TEAM CAPSULES
North Division
Cascade Bruins
Coach - Bob Smithson, 14th season.
Last season - 11-7 league, 12-9 overall.
Key returnees - CF Grady Sizemore, sr.; LF Scott Shaw, sr.; SS Aaron Smith, sr.; 2B Tyler Stevenson, sr.; C/DH Jeff Pugmire, jr.; RF Sean Patterson, sr.; P Bobby Leon; jr.
Outlook - Leadoff hitter Sizemore has speed and power. Smith also has a good bat. Offense and speed are strengths, as Bruins' early-season run totals attest. Pitching is major concern. Leon, the No. 1 starter, is out with a strained elbow. Smithson has used untested freshmen as starters. If pitching comes around, Bruins are playoff contenders.
Marysville-Pilchuck Tomahawks
Coach - Dave Repanich, eighth season.
Last season - 9-6, 12-8.
Key returnees - P/1B Mike Moser, sr.; C Mike Conyers, sr.; CF Jeff Carlson, sr.; SS Evan Williams, sr.; P Nick Verbon, so.
Impact newcomers - LF C.J. Freeman, so.
Outlook - Three solid starting pitchers, led by Moser (3-0) make Tomahawks playoff contenders. Hitting needs to be more consistent. M-P made lots of errors last season, so its goal is to improve on fundamentals. M-P has experience and leadership to challenge for North title.
Oak Harbor Wildcats
Coach - Jim Waller, 22nd season.
Last season - 4-14, 4-16.
Key returnees - OF Garrett Stone, sr.; C/OF Jay Hartman, sr.; OF Doug Cann, sr.; 1B Brett Waller, sr.; SS/P Justin Baeyen, sr.; 2B Matt Black, sr.; 3B/P B.J. McElroy, sr.; P Ryan Elvebak, sr.; P/IF David Walton, jr.; OF/C Billy Zabelka, jr.; OF Eric Collins, sr.; P/1B Tyson VanDam, jr.
Impact newcomers - OF Justin Thomson, sr.; IF Josh Linn.
Outlook - Entire starting lineup is back, but Coach Waller calls that both a strength and weakness. Experienced Wildcats hit .215 and had ERA of 8.19 last season. Improvement needed to earn more wins.
Sehome Mariners
Coach - Gary Hatch, 26th season.
Last season - 10-8, 17-9, fifth in state.
Key returnees - SS Jessy Twait, sr.; LF Jeff Emerick, sr.; 2B Jordan Summers, sr.; C Brandon Gottier, sr.; CF/P Zapper McGrath, sr.; P/OF Dane Renkent, sr.; P Brad Christie, sr.; P/3B Andrew Jones, jr.; 3B Ryan Gartner, sr.; OF/1B Josh McBride, jr.
Outlook - Nine players who started last season are back from playoff team, and Mariners have 12 seniors. Speed and defense are strengths. Power is a concern, but Sehome could win North title.
Snohomish Panthers
Coach - Kim Hammons, eighth season.
Last season - 14-4, 16-7 (WesCo champions).
Key returnees - 3B Lee Risden, sr.; P Mike Warmbrodt, jr.; P Tyler Piatz, jr.; Util. Shane Roberts, sr.; C Torre Olson, sr.; IF Josh Rosland, jr.
Outlook - Panthers are retooling after loss of key players to graduation. Pitching and defense are good; hitting must get better. Warmbrodt is regarded as one of league's top pitchers.
South Division
Edmonds-Woodway Warriors
Coach - Joe Webster, ninth season.
Last season - 15-9 overall.
Key returnees - 1B/OF Jamie McFarlane, sr.; CF Travis Pope, sr.; IF Jeff Bahl, jr.; IF Mark Hilde; jr.; OF/P Joey Kreitle, jr.; P Frank Coccia, jr.; OF Landon Hall, jr.
Impact newcomer - IF Chris Minakor, so.
Outlook - Young, inexperienced Warriors have good hitting and defense. Should be competitive in move to 4A.
Kamiak Knights
Coach - Steve Merkley, seventh season.
Last season - 14-6 overall.
Key returnees - SS Roman Santiago, sr.; RF Luke Himmelman, sr.; P Ryan Kanekeberg, sr.; P Toby Black, sr.; OF Adam Tomisser, sr.; DH Pat Loney, sr.
Impact newcomer - 3B/P Steven Griffith, fr.
Outlook - Knights are relatively inexperienced but very talented. Several players are multi-sport athletes, and Kanekeberg may be as good a pitcher as he is a football quarterback. Offense is off to a good start. Kamiak is favorite to win South.
Mariner Marauders
Coach - Jamie Sinning, first season.
Last season - 0-15, 0-19.
Key returnees - P Bryce Rindahl, sr.; 1B/DH Damian Holman, sr.; 3B Adam Mickleson, jr.; 2B Martin Metzdorf, jr.
Impact newcomers - CF Josh Numair, jr.; C Adam Sodoski, so.
Outlook - Key to Marauders' improvement is gaining confidence that they can win after move up to 4A. Hitting is of major concern for Sinning. Pitching, bench depth should be improved.
Mountlake Terrace Hawks
Coach - Andrew Watters, first season.
Last season - 6-12, 8-12.
Key returnees - P Kyle Nakata, sr.; P Mason Thompson, jr.; OF Joe Osborne, sr.; C Ryan Amos, jr.; 3B J.D. Russell, jr.; OF Chris Counts, jr.; SS Kris Kvarnberg; IF Sterling Gray, sr.; 2B John Weeks, sr.
Impact newcomers - IF Matt Holey, so.; P Andrew Wuepper, jr.; 1B Mike Miron, jr.
Outlook - Pitching and defense are in good shape, but young Hawks need to score more runs to support starting pitchers. Not much power in middle of lineup, but Terrace is improved and should contend for playoffs.
Shorecrest Scots
Coach - Brett Medalia, second season.
Last season - 7-11, 9-11.
Key returnees - SS/P Ed Regnier, sr.; P/OF Karl Drechsler, sr.; C Adam Wilson, sr.; OF/P Joe Antoncich, jr.; P Jess LaCasse, jr.
Impact newcomers - OF Maki Smith, so; 3B Garrett Flowers, so.; OF/LHP Derrick DuPree, fr.
Outlook - Scots have good pitching depth and experience, but are without two senior starters. Mental lapses have led to 0-5 start. Scots have lost three games they led. Medalia believes team's confidence will grow with first victory.
Shorewood Thunderbirds
Coach - Wyatt Tonkin, second season.
Last season - 15-3, 21-6 (WesCo 3A champions).
Key returnees - P/3B Donnie Gorman, sr.; 1B/DH Andrew Phelps, sr.; OF Peter Cougan, sr.; C Jeff Hobart, sr.; SS Sean Rybar, jr.; 2B/P Chris Todd, jr.; P Zack Kimball, jr.; OF Neil Junkin, jr.; OF Mike Hodges, jr.; OF/P Tyler Abbott, jr.
Impact newcomers - 1B/DH Zack Davis; jr.; P/IF Trent Kristjenson, so; P Joel Rezendes, so; OF Cole Smead, jr.; OF Jake O'Dell, jr.
Outlook - Thunderbirds move to 4A with most of last year's team intact. Should challenge Kamiak for South crown. Defense, hitting are strengths, Tonkin said, but pitching must be consistent until their ace, Kimball, returns from elbow tendinitis.