11-0, 0.72 ERA); P Adreanne Lewis, Skyline, Sr. (12-2, 0.77 ERA); P Meg Barker, Hanford, Sr. (22-2, 186 K's, Mid-Valley League player of year); 3B Dru Hester, West Valley, Sr. (.458 BA, 17 RBI); P Ashley Morrison, Shorecrest, Jr. (16-5, 0.96 ERA, 126 K's, .323 BA); P Michelle Sauter, Chehalis, Sr., (16-3, 0.76 ERA, 168 K's in 120 inn, .397 BA, 13 RBI); 2B Remy Kawaguchi, Skyline, So. (.569 BA, 48 RBI, KingCo 3A player of year); 1B Geneva Hale, Shorecrest, Sr. (.438 BA, 8 RBI, 1.000 fielding); INF Morgan Rulon, Hanford (.509 BA, 25 RBI two HR).
Notable — With Skyline's Losleben sidelined after injuring a finger in a pitching machine, teammate Lewis pitched all 21 innings of the team's 3-0 run through the Sea-King District tournament, striking out 30 while allowing three runs. This could be Skyline's last 3A tournament appearance, at least for a few years. The Spartans will move to KingCo 4A next season.... Shorecrest, last year's 3A runner-up, won the state 4A title in 2001 and was second in 2002. Perennial power Chehalis, which won the 2000 Class 3A title and finished second in 2001 and 2002, is back after failing to qualify last season. Mid-Valley League rivals Hanford and West Valley of Yakima have split a pair of tournament title games in the past two weeks. West Valley won 5-1 in the district tournament; the Falcons won 10-0 in the regional tournament.
Class 3A tennis
Where — Today: Nordstrom Tennis Center, University of Washington. Girls matches inside, boys outside, weather permitting. If necessary (i.e., rain), boys matches will be moved to the Seattle Tennis Center.
When — Today: Singles begin at 8:30 a.m., doubles start at 9:45 a.m. Saturday: All matches at Nordstrom Tennis Center.
Admission — Free.
Boys team favorites — Lakeside, Seattle Prep.
Boys singles favorites — Peter Kung, Jr., Lakeside (two-time defending champion); Jeff Hammond, So., Mercer Island; Bryan Thorp, Fr., Kennedy; Ari Adelstein, Jr., Sehome; Kevin Floyd, So., Grandview; Ryan Slemons, Sr., Seattle Prep; Eric Wagar, Sr., West Valley (Yakima).
Boys doubles favorites — Justin Hayashi-Amir Ghazvinian, Lakeside; Alex Montgomery-James Truitt, Seattle Prep; Johnny Plesha-Danny Plesha, Sunnyside.
Girls team favorites — Mercer Island, Seattle Prep, Hanford.
Girls singles favorites — Lilli Sandler, Sr., Mercer Island; Stephanie Hammond, Sr., Mercer Island; Whitney Cheng, Jr., Bainbridge; Emily Skardon, Jr., Columbia River; Kacey Knox, Sr., Hanford.
Girls doubles favorites — Melinda Wong-Alanna Wong, West Seattle; Lauren Cook-Caitlin Coakley, Seattle Prep (two-time defending state champions); Liz Oldenburg-Audrey Morton, Mercer Island; Erin Schnebly-Taryn Smith, Ellensburg.
Notable — Lakeside won the boys team title last year after splitting the championship with Seattle Prep in 2002. The Lions look strong again this year, and are led by two-time champion Peter Kung, who has not lost a set this year. ... Lilli Sandler and Stephanie Hammond finished 2-3 in state last year, and will try to deliver Mercer Island its ninth consecutive girls state-title. ... Melinda Wong won't be defending her individual state title. Instead, the West Seattle junior will team with her freshman sister Alanna and try to win a double title. Melinda sprained her left ankle in last week's district match, but is expected to recover for state. Their biggest challenge will likely come from Seattle Prep seniors Lauren Cook and Caitlin Coakley, who are two-time state doubles champions. ... Peter Kung's younger brother Mike is a freshman at Sammamish and will team with Jacob Wolf in the doubles tournament.
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