Kinco Conference Baseball Capsules

BELLEVUE

Coach - Ryan Fujiwara, 1st year.

1996 results - 5-12 league, 6-13 overall, 5th in Crest Division.

Returning starters - OF Nate Hickey, sr.; P-U K.C. Klopp, sr.; P-U Matsi Matsudaira, sr.; SS-2B Bryan Rognier, sr.; P-U Ken Wright, sr.; IF Kevin Barrow, so.; 1B Nate Johnson, jr.; OF Bryan Dickson, sr.

Other possible starters - OF Owen Biddle, so.; P Evan Buehrer, jr.; P-OF Chris Fabregas, jr.; IF-OF Sam Hickcox, jr.; 2B-SS Tyler Kiser, so.

Outlook - With eight starters back, Wolverines started an encouraging 3-0-1 this season. Experience(10 seniors return) and pitching (three starters return) should be Bellevue's greatest strengths. Hickey was a second-team All-KingCo pick in the outfield and Rognier was an honorable-mention choice in the infield. The schedule is favorable - the Wolverines play Crest teams twice and teams in the more balanced Crown only once - so the postseason is possible.

BOTHELL

Coach - Tom Robinson, 1st year.

1996 results - 6-12 league, 7-13 overall, T-6th in Crown Division.

Returning starters - RF Brian Trofholz, sr.; 2B Jeff Thompson, sr.; P-SS Josh Karp, jr.; P Paul Daniels, sr.; C James Hummel, jr.; CF Craig Bruce.

Other possible starters - P-OF Mike Syvarud, so.; OF Cory Eagon, jr.

Outlook - Karp is rated the No. 2 junior in the country by Baseball America. He will be tough to beat whenever he takes the mound. Not many grounders will get by when he's at shortstop. But his teammates will determine whether the Cougars make the playoffs. Thompson has twice been an All-KingCo pick at second base - last year he was honorable mention - and Trofholz has been honorable-mention All-KingCo twice. But there are only three other returning players with varsity experience.

EASTLAKE

Coach - Dick Bass, 4th year.

1996 results - 12-6 league, 14-8 overall, T-1st in Crown Division, eliminated in Sea-King District tournament.

Returning starters - C Ty Pendergraft, sr.; RF Tom Dunkin, sr.; 3B Zack Brewer, sr.; OF Aaron Vanderwarka, sr.; SS Jordan Sakamoto, sr.; 1B Mike Shane, sr.; OF Chris Lindsey, sr.

Other possible starters - 2B Seth Haye, jr.; P Matt Brewer, jr.; P Ben Vigeland, sr.; P-DH Eric Focht, jr.; P-IF Erik Fortner, sr.

Outlook - Wolves should be in the playoff mix again this season. Vanderwarka, who was first-team All-KingCo last year, led KingCo in hitting with .511 average. Zack Brewer and Pendergraft were also first-team. Three other Wolves - Vigeland, Matt Brewer and Focht - were honorable-mention selections. Wolves will run a lot and play solid defense. Pitching potentially strong with Vigeland and Matt Brewer. Offense was supposed to be weak link, but young Wolves scored 30 runs in their first two games and started 3-0 this season.

INGLEMOOR

Coach - Paul Moody, 14th year.

1996 results - 6-12 league, 7-13 overall, T-6th in Crown Division.

Returning starters - C Justin Stolmeier, sr.; 1B Al Minahan, sr.; 2B Jeff Hammitt, sr.; 3B Ryan Brown, sr.; P Kyle Richardson, sr.; P Tyson Thompson, jr.; OF Justin Magruder, jr.

Other possible starters - SS Jeremy Beach, sr.; OF Jackson Fuiten, sr.; OF Max Kay, sr.

Outlook - Vikings could contend for playoff berth this season behind experienced group of juniors and seniors. Minahan and Brown were honorable-mention All-KingCo selections last season. Three of the four infield starters return, as does Stolmeier, an excellent multi-sport athlete who quarterbacked the Inglemoor football team last fall and will quarterback a solid Viking defense this spring. Another football player, Fuiten, will help fill in an outfield that lost all three starters from last season.

INTERLAKE

Coach - Bob Haynes, 8th year.

1996 results - 7-10 league, 10-13 overall, 3rd in Crest Division, eliminated in Sea-King District tournament.

Returning starters - 2B Nick Papadopulos, sr.; SS Arik Vanzandt, jr.; P Jesse Fink, sr.; P-1B Eric Engberg, jr.

Other possible starters - C Mike Richardson, jr.; C-1B Matt Vanduzor, jr.; 3B John Blankenship, sr.; OF Kacey Kemmerer, so.; OF Jason Hulen, sr.; OF Jake Brender, so.

Outlook - Middle defense is among league's best with first-team All-KingCo choices Papadopulos and Vanzandt back. Saints' overall strength is in the field. Engberg and Fink bring mound experience, but only four starters return from last year. The Saints have lost a couple close games early this season. They need their young hitters to develop if they are going to make it back to the postseason.

ISSAQUAH

Coach - Rob Reese, 4th year.

1996 results - 13-4 league, 18-7 overall, KingCo champions, eliminated in Region II tournament.

Returning starters - P Ryan Iraola, sr.; C Matt Green, sr.; DH Jared Matthai, sr.; 1B-P Chris Cossette, sr.; 2B Jared Carvalho, sr.; 3B Grant Bennett, jr.; CF Shaun McFadden, sr.; RF Michael Gray, sr.

Other possible starters - SS Kyle Bowers, sr.; P Danny Fisher, jr.; IF Chris Zintel, sr.; OF J.T. Thomas, sr.; OF Elliot Cohn, sr.; OF T.C. Caponigro, sr.; OF Tate Donnelson, sr.; P Scott McMillan, sr.; P B.J. Ruedi, sr.; P Andy Shute, jr.

Outlook - Defending KingCo champs will be tough to dethrone. Eight varsity players return from last year, and the defense made just one error in its first four games this season. Iraola was beaten by Newport Saturday, but the left-hander is one of the league's best pitchers. The Indians lost their three other pitchers from last year, but if the new arms develop, look out. McFadden and Green were first-team All-KingCo last year. Gray and Carvalho were honorable mention. Indians made final eight in state last year. A return to the regional playoffs is possible.

JUANITA

Coach - Gary Groenen, 25th year.

1996 results - 12-6 league, 15-8 overall, T-1st in Crown Division, eliminated in Sea-King District tournament.

Returning starters - OF Derek Coffinger, sr.; OF Matt Elmer, sr.; OF Eric Garma, sr.; SS Tim Losk, sr.; 1B Tim Martin, sr.; 2B Greg Matthews, sr.

Other possible starters - C Chad Dias, sr.; 2B Chris Dill, sr.; P Brian Dowling, sr.; 1B Trevor Everitt, jr.; P Ryan Koenig, jr.; P Eric Lyon, jr.; 3B Mike McKay, jr.; P Joe Vandemark, jr.; P Ryan Nelson, so.; P-OF Jefferson Thiel, so.

Outlook - Rebels return six of eight starters in the field and should contend for Crown title. All six returning starters are seniors, giving the Rebels plenty of experience everywhere except on the mound. Outfield trio of Coffinger, Elmer and Garma is solid. Infield will be good as well, particularly right side combination of Matthews and Martin. Development of young pitchers is critical. All are up from the junior varsity, a first in Groenen's 25 years. But if they throw well, Rebels can advance to regional playoffs.

LAKE WASHINGTON

Coach - Dave Chambers, 16th year.

1996 results - 10-8 league, 11-9 overall, 5th in Crown Division.

Returning starters - P John Gillespe, sr.; P Jason Conover, sr.; P Christian Johnsen, sr.; 1B Mark McDaniel, sr.; 3B Joe Haller, sr.; SS Ryan Pizzuto, sr.; 2B Mike Birkland, sr.; CF Val Cummings, sr.

Other possible starters - OF Don Howarth, sr.; OF Colin Hoisington, sr.; C Phil Banta, sr.; P-DH Jay Schemst, sr.; OF Pete Bishop, jr.; P Joe Hoyer, sr.; IF Jason McCracken, jr.

Outlook - A perennial power, Kangaroos are the league favorites. Their pitching is deep and among the league's best. Gillespie, 5-2 last season, is one of league's dominant throwers and there are five returning starters in the field to support the pitchers. McDaniel and Pizzuto hit .372 and .367, respectively, last season and Birkland hit .333. They will lead the offense and help provide leadership on a senior-dominated team. If Kangs can score runs, they can advance to regionals.

MERCER ISLAND

Coach - Hank King, 1st year.

1996 results - 5-12 league, 6-13 overall, 4th in Crest Division.

Returning starters - 3B Will Daugs, sr.; 1B Bryan Brown, sr.; SS Diron Mobley, sr.; P Drew Engvall, sr.; P Scott Robertson, so.

Other possible starters - C Dan Ahlers, sr.; P Ian McElreath; C Lane McDougall.

Outlook - Islanders have given up a lot of runs in their slow start, despite the return of Engvall and Robertson on the mound. Mobley and Brown have moved from the Islanders' basketball backcourt to the baseball infield. They provide much of the pop in the team's offense. The Islanders lost seven one-run games last spring. They need their pitching and defense to improve if they are going to turn that around this season.

NEWPORT

Coach - Brian Fischer, 1st year.

1996 results - 12-5 league, 20-7 overall, 2nd in Crest Division, 4th in state tournament.

Returning starters - SS Marc Rittenhouse, sr.; P Taylor Grant, jr.; 3B Mike Haack, sr.; 2B Scott Moon, sr.; C Paul Snyder, jr.

Other possible starters - OF Mike Cooney, jr.; 1B Brian Wood, sr.; P Robert Knapp, sr.; OF Will Kilmer, jr.; P Todd Miller, jr.

Outlook - Longtime Coach Bob Albo is gone, taking with him into retirement a 302-111 record, seven KingCo titles and three state titles. But the Knights should contend for league honors again this season under first-year coach Brian Fischer. Five starters return from last year's team, led by All-KingCo selection Rittenhouse, who has signed for the University of Washington. Grant, who was 5-2 with a 3.59 ERA last season as a sophomore, leads a pitching staff that should keep Knights in most games. Haack, a second-team All-KingCo pick and Moon, an honorable-mention selection, join Rittenhouse on good defensive team that, if it hits, could make a return trip to the regionals.

REDMOND

Coach - Ray Cassidy, 6th year (first year back after three-year hiatus; compiled 90-25 record and two state titles, 1991 and 1993, in previous five-year stint.)

1996 results - 11-7 league, 14-10 overall, eliminated in Region III tournament.

Returning starters - SS Hans van der Hofen, jr.; 2B Kevin Harasimowicz, jr.; C Wes Falkenborg, jr.; 3B Jadon Lavik, sr.; P Brian Schmitt, sr.

Other possible starters - P Cotton Trauter, so.; P Mark McFadyen, so.; P Stephen Simpson, so.; Tom Larson; Will Cheney.

Outlook - Mustangs should be competitive in highly competitive Crown Division. The dominating pitching duo of Brian Falkenborg and Geoff Linville has moved on. In their place is Schmitt, a three-year letterman and three sophomores - Trauter, McFadyen and Simpson. The rest of the lineup is solid. Van der Hofen was second-team all-KingCo, Harasimowicz was first team and Falkenborg was honorable mention. If the pitching comes along, the Mustangs could return to the playoffs.

SAMMAMISH

Coach - Chris Thomas, 1st year.

1996 results - 3-14 league, 3-17 overall, 6th in Crest Division.

Returning starters - SS-DH Brian Grimm, jr.; CF Matt Goldsmith, sr.; P Doug Goldsmith, so.

Other possible starters - 1B Nick Salo, jr.; 2B-SS Kyle Iman, jr.; SS-2B John Hansen, sr.; 3B Luke Crowder, sr.; 3B Justin Hoover, so.; RF-P Karsen Keever, sr.; C Levi Redding, fr.; C Eric Grunberg, sr.

Outlook - Totems in building situation. Only three players with significant varsity experience are returning and they need to develop pitching depth beyond Keever, D. Goldsmith and Iman. Grimm and Matt Goldsmith are good players who provide the leadership, but they need help from young teammates. Totems haven't gained much experience yet this spring. They've had six games called off.

WOODINVILLE

Coach - Terry Agnew, 6th year.

1996 results - 12-6 league, 16-8 overall, T-1st in Crown Division, eliminated in Sea-King District Tournament.

Returning starters - 1B Brian Kertson, sr.; SS Marques Tuiasosopo, sr.; 3B Rodney Anderson, sr.; LF B.J. Detmer, sr.; P Justin Crivello, sr.

Other possible starters - C Kyle Krekow, sr.; 2B Barrett Hanson, sr.; CF Chris Bilmeier, so.; RF Jonathon Yasuda, so.; P Shawn Kohn, jr.; P Nick Bagadali, sr.; P Jason Snyder, so.

Outlook - Falcons are another of the good Crown Division teams that should contend for playoffs and possibly the league title. They return only one pitcher - Crivello, an honorable-mention all-KingCo selection - who started last year. How their new arms - Kohn, Bagadali and Snyder - develop is critical. Rest of the lineup returns four starters, including first-team All-KingCo choice Kertson, second-team choice Detmer and honorable-mention selection Tuiasosopo. Defense should be solid and Falcons are starting to hit the ball better. Success of sophomores Bilmeier, converted from the infield, and Yasuda also important to Falcons' chances.