2012 KingCo 3A Preview

KingCo 3A - Pre-Season Coaches Poll
1) Mount Si (5 first place votes) - 47 points
2) Mercer Island - 40 (1)
3) Lake Washington (1) - 37 (1)
4) Interlake - 32 (1)
5) Bellevue - 26
6) Liberty - 20
7) Juanita - 12
8) Sammamish - 10

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 last place.

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Team Capsules (listed alphabetically)
Bellevue Wolverines
Head Coach: Pete Wilkinson (1st year)
2011 Summary: 7-7 KingCo (T-3rd in KingCo), 10-11 overall, lost in first round on KingCo playoffs

Returning starters: Jack Carlson (Sr - 2B/OF), Connor Foreman (Sr - SS/P), Jack Meggs (Jr - OF/P), Jack Perkins (Sr - OF/P), Drew Quinlan (Sr - OF/P), Michael Raine (Sr - P/UTIL), Jake VanWolvelaere (Sr - P/1B)

Top newcomers: Mason Adams (Jr - 3B/P), Greg Bennett (OF/SS), Reid Hartmann (Jr - C), Chandler Hawk (Soph - IF), Trent Ishii (Sr - P), Beau Jack (Jr - 2B/LF), Robby Lundquist (Fr - C), Jack Moore (Jr - IF), Freddy Moss (Jr - OF/1B), Teddy Rou (Jr - 1B/P), Aaron Saathoff (Jr - C), Nolan Watson (Jr - 3B/P)

Season Outlook from Coach Wilkinson: We bring back 6 regulars from a team that competed for the top spot in the league for half the season in 2011. There is pitching depth and a very solid outfield. We must prove ourselves in the middle infield and at catcher, and we must be able to compete at the top end of the pitching staff if we’re to make a run at a Conference title. Team speed is good. Offensive production is the biggest question mark from 2011. The group is athletic, versatile, and hungry.

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Interlake Saints
Head Coach: Marc Linn (2nd year)
2011 Summary: 8-6 KingCo (3rd in KingCo 3A), 13-11 overall, lost to eventual State champion Burlington-Edison 3-2 in 9 innings at Regionals

Returning starters: Austin Strother (Jr - P/DH), Sam Finfer (Jr - C), Jake Wilson (Sr - OF), Carl Snaring (Sr - P/OF), Joey Button (Sr - OF)

Top newcomers: Henry Lin (Soph - P/IF), Nate Wehner (Soph - P), Jihad Mardini (Jr - OF), Jason Sass (Soph - P/IF)

Season Outlook from Coach Linn: Our health is going to be the Key. We are not a deep team but we do return several players from the team that advanced to the regional tournament a year ago. Our Pitching will be the strength of our team once again. Our offense must be able to generate more run support for our Pitchers this season to be successful. We are going to ask players to step into more of a leadership role this season since eight seniors graduated last year. The nice situation is players know the expectations this season compared to a year ago with a new coaching staff.

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Juanita Rebels
Head Coach: Sherman Leach (2nd year, 3-17 career record)
2011 Summary: 3-11 KingCo (Last in KingCo 3A), 3-17 overall

Returning starters: Conner Jackson (Sr - P/UTIL)

Other returners: Sean Brennan (Jr - P/OF), Avery Britton (Jr - OF/P), Taylor Dantini (Sr - OF/P), Ty Eng (Jr - P/OF)

Top newcomers: Daniel Atkins (Sr - C/OF), Brad Close (Soph - IF), Andy Cosgrove (Soph - C/IF), Matt Iverson (Sr - P), Kyler Kedroske (Soph - IF), John Robinson (Sr - IF/P), Conner Rusch (Jr - IF/P)

Season Outlook from Coach Leach: A nice core group of arms give optimism to the Juanita program this season. With only five seniors and three sophomores, it will be a young, but athletic group. The first week will be a strong indicator of what’s to come for the Rebels.

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Lake Washington Kangs
Head Coach: Derek Bingham (8th year, 106-57 career record)
2011 Summary: 8-5 KingCo (2nd in Crown division), 13-11 overall, lost in KingCo championship game, advanced to State tournament, lost to Hanford at Regionals

Returning starters: Theo Alexander (Sr - OF), Nick Johnson (Jr - P/IF), Zach Johnson (Sr - P/1B), Victor Mayorquin (Sr - OF), Steve Semler (Jr - C)

Other returners: Alac Wong (Jr - IF/OF)

Top newcomers: Ty Amundsen (Jr - 1B), Ben Ciuba (Sr - P), Shawn Gray (Jr - OF/P), Robert Hill (Jr - P/IF), Chase Keierleber (Jr - IF/C), Jordan LaFave (Soph - IF), Rasik Parikh (Jr - P/OF), Jeremy Parkhurst (Sr - IF), Jacob Reddinger (Sr - P)

Season Outlook from Coach Bingham: The Kangs enter 2012 looking to build of a strong finish to last season’s campaign. While we lost a good bit of talent to graduation last year, a solid core returns including five starters from a year ago. We will be talented but inexperienced on the mound, with Zach Johnson the only player on the roster to pitch any KingCo innings in 2011. A strong junior class along with the solid seniors that return have the Kangs setting their sights on competing for a KingCo championship and a return to the State tournament.

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Liberty Patriots
Head Coach: John Martin (1st year)
2011 Summary: 6-8 KingCo (5th in KingCo 3A), 9-10 overall, lost in the KingCo tournament

Returning players: Jack Brady (Sr - OF), Monte Korsmoe (Sr - P/C), Blake Reeve (Sr - P/IF), Izak Styskal (Sr - P/OF), Ben Wessel (Sr - P/1B/OF)

Top newcomers: Lorin Archibald (Soph - IF), Garrett Hughes (Jr - IF), Jalen Mano (Jr - OF), Luke Oman (Jr - C), Darren Peterson (1B), Nicholas Short (P/OF)

Season Outlook from Coach Martin: Hope to have decent pitching support. Will work hard to compete in the tough 3A KingCo league.

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Mercer Island
Head Coach: Cory Smith (3rd year, 31-17 career record)
2011 Summary: 7-7 KingCo (T-3rd in KingCo 3A), 13-10 overall, 3rd place in KingCo tournament

Returning starters: Max Dammeier (Sr - P/OF/1B), Nick Holstead (Sr - IF), Hunter Goldberg (Sr - P), Chris Lawler (Soph - IF/P), Cameron Ogard (Sr - C/DH), David Oppenheim (Sr - OF/P), Matt Orehek (Jr - IF), Phil Pugel (Sr - OF/P)

Other returners: Alex Himstead (Jr - P/1B), Isak Morris (Jr - P/OF)

Top newcomers: Nick Chandler (Jr - OF/P), Keegan Ogard (Soph - C), Steven Petrie (Jr - OF/P), Mack Schlamp (Jr - UTIL)

Season Outlook from Coach Smith: 10 players with some varsity experience returning to compete this year with some new talent for a deep roster. Pitching depth is very good this year and should help keep ball games close. We are excited about this group and hope to be in the hunt for a league title.

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Mount Si
Head Coach: Elliott Cribby (2nd year, 22-3 career record)
2011 Summary: 12-1 KingCo (KingCo 3A regular season champions), 22-3 overall, KingCo 3A Tournament Champions, 3A State Champions

Returning starters: Ryan Atkinson (Sr - IF), Daniel Besmer (Sr - OF), Justin Henak (Sr - UTIL), Reece Karalus (Sr - P/1B), Trevor Lane (Sr - P/1B/OF), Trevor Taylor (Sr - P/OF/3B)

Other returners: Brian Woolley (Jr - UTIL)

Top newcomers: Joe Boyce (Jr - P), Carson Breshears (Soph - IF), Gunnar Buhner (Jr - IF), Joey Cotto (Jr - OF), Connor Jensen (Jr - IF), Evan Johnson (Soph - C/OF), Connor Swift (Jr - P/OF), Ross Tassara (Sr - P/IF), Zach Usselman (Soph - C/P)

Season Outlook from Coach Cribby: The Wildcats look to repeat as KingCo 3A Champions and defend their 2011 3A State Championship. A trio of power arms on the mound in Seniors Reece Karalus, Trevor Lane, and Trevor Taylor have the ‘Cats poised for another run.

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Sammamish Totems
Head Coach: Pete Orgill (1st year)
2011 Summary: 4-10 KingCo (Xst in Crown division), 10-10 overall

Returning starters: Michael Colombi (Sr - SS/P), Joe Giachetti (Soph - P/IF), Ryan Hashimoto (Sr - P/OF), Paul Heywood (Sr - P/IF), Tyler Hormel (Sr - OF), Jacob West (Sr - P)

Other returners: Christian Davis (Sr - OF), Aaron Farnum (Sr - IF), Eric Nahn (Sr - P/OF), Joe Sullivan (Sr - C), Shing Varakitsomboon (Sr - OF)

Top newcomers: Tristan Cates (Soph - P/3B), Nick DeGallier (Fr - P/1B), Ben Friedman (Fr - C), Corey Scheppe (Sr - 1B)

Season Outlook from Coach Orgill: With mostly Seniors, the Totems are ready to compete this year for a spot in the post season. This team is full of hard workers and players who love playing the game and playing together. This year’s team will play hard and wants to win and with this group of seniors anything is possible.