The Enumclaw Hornets fastpitch team will open another season March 15, and another drive for the state championship.
The Hornets have been one of the premier fastpitch programs in the state.
Since 2012 the Hornets have competed each year in the state championship tournament, taking the silver medal twice — 2014 and 2016. It won the South Puget Sound League title four consecutive years.
The Hornets have consistently played a solid fundamental game both on the field and hitting.
This year the team lost its star pitcher Quinn Breidenbach, who is playing for the University of Massachusetts.
The roster from the 2016 team had only four seniors, including Breidenbach. The program had a mix of junior, sophomore and freshman.
The Hornets have been able to build a grassroots program over the years, which has spelled success for Enumclaw at the state level.
While Quinn Breidenbach was the team’s core last season, Madelyn Carlson proved to be critical element for the Hornets both on the mound, in the field and at the plate. She is a three-year All-League player who will be both a pitcher and infielder for the Hornets.
One of the team’s catchers last season was Brittany Camp, who was a junior and ended leading in the RBIs category. She was chosen to the first team All-League and will be critical again this year behind the plate.
Another first team candidate is Cortney Hunt, also a catcher who plays both infield and outfield.
Shortstop Hailey Roberts is another All-League player who will lock down the infield for the Hornets.
Rylee Agnew, a senior will be pitching and in the outfield.
Sophomores Logan Breidenbach. Quinn’s sister, Lauren Hanson, Taylor Anglin,Ruby Anderson with Nika Seabrands as a all around player will all be critical to Enumclaw’s success this season.
The team opens the season against Kent-Meridian High at 4 p.m. at Kent Service Club Ballfields. Friday, March 17, the Hornets play Kentwood 7 p.m. at Boise Creek Park.
This year the Hornets are playing in a new league, the 4A North Puget Sound League Olympic Division. The teams in the division Enumclaw will be playing include Auburn, Auburn Mountainview, Auburn Riverside, Decatur, Federal Way, Thomas Jefferson and Todd Beamer.
BASEBALL
“Play Ball!” is about to echo across Osborne Field for another season of baseball.
The Enumclaw boys baseball team will open the season with a couple of games against Decatur 4 p.m. March 15 away and 7 p.m. March 16 at home. Friday, March 17, will be the White River rivalry game with the first pitch set for 7 p.m. at Osborne Field.
Coach Eric Fiedler said the Hornets a large class of seniors, but Fiedler said the potential of this group is very high.
“I’m very excited to coach this team,” Fiedler said. “We graduated 12 seniors but the cupboard is far from bare.
Early in the season Fiedler expects the boys to takes some lumps, but as the season progresses the story will change.
The Hornets have three seniors to provide leadership for the team.
Damon Bedgisoff is an athlete who can play anywhere on the field for Fiedler.
Another senior for the Hornets is Andrew Littman who has played for Enumclaw since he was a freshman
The coach expects him to play infield.
The third senior is Forrest Howard, and outfielder who is both an outstanding hitter and base runner.
Fiedler said all three senior have speed and will be key to his running game.
Some of the key underclassmen are junior Austin Willson in the infield and pitching and also on the mount will be junior Trevor Cassell.
Also throwing for the Hornets will be Brayden Southcott and Cameron Bogard.
Fiedler said there will a few freshman who will be swing players for the Hornets.
One of the difficulties facing Enumclaw, as always, is the weather. Fielder said the boys have only been able to get outside and throw baseballs for one day.
Once the snow, sleet and rain decides to move to Montana the baseball will be flying once again.
