KingCo 3A- Pre-Season Coaches Poll
1) Mount Si (3 first place votes) – 36.5 points
2) Lake Washington (2) – 36.5 points
3) Mercer Island – 32.5 points
4) Bellevue – 31 points
5) Liberty – 23.5 points
6) Sammamish – 22.5 points
7) Juanita – 17 points
8) Interlake – 14 points
Coaches were asked to rank their division in order of projected finish, excluding their own teams. 7 points were awarded for 1st, 6 for second and so on down to 1 point for 7th. Three teams did not vote.
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Team Capsules (listed alphabetically)
Bellevue Wolverines
Head Coach: Jordan Nilsen (2nd year)
2010 Summary: 7-11 KingCo (5th), 9-15 overall, eliminated in KingCo playoffs
No information submitted from Bellevue.
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Interlake Saints
Head Coach: Marc Linn (1st year)
2010 Summary: 2-16 KingCo, 2-18 overall
No information submitted from Interlake.
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Juanita Rebels
Head Coach: Sherman Leach (1st year)
2010 Summary: 9-9 KingCo, 9-12 overall, eliminated in KingCo playoffs
No information submitted from Bellevue.
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Lake Washington Kangs
Head Coach: Derek Bingham (8th year, 93-46 career record)
2010 Summary: 7-9 KingCo 4A (T-4th Crown Division), 11-13 overall, eliminated in final round of KingCo 4A tourney
Returning starters: Theo Alexander (Jr – OF), Bob Cruikshank (Sr – SS/P), Spencer Jackson (Sr – P/IF), Zach Johnson (Jr – 1B/P), Kory Kohlwes (Sr – OF), Chris Moore (Sr – OF/P), Wesley Russell (Sr – IF/P)
Other returners: Victor Mayorquin (Jr – OF), Nori Shimizu (Sr – P/OF)
Top newcomers: Duke Fanning (Sr – P/IF), Nick Johnson (Soph – IF/P), Neil O’Connor (Sr – 1B/P), R.J. Rusch (Jr – C), Stevie Semler (Soph – C)
Season Outlook from Coach Bingham: LW is bringing back the majority of last year’s young team which peaked with a deep run in the KingCo 4A playoffs. The strengths of our team this year will be depth and senior leadership. With solid seasons from the returners, contributions from the newcomers and a little luck, the Kangs could be in the mix for a potential KingCo title run.
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Liberty Patriots
Head Coach: Steve Darnell (3rd year, 34-11 career record)
2010 Summary: 14-4 KingCo (T-1st), 14-6 overall, eliminated in KingCo playoffs
Returning starters: Ryan Maio (Sr – P/3B/OF)
Other returners: Jacob Hofferber (Sr – P/1B), Jason Hubbard (Sr – SS), Ben Wessel (Jr – P/1B), Scott Zerda (Sr – OF)
Top newcomers: Mitch Askins (Sr – OF), Jack Brady (Jr – OF), Harrison Diemert (Sr – C), Blake Reeve (Jr – P/3B), Izak Styskal (Jr – OF/P), Chris Weik (Sr – 2B)
Season Outlook from Coach Darnell: Liberty graduated 13 seniors from the 2010 team, so 2011 presents opportunities for our returning varsity and last year’s junior varsity players. Ryan Maio, Jacob Hofferber, Blake Reeve and Harrison Diemert will be called upon to provide critical leadership. Competitiveness and sacrifice are hallmarks of any successful team and this year’s Patriots have a unique competitive spirit that enables them to make sacrifices for the good of the team. These attributes will serve them well in the KingCo 3A/2A League where many teams will be battling it out to make the playoffs and earn one of the state playoff berths.
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Mercer Island Islanders
Head Coach: Cory Smith (2nd year, 18-7 career record)
2010 Summary: 14-4 KingCo (T-1st), 18-7 overall, KingCo tournament champions, eliminated in State quarterfinals
Returning starters: Max Dammeier (Jr – P/1B), Ben Emanuels (Sr – UTIL), George Jiranek (Sr – P/OF), Cameron Ogard (Jr – C/DH), David Oppenheim (Jr – OF), Jordan Richartz (Sr – OF), Evan Thompson (Sr – IF)
Other returners: Connor Perryman (Sr – OF/P), Derek Eng (Sr – 1B/P)
Top newcomers: Hunter Goldberg (Jr – P/IF), Brian Higgins (Soph – C/OF), Nick Holstead (Jr – IF), Isak Morris (Soph – P/OF), Phil Pugel (Jr – P/OF)
Season Outlook from Coach Smith: With 7 returning starters, including two proven starting pitchers, the Islanders should challenge for the KingCo titie and advance to the State Playoffs for the second straight year.
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Mount Si Wildcats
Head Coach: Elliott Cribby (1st year)
2010 Summary: 14-4 KingCo (T-1st), 17-6 overall, eliminated in KingCo playoffs
Returning starters: Max Brown (Sr – OF), Dustin Breshears (Sr – 2B), Shane Dixon (Sr – 3B), Reece Karalus (Jr – P/UTIL), Robb Lane (Sr – C), Trevor Lane (Jr – P/UTIL), Tim Proudfoot (Sr – SS)
Other returners: Ryan Atkinson (Jr – IF), Travis Hilleary (Sr – P), Trevor Taylor (Jr – P/UTIL)
Top newcomers: Daniel Besmer (Jr – OF), Justin Blenheim (Sr – OF/P), Andrew Dunklee (Sr – P), Justin Henak (Jr – IF/P), Hudson Luxich (Sr – P), Griffin McClain (Soph – P), Nate Sinner (Sr – OF), Zach Stevens (Sr – UTIL), Derek Welsh (Sr – P)
Season Outlook from Coach Cribby: Team returns 12 seniors. It builds off a KingCo 3A League title from 2010. With a new coaching change the team looks to continue its winning ways.
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Sammamish Totems
Head Coach: Tim Ahern (3rd year, 15-35 career record)
2010 Summary: 3-15 KingCo (6th), 6-19 overall, KingCo tournament runner-up, eliminated in district play-in game by 3A State champion O’Dea.
Returning starters: Navdeep Gill (Sr – UTIL), Ryan Hashimoto (Jr – P/OF), Paul Heywood (Jr – P/IF), Aaron Lawrenson (Sr – IF), Chris Strain (Sr – 1B), Craig Sweet (Sr – C)
Top newcomers: Michael Colombi (Jr – SS), Joe Giacchetti (Fr – P/IF), Tyler Hormel (Jr – OF), Eric Nhan (Jr – OF), Jacob West (Jr – P)
Season Outlook from Coach Ahern: SHS baseball looking to build off last years strong finish. Returning majority of the lineup from a season ago, most complete program top to bottom seen in Ahern’s 3 years at SHS.
