Week 2 KingCo Awards

KingCo 4A Baseball - Players of the Week
Week 2: March 29 - April 3, 2010

Crest Division
Player of the Week: Michael Conforto, Jr., Redmond
Michael Conforto, a junior infielder for the Mustangs, is the winner of the Crest Division Player of the Week for week 2 of KingCo play. The second-team All-KingCo performer as a sophomore in 2009, Conforto homered twice and drove in 4 runs in Redmond's perfect week. He finished the three game set 4-for-8 with 4 runs scored.

Also nominated: None

Pitcher of the Week: Zach Abbruzza, Jr., Redmond
In a week with many impressive pitching performances, Redmond junior Zach Abbruzza takes home the pitching award for the Crest Division in week 2. Facing an Issaquah lineup that was averaging 11.8 runs per game in 4 KingCo contests, Abbruzza was in control from start to finish, allowing just 1 hit and 2 walks in five shutout innings. Not one Eagle runner made it past second base, and the junior right-hander struck out five in the process. The shutout completed a week where Redmond did not allow a single run, outscoring their three opponents, 20-0.

Also nominated: Dylan Davis, Redmond; Jared Fisher, Newport; Cole Wiper, Newport

Crown Division
Player of the Week: Peter Meuisi, Jr., Inglemoor
Continuing the trend of junior award winners is Peter Meuisi, Inglemoor's third baseman, who is the Crown Division player of the week for week 2. Meuisi had an incredible week for the Vikings, finishing the three games 6-for-8 with a double, triple, grand slam and 7 RBI. His grand slam came in a six-run first inning of Inglemoor's 10-7 win over Lake Washington, which completed their sweep of the Crown Division.

Also nominated: Marc Dickerson, Inglemoor; Brian McAfee, Bothell

Pitcher of the Week: Dustin Doucette, Jr., Inglemoor
Inglemoor junior right-hander Dustin Doucette is the fourth and final award winner, taking home Crown Pitcher of the Week honors in week 2. Doucette was dominant in two relief efforts, picking up a win and a save in 5 innings of work. The junior allowed just 3 hits and a run while striking out 9 batters, including eight consecutive punchouts in Inglemoor's 10-7 win over LW on Friday night. Doucette was also nominated last week, and is off to a great start out of the Viking bullpen.

Also nominated: Charlie Beaudoin, Roosevelt

Weekend Results (4/2 - 4/3)

The rain and windy conditions on Friday carried into the weekend, with 4 of the 6 games getting played either Friday or Saturday...

Crest Division

• Redmond 11, Issaquah 0 - Junior Zach Abbruzza was a one-man wrecking crew, 1-hitting the Eagles in 5 scoreless innings in addition to homering and driving in 5 as Redmond pounded Issaquah, 11-0. Fellow juniors Michael Conforto (2-for-2, HR) and Dylan Davis (3-for-3, double) helped pace the Mustangs' 13-hit attack. Abbruzza's performance on the mound was particularly impressive considering the Eagles' potent offense, which came into the game averaging nearly 12 runs per game in KingCo play. The shutout completed a scoreless week for Redmond's pitching staff, as the 'Stangs outscored their opponents 20-0 in a perfect 3-0 week.
• Newport 12, Eastlake 0 - Junior Cole Wiper tossed a 5-inning no-hitter, walking 3 and striking out 4 in a 12-0 win over Eastlake. Wiper needed just 69 pitches in the complete game, helping the Knights complete a clean sweep of the Crest Division. Jared Fisher was 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI as Newport put the game away with an 8-run third inning. The loss dropped the Wolves to 1-4.

Crown Division

• Inglemoor 10, Lake Washington 7 - Junior third baseman Peter Meuisi hit a grand slam in a 6-run first inning as the Vikings improved to 5-0 in KingCo play with a 10-7 win over the Kangs on a cold, breezy night at Valhalla. Inglemoor jumped out to a 9-0 lead on LW, and held off a late rally for the victory. Dustin Doucette worked three innings in relief of Spencer Trautmann to pick up the win, at one point striking out 8 straight Lake Washington batters. Junior Spencer Jackson was 2-for-3 with a triple and 3 RBI and sophomore Theo Alexander added two hits for the Kangs, who lost their third straight to drop to 2-3 in league.
• Bothell 9, Roosevelt 1 - Bothell once again used the long ball to their advantage, slugging three home runs in a 9-1 win over Roosevelt on Saturday. Brian McAfee, Ryan Morgan and Gene Watson all homered and drove in 2 runs, as the Cougars picked up their fourth straight win after a season-opening extra-inning loss to Inglemoor. McAfee also picked up the win on the mound, striking out 6 batters over 6 strong innings of work. Senior shortstop Andrew Johnson homered for the Roughriders lone run of the game.

Two games from last week remain unplayed, with Woodinville-Ballard and Skyline-Garfield scheduled for Monday afternoon.

Wednesday (3/31) Review

Wednesday featured a full slate of games free of weather concerns, with the exception of a late-night lightning storm in Woodinville. Two unbeatens remain with just one divisional game left before next week's crossover games...

Crest Division

• Newport 12, Issaquah 4 - A 7-run seventh inning for the Knights broke open a tight game as Newport topped Issaquah 12-4 in a battle of Crest Division unbeatens. Sophomores Billy Sahlinger and Nate Anderson starred offensively, combining to go 5-for-8 with three doubles and 6 RBI. Senior Joey Gale picked up the win in relief of Jeff Gonzales, entering the game in the 5th and keeping the Eagles scoreless in the final two frames. Issaquah had their chances, pounding out 13 hits, with Spencer Rogers and Devin O'Donnell chipping in with 3 each.
• Redmond 4, Skyline 0 - Colin O'Brochta, T.J. Whidby and Matt Kimmel combined on a three-hit shutout as the Mustangs extended their scoreless streak on the mound to 14 innings in a 4-0 win over the Spartans. Junior Zach Abbruzza drove in two runs and Ryan Beliel was 2-for-3 with an RBI for Redmond, who won their third straight game. Connor Lawhead pitched well in defeat, allowing 4 runs (1 earned) and 8 hits in 6 2/3 innings of work for Skyline.
• Eastlake 9, Garfield 3 - Sam Nasci was 4-for-5 with a double, home run and 4 RBI to lead the Wolves to their first KingCo win of the season, 9-3 over Garfield. The game was tied 3-3 headed into the top of the sixth before Eastlake took command, scoring three times in both the sixth and seventh innings. Joe Shaffer was the winning pitcher, allowing 2 earned on 4 hits in six solid innings. John Trupin doubled in the Garfield loss, which left them as the only winless team in the Crest division.

Crown Division

• Woodinville 8, LW 4 - In a game delayed nearly an hour by lightning, sophomore Spencer Greer provided a spark of his own, breaking up a tie game with a solo home run in the sixth inning to push the Falcons past Lake Washington, 8-4. Greer was also the winning pitcher, tossing the final three innings in relief of Falcons senior Luke Taylor. Junior Alex Donnelly carried the offensive load for the Kangs, going 2-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBI. Jake Dammrose was 2-for-3 with two triples and three runs scored for Woodinville, who pulled into a 3rd place tie with LW at 2-2.
• Bothell 17, Ballard 8 - In a game with a lot of fireworks, the Cougars used a 16-hit attack and overcame 5 errors to defeat Ballard, 17-8. Bothell scored in every inning but the sixth, and was led by junior Brian McAfee (5-for-5, double), junior Jon Mercer (3-for-5, 4 RBI) and senior Jason Smith (double, 2 RBI). The Beavers had 11 hits of their own, led by three a piece by Brenden Foor and Colin Johnson.
• Inglemoor 12, Roosevelt 2 - Senior Marc Dickerson's grand slam capped a 7-run third inning as the Vikings stayed perfect with a 12-2 win over Roosevelt. Scott Meyers, Garrett Vandiver and Blake Wilson each had two hits for Inglemoor, who will look to sweep the Crown Division on Friday night when they play host to Lake Washington. Emmett Maki was strong over four innings to pick up his first KingCo win.

Tuesday (3/30) Recaps

Four unbeaten teams entered play on Tuesday, which was a make-up day from Monday's rainouts. Three of the teams remained perfect, while one was tripped up at home...

Crest Division

• Issaquah 12, Skyline 2 - The Eagles continued their offensive onslaught on the KingCo 4A conference, plating another 12 runs en route to a 5-inning 12-2 win over Skyline. Issaquah has now scored 16, 15 and 12 runs in their three league games (3-0), averaging 14.3 runs per contest, while allowing just under 3 per game. Marcus Gaan was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and Devin O'Donnell was 2-for-2 to pace an 11-hit attack. Reigning Crest Division player of the week Shane Yarnell improved to 2-0 in KingCo play, allowing just 5 hits and a run in a complete game performance. Nate Litka had two hits and a run batted in for the Spartans, who dropped to 1-2.
• Newport 9, Garfield 3 - Junior righthander Jared Fisher dominated the Bulldogs for five innings, allowing just 3 hits and a walk while striking out 9 as the Knights cruised to 3-0 with a 9-3 win over Garfield. Newport used a balanced offensive attack, with Victor King (4-for-4, RBI), Dan Spray (3-for-4, 2 RBI) and Trace Tam Sing (2-for-4, 2B) leading the charge. The Bulldogs were led by senior Joe Lucia, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI. The win sets up a battle of unbeatens this afternoon at Issaquah HS between the Knights and Eagles at 3:45 pm.
• Redmond 5, Eastlake 0 - Junior righty Dylan Davis shutout the Wolves over 6 innings and fellow junior Michael Conforto hit a three-run home run in a 4-run Mustang third as Redmond won their second straight, 5-0 over Eastlake. Davis allowed just 1 hit and two walks, punching out 8 Eastlake hitters. Ryan Beliel was 2-for-2 with a double and Matt Kimmel added a triple in the Mustang victory. The loss dropped Eastlake to 0-3 on the young season.

Crown Division

• Bothell 7, LW 2 - Michael Marriott and Brian McAfee each homered and Evan Hudson allowed 2 runs over 5 solid innings as the Cougars handed LW their first conference loss, 7-2 on Tuesday. The Kangs had their chances against Hudson, leaving the bases loaded in the second and fourth innings. Hudson finished the evening allowing 3 hits and 6 walks while striking out 6. Marriott had a career day for the Cougars, finishing up 3-for-4 with a double, home run, 3 runs scored and 2 RBI. For Lake Washington, senior Colin Tremblay was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Week 1 pitcher of the week Trevor Dunlap took the loss, allowing 6 earned in 5 innings of work.
• Inglemoor 4, Woodinville 3 - The Vikings stayed perfect on the season, jumping out with 3 runs in the third and holding on for a 4-3 win over the Falcons. Obi Taylor picked up his second win in as many starts, scattering eight hits and 3 runs through 5 before giving way to Inglemoor closer Dustin Doucette. Spencer Brueske took the loss for Woodinville, who was led offensively by junior Sean Sellers (2-for-4, 2 RBI). Peter Meiusi (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Ethan Yeo (2-for-3) were the offensive stars for the 3-0 Viks.
• Ballard 5, Roosevelt 3 - Junior Brenden Foor's three-run home run in the top of the 7th inning brought the Beavers back from a 3-2 deficit and pushed them past Roosevelt, 5-3. Ballard had trailed 3-0 but clawed their way back with single runs in the fourth and fifth inning, setting the stage foe Foor's heroics. Senior Charlie Beaudoin was the winning pitcher, while freshman Rory Graf-Brennan was 3-for-3 with a double and 2 runs scored. Junior Reid Martinez homered in a losing cause for Roosevelt.

Monday Washout

All of Monday's games were rained out. Schedule for Tuesday, 3/30 is as follows:

• Garfield (0-2) @ Newport (2-0), 4:00 pm - Newport HS
• Skyline (1-1) @ Issaquah (2-0), 4:00 pm - Issaquah HS
• Woodinville (1-1) @ Inglemoor (2-0), 4:00 pm - Inglemoor HS
• Bothell (1-1) @ LW (2-0), 5:00 pm - Lee Johnson
• Eastlake (0-2) @ Redmond (1-1), 7:00 pm - Hartman Park

No word on a reschedule for Ballard - Roosevelt...

Week 1 KingCo Awards

KingCo 4A Baseball - Players of the Week
Week 1: March 21 - 26, 2010

Crest Division
Player of the Week: Shane Yarnell, Sr., Issaquah
Shane Yarnell, a senior pitcher/first baseman for the Eagles, wins the first player of the week award for the Crest Division in 2010. Yarnell was retired just once in 9 plate appearances, going 5-for-6 with a double, triple, home run and 8 RBI. He also walked three times and scored two runs in Issaquah's wins over Garfield and Eastlake.

Also nominated: Spencer Rogers, Issaquah; Trace Tam Sing, Newport; Sean Penberthy, Skyline

Pitcher of the Week: Jeff Gonzales, Sr., Newport
Newport's senior righthander Jeff Gonzales wins the week 1 pitcher of the week award for an oustanding performance in the Knights' KingCo opening 4-1 win over Redmond on Tuesday. Gonzales picked up the win, allowing just 1 earned run on 4 hits over 5 2/3 innings of work. The senior struck out 8 Mustangs against just two walks.

Also nominated: None

Crown Division
Player of the Week: Zach Naon, Soph., Roosevelt
The only underclassmen to win an award in week 1, Roosevelt sophomore Zach Naon gets player of the week honors for the Crown Division. The Roughrider outfielder finished the week hitting .571, going 4-for-7 with a double, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored for the week. In Roosevelt's 12-11 extra inning loss to Woodinville, Naon was 4-for-5 with a double and 2 RBI.

Also nominated: None

Pitcher of the Week: Trevor Dunlap, Sr., Lake Washington
In shutting out Ballard on opening day, LW's senior righthander Trevor Dunlap earns the Crown Division pitcher of the week for week 1. Dunlap picked up where he left off in 2010, when he allowed just 1 earned run in 10 KingCo innings working out of the Kangs bullpen. The senior allowed just 2 hits and a walk in an 86-pitch complete game shutout. Only one Beaver reached second base, and four were punched out along the way.

Also nominated: Jordan Kynaston, Bothell; Dustin Doucette, Inglemoor; Wesley Russell, LW

Friday/Saturday Recaps

Rain led to two of Thursday's games being played on Friday and two more on Saturday...

• Redmond 7, Garfield 5 - Despite being outhit 11-8, the Mustangs squeaked out a 7-5 win over Garfield on Friday. Josh Bircher was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored and 3 stolen bases, and junior T.J. Whidby worked three scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win. Jack Jajewksi and John Trupin had three hits each for the Bulldogs in a losing effort.
• Newport 5, Skyline 3 - Junior Cole Wiper struck out 5 Spartans in 5 scoreless innings and Newport broke a scoreless tie with a 3-run sixth inning as the Knights moved to 2-0 with a 5-3 win over Skyline. Senior shortstop Trace Tam Sing was 2-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI to pace the Newport offense. The Knights won despite committing 5 errors in the field. Anthony De Matteo was 3-for-4 with an RBI for Skyline, who dropped to 1-1 with the loss.
• Issaquah 15, Eastlake 4 - Spencer Rogers struck out 8 in six innings and was 4-for-5 with a double and 3 RBI as the Eagles completed a perfect week with a 15-4 win over the Wolves. Shane Yarnell chipped in three hits and 3 RBI, pacing the 17-hit Issaquah attack. The Eagles finished the week outscoring their opponents 31-6.
• Lake Washington 5, Roosevelt 2 - Three Kang pitchers combined on a one-hitter as LW improved to 2-0 with a 5-2 win over Roosevelt. Junior Wesley Russell allowed just one hit and 2 unearned runs while striking out 6 over five innings of work to pick up the win. Junior Bob Cruikshank was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and also struck out the side in the seventh to earn his first save. The Kangs finished the week with a 0.00 ERA, allowing just 3 hits in 14 innings and punching out 13 hitters.

Week 2 is the first three game week for the conference, with a full slate of games scheduled for Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Thursday (3/26) Results

Two of the six scheduled games were played on Thursday, with the other four being postponed due to rain.

• Inglemoor 11, Ballard 1 - Mitchell Gonsolus and Peter Meiusi homered in a seven-run fifth inning as Inglemoor cruised to an 11-1 win over the Beavers. Meiusi finished the day 2-for-3 with the home run, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI. Junior right hander Obi Taylor picked up the win, tossing four shutout innings allowing 4 hits and a walk while striking out 2.
• Bothell 8, Woodinville 6 - The Cougars scored runs in each of the first four innings and hung on late for an 8-2 win over Woodinville. Jordan Kynaston allowed two runs and struck out five in four innings of work to pick up the win for Bothell. The Cougars were led offensively by Michael Marriott (1-for-3, 2 RBI), Kevin McShane (2-for-4, RBI) and Dain Gilbert (3 RBI). Matt Stefansson doubled and drove in two and Dan McMillan homered for the Falcons, who dropped to 1-1 with the loss.

Three of the four games that were postponed are scheduled for today:

• Newport (1-0) @ Skyline (1-0), 3:45 pm - Skyline HS
• Issaquah (1-0) @ Eastlake (0-1), 3:45 pm - Eastlake HS
• Garfield (0-1) @ Redmond (0-1), 6:00 pm - Hartman Park

The Roosevelt - Lake Washington game is scheduled for Saturday at 7:00 pm at Lee Johnson Field.

Rain Threatens Thursday Slate

In what should come as no surprise to Washington baseball fans, rain is threatening Thursday's KingCo 4A schedule. At the time of this post, three games have officially been postponed due to rain:

Issaquah @ Eastlake, ppd. - rescheduled for Friday @ 3:45
Newport @ Skyline, ppd. - rescheduled for Friday @ 3:45
Roosevelt @ LW, ppd. - reschedule TBD

At this point, the following games are still on as scheduled:

Inglemoor @ Ballard, 3:45 pm
Woodinville @ Bothell, 3:45 pm
Garfield @ Redmond, 7:00 pm

(Aren't turf fields great?)

Opening Day (3/23) Results

Opening day featured a couple blowouts in the Crest Division, with three games that came down to the wire in the Crown Division...

Crest Division

• Newport 4, Redmond 1 - Senior right hander Jeff Gonzales allowed just one run on 4 hits in 5 1/3 innings of work against an impressive Redmond lineup as the Knights won their KingCo opener, 4-1 over the Mustangs. Gonzales struck out 8 before giving way to junior Jared Fisher, who allowed just a hit in picking up a 5-out save. Trace Tam Sing was 2-for-3 and Dan Spray was 1-for-2 with an RBI for Newport, who gave junior Dylan Davis his first career loss (7-0 in 2009). Junior Michael Conforto homered in a losing cause for Redmond.
• Issaquah 16, Garfield 2 - Senior Shane Yarnell starred at the plate and on the mound in the Eagles resounding 16-2 win over the Bulldogs on Tuesday. Yarnell was 2-for-2 with a triple, home run and 5 RBI, and also pitched a 5-inning complete game, scattering 7 hits and 2 runs while striking out 8. Junior Ben Rosellini was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run to help pace Issaquah's 17-hit attack. Senior Frank Pavia homered for Garfield, who found themselves down 9-0 after just an inning and a half.
• Skyline 12, Eastlake 2 - Senior Sean Penberthy starred for the Spartans, going 4-for-4 with a double, home run, 3 runs scored and 4 RBI as the Spartans scored in every inning, routing the Wolves, 12-2. Junior Nate Litka was 3-for-3 with a triple and 5 RBI and senior Anthony DeMatteo added 3 hits and 3 runs scored in the Skyline victory. Jim Carnes worked three innings for the win, allowing all four Eastlake hits while striking out 3.

Crown Division

• Inglemoor 4, Bothell 3 (8 inn.) - In an exciting game between two bitter rivals, Ethan Yeo's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth scored senior Craig Jacobson with the game-winner, as Inglemoor topped the Cougars 4-3. Junior Dustin Doucette was dominant in relief of starter Spencer Trautman, allowing a single hit while striking out eight in his four innings of work to pick up the win. Evan Hudson was impressive through 4 innings for Bothell, allowing just 2 hits and a run before giving way to the Cougar bullpen. Yeo drove in two runs and Marc Dickerson was 2-for-4 in the Viking win.
• Lake Washington 2, Ballard 0 - A pitcher's duel went the way of the Kangs as senior Trevor Dunlap outdueled fellow senior Charlie Beaudoin in a 2-0 Lake Washington win. Dunlap went the distance on just 86 pitches, allowing 2 hits and a walk while striking out 3. Beaudoin allowed just 1 run in his six innings of work, walking in the game-winning run in the top of the 5th inning. Seniors Colin Tremblay and John Shimabukuro drove in the lone runs of the game. Oliver Guarino doubled in a losing cause for the Beavers.
• Woodinville 12, Roosevelt 11 (8 inn.) - A wild affair featuring 23 runs and 21 hits took extra frames to decide, as a walk-off single by sophomore Spencer Greer in the bottom of the eighth gave the Falcons a 12-11 win over Roosevelt. Both teams got on the board early and often, with Woodinville taking a 10-5 lead after just two innings. The Roughriders fought back with 4 runs in the fifth and 2 in the sixth to take an 11-10 lead. They could not hold on however, as Woodinville tied the game on a passed ball in the 7th and won it in the 8th. Greer picked up the win in relief in his KingCo debut, while senior outfielder Jake Dammrose had was 3-for-4 with two doubles. Senior Matt Stefansson and junior Sean Sellers added two hits a piece for the Falcons. Senior Spencer Stevenson was 2-for-2 with 3 RBI to lead the Roosevelt attack.

KingCo 4A Opening Day!

It's Opening Day for the KingCo 4A conference! Today's schedule is as follows:

• Bothell @ Inglemoor, 7:00 pm
• Lake Washington @ Ballard, 3:45 pm
• Roosevelt @ Woodinville, 7:00 pm
• Redmond @ Newport, 4:00 pm
• Eastlake @ Skyline, 3:45 pm
• Issaquah @ Garfield, 3:45 pm

Crest Division Preview

Eastlake Wolves
Head Coach: Skip Hulet (2nd year at Eastlake, 36-47 career record)
2009 Summary: 5-11 KingCo (5th in Crest), 9-11 overall
Returning starters: Alex Boyce (Sr. - OF), Matt Dusche (Sr. - OF), Quinn Hawksworth (Sr. - 3B), Kyle Henselman (Sr. - DH), Nick Hooper (Sr. - P), Kelby McCorkle (Sr. - OF), Andrew Mitchell (Sr. - 2B)
Other returners: Joseph Johnson III (Sr. - P/C), Sam Nasci (Sr. - 1B), Michael Parrott (Sr. - IF), Joe Shaffer (Sr. - P)
Top newcomers: Andrew Carey (Jr. - C/OF), Alex Dean (Jr. - P), Casey Fithian (Soph. - C), Connor Hanson (Jr. - SS), Ethan Potter (Jr. - P/OF), Andrew Stull (Soph. - P/3B)

Season outlook: The Wolves must pitch well and defend to win.


Garfield Bulldogs
Head Coach: Joe Lucia (3rd year)
2009 Summary: 3-13 KingCo (last in Crest), 4-16 overall
Returning starters: Jack Jajewski (Sr. - SS), Joseph Lucia (Sr. - C/2B/OF), Rubin Palmer (Jr. - OF), Peter Summerville (Sr. - C/1B/3B)
Other returners: Sean Foster (Sr. - P), Max Savery (Jr. - 3B), Kyle Snow (Sr. - P/OF), John Trupin (Soph. - P/1B), Ian Zapolski (Jr. - P/2B)
Top newcomers: Vince DaVille (Sr. - DH), Hank Droege (Soph. - P/IF), Hayes Gorecki (Fr. - P/IF/OF), Liam McFeely (Soph. - 2B), Frank Pavia (Sr. - P/3B)

Season outlook: The Bulldogs have more talent in 2010 than they've had in the past four years. That combined with a strong coaching staff and improved practice facilities has Garfield thinking playoffs.


Issaquah Eagles
Head Coach: Rob Reese(17th year, 281-117 career record)
2009 Summary: 8-8 KingCo (4th in Crest), 14-12 overall, T-5th in State
Returning starters: Marcus Gaan (Sr. - 3B), Grant Gellatly (Sr. - SS), Ethan Kalin (Soph. - P), Devin O'Donnell (Sr. - C), Mike Paulson (Sr. - 1B/P), Spencer Rogers (Sr. - OF/P), Gavin Schumaker (Jr. - 2B), Shane Yarnell (Sr. - P/1B)
Other returners: Pete Balzarini (Sr. - C/OF), Matt Houser (Sr. - P)
Top newcomers: Jake Bakamus (Soph. - OF), Kyle Bondo (Sr. - 2B/OF), Adam Dondoyano (Jr. - 2B), Hunter Healey (Sr. - OF), Blake Miller (Soph. - OF), Connor Petrie (Sr. - P), Tyler Propst (Sr. - P), Ben Rosellini (Jr. - OF), Connor Young (Sr. - OF/P)

Season outlook: Issaquah returns 5 pitchers, including all 3 starters from a State qualifier in 2009. Additionally, 6 of 8 position players return, along with senior Grant Gellatly, who returns after missing his entire junior year to injury. Good nucleus of returners, but will need to replace the offense provided by the 1, 2 and 4 hitters of last year's lineup, who were all lost to graduation.


Newport Knights
Head Coach: Hal DeBerry (1st year)
2009 Summary: 9-7 KingCo (third in Crest), 16-9 overall, KingCo runner-up, 4th place State finish
Returning starters: Daniel Altchech (Jr. - C), Nick Clifford (Jr. - 1B), Jared Fisher (Jr. - P/1B), Victor King (Sr. - OF), Billy Sahlinger (Soph. - 2B), Trace Tam Sing (Sr. - SS), Cole Wiper (Jr. - P/UTIL)
Other returners: Jeff Gonzales (Sr. - P), Erik Jensen (Jr. - P)
Top newcomers: Nate Anderson (Soph. - OF), Reid Dilley (Sr. - 3B), Joey Gale (Sr. - P), Kevin Martin (Jr. - OF), Dan Spray (Jr. - IF), Lee Stoops (Jr. - C)

Season outlook: The 2010 Knights return 10 letterman from their 4th place finish at State in '09. First year skipper Hal DeBerry takes over for Brian Fischer. The strength of the 2010 team will be the overall depth of the pitching staff. Jared Fisher, Cole Wiper, Jeff Gonzales and Erik Jensen all saw Varsity action last season. Newcomers Joey Gale and Billy Sahlinger round out the staff. Offensively, the team will be led by veterans Victor King and Washington State signee Trace Tam Sing. Defensively, Newport should be fairly solid up the middle, with returning starters Tam Sing and Sahlinger joined by catcher Daniel Altchech and new center fielder Nate Anderson.


Redmond Mustangs
Head Coach: Dan Pudwill (6th year, 85-31 career record)
2009 Summary: 14-2 KingCo (Crest division champs), 18-5 overall
Returning starters: Zach Abbruzza (Jr. - P/IF), Ryan Beliel (Sr. - P/C), Josh Bircher (Sr. - IF), Michael Conforto (Jr. - IF), Dylan Davis (Jr. - P/OF), Matthew Kimmel (Sr. - P/OF)
Other returners: Chad Hui-Peterson (Sr. - IF), Colin O'Brochta (Sr. - P/OF), T.J. Whidby (Jr. - P/IF)
Top newcomers: Peter Hendron (Soph. - P/OF)

Season outlook: Redmond returns nine players from last year's Crest division championship team, and will look to build on that success. The hope is the Mustangs can take the next step and find themselves fighting their way out of KingCo and into the 4A State tournament.


Skyline Spartans
Head Coach: Chris Tamminen (7th year)
2009 Summary: 11-5 KingCo (2nd in Crest)
Returning starters: Sean Penberthy (Sr. - OF)
Top newcomers: Dave Brown (Jr. - C), Aaron Caditz (Sr. - IF), Jim Carnes (Sr. - P), Connor Gilchrist (Soph. - OF), Connor Lawhead (Sr. - P), Nate Litka (Jr. - IF), Tyler Neudoefer (Jr. - IF), Jayce Nelson (Sr. - P), Jim Sanatro (Soph. - IF), Mike Smith (Sr. - OF)

Season outlook: The Spartans return just one starter from last year's team and hope the new guys can step up and compete at a high level.

Crown Division Preview

Ballard Beavers
Head Coach: John Lamm (2nd year, 4-16 career record)
2009 Summary: 4-12 KingCo (5th in Crown), 4-16 overall
Returning starters: Charlie Beaudoin (Sr. - P/1B/OF), Kyler Korsmo (Sr. - DH), Steven Weber (Soph. - 1B)
Other returners: Brendan Foor (Jr. - IF), Ryan Garrett (Sr. - P), Danny Thompson (Jr. - OF)
Top newcomers: David Doeer (Sr - OF), Rory Graf-Brennan (Fr. - 2B), Oliver Guarino (Jr. - OF)

Season outlook: The Beavers lost 12 seniors from last years team and return no starting position players. They will be young in 2010 with 4 freshman on the roster and are in the process of changing expectations of what it takes to play 4A baseball at Ballard HS.


Bothell Cougars
Head Coach: Paul Moody (28th year (13th at Bothell), 310-253 career record)
2009 Summary: 10-6 KingCo (T-2nd in Crown), 13-9 overall
Returning starters: Evan Hudson (Sr. - P), Jordan Kynaston (Jr. - P), Michael Marriott (Sr. - IF), Brian McAfee (Jr. - P), Kevin McShane (Jr. - P), Gene Watson (Sr. - OF)
Other returners: Kevin Knapp (Sr. - OF), Jason Smith (Sr. - C)
Top newcomers: Henry Baillargeon (Jr. - P), Dain Gilbert (Jr. - 3B), Eric Gregory (Jr. - P), Jon Mercer (Jr. - IF), Anthony Miner (Sr. - P), Ryan Morgan (Jr. - OF), Mitchell Viydo (Jr. - IF), Geoff Watson (Sr. - C)

Season outlook: Bothell graduated several senior starters and will build around a pitching staff led by Evan Hudson.


Inglemoor Vikings
Head Coach: Bryan McNaghten (3rd year)
2009 Summary: 8-8 KingCo (4th in Crown), 16-10 overall, 4A State participant
Returning starters: Marc Dickerson (Sr. - OF), Mitchell Gonsolus (Jr. - IF), Scott Meyers (Sr. - OF), Obi Taylor (Jr. - P), Spencer Trautman (Sr. - P), Ethan Yeo (Sr. - C)
Other returners: Craig Jacobson (Sr. - IF)
Top newcomers: Dustin Doucette (Jr. - P), Emmett Maki (Jr. - P), Peter Meiusi (Jr. - IF/OF), Conor Savage (Jr. - IF/OF), Garrett Vandiver (Jr. - IF/OF)

Season outlook: The Vikings should have a solid ball club in 2010, although depth is a question mark. To return to State, Inglemoor will need their untested pitching to step up.


Lake Washington Kangs
Head Coach: Derek Bingham (6th year, 82-33 career record)
2009 Summary: 12-4 KingCo (1st in Crown), 19-6 overall record, KingCo 4A Champions, T-5th in 4A State tournament
Returning starters: Alex Donnelly (Jr. - OF)
Other returners: Trevor Dunlap (Sr. - P), John Shimabukuro (Sr. - IF/OF), Colin Tremblay (Sr. - C)
Top newcomers: Theo Alexander (Soph. - OF), Bob Cruikshank (Jr. - SS/P), Phil Gray (Sr. - IF), Spencer Jackson (Jr. - IF/P), Zach Johnson (Soph. - P/1B), Kory Kohlwes (Jr. - OF), Chris Moore (Jr. - OF), Wesley Russell (Jr. - P/IF), Nori Shimizu (Jr. - P)

Season outlook: The Kangs lost 14 seniors from their '09 KingCo championship team, including 8 of 9 starters and their entire pitching rotation. A young and inexperienced team, Lake Washington will need its newcomers to step up to contend for another league title and a return trip to state.


Roosevelt Roughriders
Head Coach: Jason Bowie (4th year)
2009 Summary: 2-14 KingCo (last in Crown)
Returning starters: Andrew Johnson (Sr. - IF), Reid Martinez (Jr. - OF)
Other returners: Spencer Stevenson (Sr. - P/1B), Colin Noteboom (Sr. - P/OF), David Holt (Jr. - P/IF), Tim Moore (Jr. - P/OF)
Top newcomers: Zach Naon (Soph. - OF/P), Graylin Derke (Soph. - P/IF), Cody Shaul (Soph. - IF/P), Riley O'Leary (Soph. - IF), Tate Maider (Fr. - C)

Season outlook: Roosevelt lost 12 seniors from last year's club and will be a very young team with only two returning starters. Although a youthful bunch, they are looking to be competitive in the Crown division. Pitching will make or break the season for the 'Riders.


Woodinville Falcons
Head Coach: Terry Agnew (19th year)
2009 Summary: 10-6 KingCo (T-2nd in Crown)
Returning starters: Jake Dammrose (Sr. - OF), Connor Jones (Sr. - P/IF), Dan McMillan (Sr. - 1B/DH), Matt Stefansson (Sr. - C), Luke Taylor (Sr. - P/IF)
Other returners: Spencer Brueske (Sr. - P/OF), Garrett Johnson (Sr. - P), Devin Jones (Sr. - P), Sean Sellers (Jr. - IF)
Top newcomers: Clarke Bader (Soph. - C), Shea Donlin (Soph. - IF), T.C. Florentine (Soph. - OF), Spencer Greer (Soph. - P), Ryland Longoni (Jr. - OF), Tim Roberts (Sr. - OF), Carl Savanavik (Jr. - OF), Doug Sullivan (Jr. - C), Beau Vintertun (Soph. - IF), Jeff Wyner (Soph. - P/OF)

Season outlook: The Falcons should be competitive with a mix of returning players and a strong class of sophomores.

Wednesday (3/17) Recaps

Another day, another two wins for KingCo 4A teams in non-league action...

• Issaquah 6, Hazen 2- Senior right hander Shane Yarnell allowed just a hit and a walk over five innings of work, and chipped in with a double and 2 RBI to lead the Eagles past Hazen, 6-2. The second-team All-KingCo 4A pitcher picked up right where he left off in 2009, striking out 6 batters on this day. Senior Spencer Rogers pitched the final two frames for Issy, and had a double and an RBI of his own.
• Lake Washington 11, Sammamish 1 - Junior outfielder Alex Donnelly singled twice and scored two runs in an 8-run fifth inning as the Kangs broke open a tight game to win 11-1. Donnelly finished the day 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored, 2 RBI and 2 stolen bases. Senior righty Trevor Dunlap tossed four shutout innings, allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out 3 to pick up the win. Junior Spencer Jackson chipped in with a single, double and 2 RBI at the plate for LW.

Tuesday's (3/16) Results

Three more KingCo 4A clubs were in action on Tuesday and once again, the league came away with impressive results. The league teams won two of their three games, with both wins coming in the final at-bat.

• Redmond 1, Monroe 0 (8 innings) - One day after scoring 24 runs (including 18 in the first inning), Redmond proved they could win a pitcher's duel as well, outlasting Monroe in 8 innings, 1-0. In what could be the first scoreless game through seven innings in Hartman Park history, Bearcats starter Kyle Hopkins kept the Mustang bats in check, allowing just 1 hit in 7 innings. Redmond's Dylan Davis and Matt Kimmel were up to the task as well, keeping Monroe off the board and allowing for the 'Stangs to win in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the eighth.
• Inglemoor 6, O'Dea 5 - Senior Scott Meyers walked off with a 2-run double in the bottom of the seventh, as the Vikings overcame a 5-3 deficit to top the defending 3A state champions, 6-5. Meyers also hit a three-run home run in the first inning and finished the day 2-for-3 with a double, home run and 5 RBI. Brandon Cook shut out O'Dea in the top of the seventh, paving the way for Meyers' heroics and picking up the win in relief.
• Mount Rainier 6, Skyline 5 - The Spartans closed a four-run deficit to a single run, but could not get over the hump in a 6-5 loss to Mount Rainier. Skyline was shutout through 4 and trailed 5-1 after 5 innings. A three-run sixth inning brought the score to 5-4, and after Rainier added a run in the sixth, Skyline again threatened with a run in the seventh. Sophomore Clayton Huber took the loss on the mound for the Spartans.

Monday's (3/15) Non-League Action

Many of the KingCo 4A teams opened non-league play on Monday, with 5 of the 7 teams in action picking up victories.

• Garfield 5, Nathan Hale 3 - Sophomore John Trupin allowed just 2 runs over 5 innings, striking out 5 as Garfield topped Nathan Hale on Monday, 5-3. Trupin also added two hits to go along with his strong pitching performance. Frank Pavia had a big afternoon for the Bulldogs, finishing the day 3-for-3 with a triple, home run and 3 RBI.
• Redmond 24, Curtis 2 - Junior sensations Dylan Davis and Michael Conforto each hit grand slams in an 18-run first inning as Redmond throttled Curtis, 24-2. The pair, which were first and second-team all-league respectively in 2009, combined to go 6-for-8 with the two home runs and 11 RBI. Sophomores Peter Herndon and Patrick McGrath also homered for the Mustangs, who pounded out 18 hits in just 4 offensive innings. Junior right hander Zach Abbruzza tossed three shutout innings, striking out 4 to pick up the win.
• Bishop Blanchet 5, Ballard 1 - Blanchet scored two runs in the third, one in the fourth and two more in the fifth to top a young Ballard team, 5-1. Oliver Guarino was 1-for-3 with the lone run scored for the Beavers.
• Bothell 6, Sedro-Woolley 1 - Senior right hander Evan Hudson struck out 7 over 3 shutout innings and 2009 first-team outfielder Gene Watson doubled and drove in two as the Cougars opened their season with a 6-1 win over Sedro-Woolley. Junior Brian McAfee homered for Bothell, who scored two in the first and four in the third en route to the victory.
• Newport 6, Eastside Catholic 2 - In a game played at the University of Washington's Husky Ballpark, 2009 final four representative and KingCo 4A runner up Newport topped 3A power Eastside Catholic, 6-2. Senior Jeffrey Gonzalez picked up the win, allowing just a hit and a walk in 4 shutout innings. Sophomores led the way offensively, with Nate Anderson (1-for-2, triple, 2 runs scored) and Billy Sahlinger (double, 2 RBI) having strong performances for new Knights coach Hal DeBerry.
• Jefferson 11, Eastlake 6 - The Wolves gave up 5 runs in the first and another six in the 5th in an 11-6 loss to Jefferson on Monday. Mitchell doubled twice in defeat for Eastlake.
• Lake Washington 6, Liberty 5 - Senior Colin Tremblay's two-run double capped a 5-run sixth inning and Lake Washington held on late for a 6-5 win over the Patriots. Junior Spencer Jackson picked up the win in relief, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out 3. The game was a pitcher's duel through five, with Liberty leading 2-1. Following the Kangs 5-run frame, Liberty scored three of their own in the sixth before being retired in order by junior Bob Cruikshank in the seventh.

Practices in Full Swing

Teams from across the state started practices on March 1st and are preparing for impending jamborees. Non-league contests start for most KingCo teams next week, with conference play starting on Tuesday, March 23rd.

We will be adding team previews to the mix this season. The plan is to have those posted the weekend prior to conference play kicking off. Once league play starts, this blog will be your one-stop for everything KingCo 4A baseball in 2010.

Check back next week for periodic updates on non-league results from around the KingCo 4A conference.

Preparing for 2010

The long off-season is just about over, with baseball practice starting statewide next Monday, March 1st. 2009 was a banner year for the KingCo 4A conference, with three of its teams advancing to the state quarterfinals, including Newport who made the Safeco Field final four. The league should be strong again, as many underclassmen played starring roles on their teams a year ago.

KingCo league play kicks off on Tuesday, March 23rd with a full slate of games. Between now and then, the blog will feature team previews and preseason polls, as well as recap non-league games from around the conference. As it was in 2009, the KingCo baseball blog will be your place for the latest results, news and notes from around the league.

Good luck to all in 2010!

Final Four Friday

The high school baseball season comes to a close this weekend, with the State championships being played at all levels. The 3A and 4A semi-finals and championship rounds will be played at Safeco Field. In the 4A, the Newport Knights are the lone KingCo representative - they will take on top-ranked Richland at 4:00 pm. The night cap is between Puyallup and Tahoma, who knocked off LW and Issaquah respectively to reach the final four. The losers will play at 1:00 pm Saturday in the 4A third place game, with the 4A state championship scheduled for 7:00 pm.

Newport Advances to Safeco Field

Congratulations to Newport for advancing through the first two rounds of the 4A state tournament and earning a spot in the final four at Safeco Field. Issaquah and Lake Washington won first round games to give the KingCo 4A conference three teams in the final eight, while Inglemoor rounded out the KingCo quartet in the final 16 teams.

First Round Recaps

• Newport 13, Kentwood 7 - The Knights scored 4 runs in the second, third and fourth innings en route to a 13-7 win over Kentwood in the round of 16 on Saturday morning. Trace Tam Sing, a second-team All-KingCo shortstop, led the way with 4 hits, including a double and a home run. The junior scored three runs and drove in 5 on the day. Victor King also doubled and homered, while Zach Nasu drove in two. Senior right-hander Brandon Andreini went the distance for Newport, allowing 8 hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 8.
• Issaquah 7, South Kitsap 1 - Junior right-hander Shane Yarnell allowed just 5 hits and struck out 11 in a complete game victory, as the Eagles took advantage of 8 South Kitsap errors in a 7-1 opening round win. Miles Perkins continued his remarkable postseason, finishing the game 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, while fellow outfielder Spencer Rogers singled and drove in 2.
• Puyallup 12, Inglemoor 3 - The young Vikings saw their valiant run end at Kent Memorial Park, losing 12-3 to a more experienced Puyallup club. Puyallup (also the Vikings) jumped out early with 2 runs in the first and tacked on 6 more in the second to put Inglemoor away early. Senior first baseman Erick Raynes doubled and drove in a run, while sophomore Mitchell Gunsolus was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Vikings from the North, whose season ended with a record of 15-11.
• Lake Washington 14, Central Kitsap 6 - The Kangs used the long ball to overcome an early 4-1 deficit, scoring 13 runs in the middle three innings of the contest to cruise to a 14-6 win over Central Kitsap. Lake Washington finished the day with a season-high four home runs. Senior first-team All-KingCo performers Alex Potts and Eric Folkers drove in 10 runs on the day, with Potts jump starting the comeback with a game tying three-run blast in the third inning. Folkers followed two batters later with his first of two home runs, giving LW a lead they wouldn't relinquish. KingCo Player of the Year Christian Kaiser was the winning pitcher and also went 3-for-3 a the plate, while fellow senior Blake Lively hit a three-run home run in the fourth.

Second Round Recaps

• Newport 7, Olympia 2 - Senior left-hander Colin Hering picked up on the mound where he left off in the KingCo 4A tournament, allowing no earned runs in a complete game victory as the Knights advanced to Safeco Field with a 7-2 win over the Bears. Hering, who took Newport to state with a shutout over Redmond in the second round of KingCo, allowed just 3 hits and 3 walks, striking out 8 on the day. The offensive stars for the Knights were the same as in game 1, with Tam Sing (2-for-4, double, RBI), King (2-for-2) and Nasu (2-for-4) led a 12-hit attack. Newport will take on Richland on Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm in the first of two 4A semifinals at Safeco Field.
• Tahoma 7, Issaquah 6 (9 inn.) - Heyden Johnson's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth ended a run at three straight trips to Safeco Field, as Issaquah saw their season end with a 7-6 loss to Tahoma. The Eagles overcame a 6-2 deficit, scoring four runs in the final three innings of regulation, only to lose in heartbreaking fashion in the bottom of the ninth. Junior catcher Devin O'Donnell was 3-for-5 with a double and 3 RBI while sophomore Gavin Schumaker finished the day with 3 hits of his own. Issaquah finishes a great season with a record of 14-12.
• Puyallup 9, Lake Washington 5 - A seven-run third inning doomed the Kangs, as they saw their season end to the hands of the Vikings, 9-5. Lake Washington definitely had their chances but couldn't cash in, leaving 14 runners on base in the contest. Eric Folkers starred again for LW, finishing the game 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. He finished his Kangs career going 5-for-7 with two doubles, two home runs and 6 RBI in the state doubleheader. Center fielder Spencer Wozeniak was 3-for-3 with an RBI and Dan Reynar added two hits and an RBI for Lake Washington. The 2009 KingCo champions end their season with a final record of 19-5.

The final four matchups are Newport vs. Richland (4:00 pm) and Puyallup vs. Tahoma (7:00 pm), with the winners facing off for the 4A state title at 7:00 pm on Saturday night. Best of luck to the Knights as they represent KingCo 4A at Safeco Field!

State Tournament Preview

The 4A state tournament kicks off on Saturday, with 4 KingCo teams among the final 16 that remain in contention for the state championship. Inglemoor, Issaquah, Lake Washington and Newport will take on teams from the Narrows and South Puget Sound leagues in the first round, with hopes of advancing to the regional finals with a trip to Safeco Field and the Final Four on the line.

Saturday's State Tourney Schedule

Everett Region (Everett Memorial)
Newport vs. Kentwood, 10:00 am
Olympia vs. Snohomish, 1:00 pm
Everett Regional Final, 4:00 pm

Richland Region (Richland HS)
Kamiak vs. Richland, 10:00 am
Kamiakin vs. University, 1:00 pm
Richland Regional Final, 4:00 pm

Kent Region (Kent Memorial)
Inglemoor vs. Puyallup, 11:00 am
Central Kitsap vs. Lake Washington, 2:00 pm
Kent Regional Final, 5:00 pm

Tacoma Region (Heidelberg Park)
South Kitsap vs. Issaquah, 10:00 am
Marysville-Pilchuck vs. Tahoma, 1:00 pm
Tacoma Regional Final, 4:00 pm

The Twitter feed will be updated as information rolls in. Good luck to all the KingCo teams in action Saturday!

2009 4A All-KingCo Teams

The KingCo 4A coaches got together on Tuesday night to select the All-KingCo teams for 2009:

First Team All-KingCo
P: Christian Kaiser (Sr.) - Lake Washington
P: Dylan Davis (Soph.) - Redmond
P: Adrian Sampson (Jr.) - Skyline
C: Nick Andrews (Sr.) - Eastlake
1B: Eric Folkers (Sr.) - Lake Washington
2B: Josh Bircher (Jr.) - Redmond
SS: Alex Potts (Sr.) - Lake Washington
3B: Sean Murphy (Sr.) - Woodinville
OF: Spencer Rogers (Jr.) - Issaquah
OF: Colin Hering (Sr.) - Newport
OF: Gene Watson (Jr.) - Bothell
DH: Nick Smith (Sr.) - Eastlake
UT: Ryan Somers (Sr.) - Skyline

Second Team All-KingCo
P: Shane Yarnell (Jr.) - Issaquah
P: Obidiah Taylor (Soph.) - Inglemoor
P: Brett DeRooy (Sr.) - Woodinville
C: Jordan Sui (Sr.) - Inglemoor
C: Emmett Niland (Sr.) - Ballard
1B: Tyler Atkinson (Sr.) - Bothell
2B: Blake Lively (Sr.) - Lake Washington
SS: Trace Tam Sing (Jr.) - Newport
3B: Alex Reynolds (Sr.) - Bothell
3B: Michael Conforto (Soph.) - Redmond
OF: Dylan Davis (Soph.) - Redmond
OF: Miles Perkins (Sr.) - Issaquah
OF: Chris Viltz (Sr.) - Lake Washington
DH: Christian Kaiser (Sr.) - Lake Washington
UT: Kurt Stottlemyer (Sr.) - Bothell

KingCo 4A Player of the Year: Christian Kaiser (Sr.) - Lake Washington
KingCo 4A Coach of the Year: Derek Bingham - Lake Washington

Honorable Mention
Ballard: Nick Palewicz (Sr.), Dylan Murphy (Sr.), Connor McClure (Sr.)
Bothell: Bryan Mourer (Sr.), Brian McAfee (Soph.), Evan Hudson (Soph.)
Eastlake: Nick Hooper (Sr.), Michael Russo (Jr.)
Garfield: Joseph Lucia (Jr.), Sean Gilman (Sr.), Mike Harvey (Sr.), Peter Summerville (Sr.)
Inglemoor: Sam Johnston (Sr.), Logan Moen (Sr.), Scott Meyers (Jr.)
Issaquah: Brennan Miller (Sr.), Dustin Talley (Sr.), Austin O'Neil (Sr.)
Lake Washington: Dan Reynar (Sr.), Tyler Staudacher (Sr.), Karl Myers (Sr.), Alex Ross (Sr.)
Newport: Brandon Andreini (Sr.), Brad Binder (Sr.), Kevon Zadeh (Sr.)
Redmond: Zach Abbruzza (Soph.), Brian Grina (Sr.), Matt Kimmel (Jr.), Mac Acker (Sr.)
Roosevelt: Tom Nielson (Sr.)
Skyline: Jake Knecht (Sr.), Shawn Ellis (Jr.), Jacob Shannon (Jr.), Ryan Gilchrist (Sr.)
Woodinville: Matt Stefansson (Jr.), Luke Taylor (Jr.), Joel Maltos (Sr.)

Two More KingCo Teams Punch Tickets to State

Issaquah and Inglemoor became the third and fourth teams from the KingCo 4A conference to qualify for state on Saturday, joining Newport and Lake Washington in the 16-team tournament which begins next Saturday. The Vikings topped Heritage (Vancouver) 9-4 while Issaquah outslugged Kelso, 12-8.

Details to follow...

LW Wins KingCo Title

[ KingCo Tournament Bracket ]

KingCo 4A play wrapped up for the 2009 season on Thursday, with the championship and third place games being played at Woodinville HS...

KingCo Championship
Lake Washington 9, Newport 2 - The Kangs scored four runs in the fourth and tacked on three more in the fifth to break open a close game and win the KingCo 4A Championship, 9-2 over Newport. Right hander Christian Kaiser went the distance to improve to 6-0, surrendering just 4 hits and 2 runs (1 earned) on the night. LW is now 9-0 in games where Kaiser has started on the mound. Lake Washington used the running game to spark their offense, stealing eight bags on the night including three by John Shimabukuro and two each for Andy Moore and Blake Lively. Zach Nasu and Andrew West drove in the two Knight runs on the evening, while Eric Folkers and Alex Ross each had two RBI for the Kangs.

Lake Washington enters the state tournament as District 2/4's top seed and will travel to Kent Memorial to take on the #4 seed from District 3 (Narrows/SPSL leagues). Their opponent will be determined on Saturday, as Tahoma, Gig Harbor, Central Kitsap and Curtis will fight for two spots in the state tournament. Meanwhile, Newport gets the #3 seed from District 2/4 and will take on the winner of Saturday's 11:00 am game at Heidelberg Field (Tacoma) between Olympia and Kentwood.

Third Place Game
Inglemoor 12, Issaquah 9 - The Vikings responded to an Eagle five-run first inning, coming from behind to take third place in KingCo 4A with a 12-9 win over Issaquah. The Eagles jumped out to an 8-3 lead, but were outscored 9-1 from the fourth inning on. Inglemoor center fielder Marc Dickerson led the charge, going 3-for-3 with a double, home run and 4 RBI. First baseman Erick Raynes remained on a tear, picking up 3 hits and 2 RBI, while shortstop Sam Johnston doubled and homered for the Viks. Devin O'Donnell and Brennan Miller had three hits a piece for Issaquah, who finishes fourth with the loss. The two teams go into Saturday's bi-district games with red hot bats. The Eagles put up an amazing 47 runs in their four playoff games, while the Vikings scored 43, including putting up double-digits in each contest.

Speaking of the bi-district, winner-to-state games, Saturday's schedule is as follows:

• Heritage (GSHL #2) @ Inglemoor (KingCo #3), 12:00 pm - winner is Dist 2/4 #4
• Issaquah (KingCo #4) @ Kelso (GSHL #1), 12:00 pm - winner is Dist 2/4 #2

Championship Thursday

Thursday brings the culmination of the KingCo 4A baseball season, with the third place and championship games on tap for tonight. The fight for third place is first, with Inglemoor and Issaquah squaring off at 4:00 pm. That game will immediately be followed by the KingCo Championship game between Newport and Lake Washington. Both games are at Woodinville HS and are on as scheduled as of 2:30 pm.

Check back tomorrow for a full recap of the final day's games, as well as a look ahead to Saturday's bi-district winner-to-state games.

Final Four is Set

Offense was the theme in Tuesday's KingCo tournament elimination games, as 35 combined runs were scored between the four teams...

• Issaquah 13, Redmond 7 - The Eagles' offensive onslaught continued, as they scored double-digit runs for the third straight playoff contest, eliminating the top seed Mustangs with a 13-7 win. Shortstop Michael Dixon was 3-for-3 with a double, 3 runs scored and 3 RBI and catcher Devin O'Donnell doubled, tripled and drove in four for Issaquah, who scored four runs in the top of the first and never looked back. They have scored 38 runs on 45 hits in their three tournament games. Redmond was led once again by super sophomore Michael Conforto, who was 3-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBI. Second baseman Josh Bircher finished the afternoon 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI for the 'Stangs, whose great season comes to an end with a record of 18-5.
• Inglemoor 11, Skyline 4 - Senior first baseman Erick Raynes had a grand slam and a two-run homer in his first two at bats as the Vikings jumped out early and cruised to an 11-4 win over Skyline. Inglemoor scored 11 times in their first four at bats, led by the two big blasts. Senior Austin Hueter was the winning pitcher, allowing 5 hits and a run over 5 innings of work. Inglemoor advances to Thursday's third place game, where they will take on Issaquah at 4:00 pm at Woodinville HS. Meanwhile, Skyline, who was the #2 seed from the Crest Division, finishes their year at 15-8.

The stage is now set for the final day of the KingCo 4A baseball tournament. Thursday features a double-header, with the opener being the third place game between Inglemoor (13-10, Crown #4) and Issaquah (12-10, Crest #4). The winner of that game will host the loser of the Greater St. Helen's League championship game (Kelso vs. Heritage) on Saturday at 2:00 pm for a trip to state. Meanwhile, the loser of Thursday's third place game will travel to Vancouver on Saturday to play the GSHL champion, also with a state berth on the line.

In the night cap, the Newport Knights (14-8, Crest #3) take on the Lake Washington Kangs (17-5, Crown #1) with the KingCo championship on the line. The first meeting between the two clubs saw LW top the Knights, 10-5. However, as this tournament has already proven, you can throw the regular season results out the window, as three of the top four seeds have been eliminated. Newport comes in riding an eight-game win streak, while the Kangs have won 10 of their last 12 ball games. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm - BE THERE!

Elimination Games on Tap

The KingCo 4A baseball tournament continues today at Woodinville HS with two loser out games:

• Issaquah (Crest #4) vs. Redmond (Crest #1), 4:00 pm
• Inglemoor (Crown #4) vs. Skyline (Crest #2), 7:00 pm

The winners of today's games will meet on Thursday in a seeding game to determine who will host and who will travel for the district play-in games with the Greater St. Helen's League. The losers will have their season's come to an end. Check the Kingco Baseball Twitter for game updates as they become available.

Newport, LW Advance to Title Game

Two teams clinched a spot in the KingCo championship game while two others saw their season end on Monday...

Winners Bracket

• Lake Washington 7, Skyline 0 - Senior left-hander Tyler Staudacher tossed a four-hit shutout and shortstop Alex Potts homered and drove in 2 as the Kangs advanced to the conference championship game with a 7-0 blanking of Skyline. LW scored single runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings, completing the scoring with a three spot in the sixth. Meanwhile, Staudacher scattered 4 hits and 2 walks in the complete game, striking out 5 in the process. Christian Kaiser chipped in offensively, finishing the afternoon 3-for-4 with 2 RBI for the Kangs, who secured a state tournament berth and advanced to Thursday's KingCo title game. Jacob Shannon had two of the four hits in the loss for Skyline, who will take on Inglemoor in a loser out game on Tuesday night.
• Newport 4, Redmond 0 - Not to be outdone by Staudacher's performance, Knights lefty Colin Hering tossed the second shutout of the day, holding the vaunted Redmond offense to just 3 hits while striking out 10 in a 4-0 Newport win. The win was the eighth straight for Newport, while the loss snapped the Mustangs' 11-game win streak. Knights catcher Dan Altchech finished the night 3-for-4 with a solo home run, while Redmond second baseman Josh Bircher had two of the 'Stangs three hits on the night. Newport and LW will face off in the KingCo championship game, while Redmond will look to bounce back against Issaquah on Tuesday afternoon.

Losers Bracket

• Issaquah 15, Bothell 5 - The Eagles scored early and often in this one, putting up 10 runs in the first three innings en route to a convincing 15-5 win over Bothell. Issaquah put on an offensive clinic, stroking 18 hits, including 5 doubles, three triples and home runs by senior Miles Perkins and junior Spencer Rogers. Perkins, fresh off a 5 RBi performance on Saturday, finished the night 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run and 4 RBI, while Rogers also doubled twice and homered, driving in 3. Third baseman Alex Reynolds was the lone bright spot for Bothell, collecting 3 hits and driving home 4 of the five Cougar runs. Issaquah moves on to another loser out game on Tuesday against Redmond, while Bothell sees its season end, finishing up with a record of 13-9.
• Inglemoor 10, Woodinville 2 - Inglemoor kept its season alive with a valiant effort by sophomore Obadiah Taylor, topping Woodinville 10-2 in the loser's bracket 7:00 game. Taylor pitched well despite an ankle injury which prevented him from going in the Vikings' playoff opener. He was helped by an offensive attack which put 10 runs on the board against a few different Falcons pitchers. The Vikings will face elimination once more on Tuesday night, when they take on Skyline for the right to advance to a district play-in game with the Greater St. Helens League. Woodinville's season ends at 13-9.

Tuesday's loser out games feature Issaquah and Redmond facing off at 4:00 pm with Inglemoor-Skyline scheduled for 7:00 pm. Both games will be played at Woodinville HS, with the winners advancing to a seeding game on Thursday at 4:00 prior to the KingCo title game at 7:00 pm between Newport and Lake Washington.