Spring sports are ready to tackle 3A league

Editor’s note: Due to space constraints, this article was shortened and the other half will be published in the March 19 edition of the Courier-Herald.

Spring athletes have been turning out for more than a week, fine-tuning their skills on the baseball and softball diamonds, on the soccer pitch and the tennis courts, not to mention the lacrosse fields and in the various track and field events.

Now it’s time to test those skills against both nonleague competitors and those in the 3A North Puget Sound League. It’s a new athletic world on the Plateau, where both Enumclaw and White River grew out of the smaller Class 2A ranks for the new league and larger-school competition.

Here’s a look at some of the local programs as they head into the spring season.

LACROSSE

Enumclaw: With back-to-back state championships already in hand, could a three-peat be in the works for the Enumclaw High squad?

Third-year coach David Pugh and his team will begin addressing that question Saturday afternoon (March 15) when Enumclaw travels to Orting for a 2 p.m. contest against the Cardinals.

The team’s first home game comes March 18, a nonleague encounter against Tahoma. Things get under way at 7 p.m. at the Enumclaw Expo Center.

Perhaps Pugh’s No. 1 challenge will be finding the pieces to complete the lacrosse puzzle. The issue sits with a notable list of players who graduated and are no longer part of the EHS program. Among those who finished their high school playing days were first team, all-league players Jack Popke, Kobe Kahne, Aidan Voorhees, Wylie Craighead, Wyatt Neu, Anthony Mills and Will Harper.

BASEBALL

Enumclaw: The good news is the Hornets are coming off a remarkably successful 2024 season. The less fortunate situation is that veteran coach Eric Fiedler needs to replace several key players that contributed mightily to last year’s playoff run.

In spring 2024, the Hornets reached the championship game in the Class 2A ranks, only to suffer a 3-2 loss and return home with second-place honors. The team finished with an overall record of 24-2.

Last year’s success was anchored by what Fiedler calls “a long-to-be-remembered senior class.” But there remains plenty of room for optimism, he said.

“Although the great talent of that team will be a challenge to duplicate, the cupboard is far from bare,” the coach said in an early-season report.

Fiedler had his first formal look at this year’s squad Saturday (March 8) when the Hornets scrimmaged Auburn High and picked up a 5-0 victory. This week brings a long road trip to Anacortes for a Friday afternoon, nonleague battle with the Seahawks.

The team’s first North Puget Sound League 3A contest comes Monday, March 17, when Kent-Meridian invades Osborn Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

Despite the personnel losses, Fiedler has a stable of key returnees to call upon. Included are senior Cooper Markham, a two-time SPSL 2A Most Valuable Player and a University of Oregon commit; senior shortstop Eli Murphy who will play college ball at Whitworth University; senior Landon Wall, an all-league designated hitter last season who has committed to Ottawa University; Hunter Anderson, a junior and returning starter in center field; and Drew Francis, a senior who Fiedler calls a “do-it-all utility guy (who) brings great athleticism to the order on a regular basis.”

Other Hornets who the coach sees as key contributors include junior Cole Chiechi who will take over as starting catcher; junior infielder Graham Wagner; junior Oliver Pitts, a pitcher/infielder who should step in as a solid starter on the mound; and senior Carter Grant, another contributor to the Hornet pitching staff.

It’s a different ball game this time around as Enumclaw has bumped up to the 3A ranks and will be playing larger-school competition in the North Puget Sound League.

White River: Coach Nate Barnett opens the spring season with a solid base, as he has 11 players returning from last year’s varsity squad.

“All will play an integral role,” the coach reported. “I think we have a good shot at making the district tournament, and after that I would love to return to the state tournament again with this group of guys”

A season ago, the Hornets advanced to the opening round of the 2A state tourney but fell to Columbia River High and were eliminated. That squad finished 14-11 for the season.

It was White River’s final year of Class 2A competition, as enrollment growth has brought a jump to the 3A level and participation in the North Puget Sound League.

Among the returning players are six who received honorable mention during last year’s all-league voting. That list includes seniors Caleb Dale, Jack Peterson and Landon Hill; juniors Lucas Brazier and Jackson Rock; and sophomore Kolton Jensen.

“It’s tough to say this early about newcomers. However, I am pleased with the overall quality of the freshman class and look forward to some good years ahead,” Barnett said. “There seems to be some good solid interest at the middle school that is feeding into our program,” he added.

Barnett will see his squad on the diamond, in action, for the first time today (March 12) when the Hornets host Emerald Ridge in nonleague play. Friday brings another nonleague encounter when White River travels to Fife to face the Trojans. The league season opens March 17 with a trip to Thomas Jefferson and a 4 p.m. starting time.

SOFTBALL

Enumclaw: Coach Quinn Haney will be looking to build on a two-year run of success on the diamond. The Hornet program hadn’t made a state tournament appearance since 2016 but now, in Haney’s two seasons at the helm, Enumclaw has twice qualified for the state festivities.

It’s a new ball game this season, now that Enumclaw has departed the Class 2A ranks, jumped to the larger Class 3A level and joined the North Puget Sound League.

As the season opens, things appear to be working in Haney’s favor. She notes that – with two exceptions – her entire varsity squad from a year ago is back in uniform.

Specifically, “I am looking forward for Alyssa Harris and Ashlyn Elder to be a strong battery for us,” Haney reported. A pitcher, Harris earned first team, all-league honors a year ago while Elder picked up honorable mention recognition.

Additionally, the coach anticipates Nadia Flaherty will be “a great leadoff lefty and utility player.” A season ago, Flaherty received all-league honors in a utility role.

Also back are veteran players like Alyssa Neal, Kaylee Henry, Kaylie Plyler, Ava Lim and Kylar Navarro.

Adding to the mix, “We have a large incoming freshman class and some promising newcomers to the program,” Haney said.

She’s also happy to welcome Amanda Van Zanten, a former collegiate softball player, to the program as the varsity assistant coach.

“We will continue to grow and be a force this season,” Haney reported. “I am looking forward to our large senior class of eight players to bring leadership and competitiveness to our new league. With the right blend of chemistry we can really go far in postseason and make a run at state again.”

The Hornets open the season today (March 12) with a trip to Bonney Lake and a nonleague game with the Panthers. The weekend brings an appearance at an invitational tournament at Auburn Riverside and the nonleague part of the season concludes with March 18 home game against Tahoma High.

The North Puget Sound League 3A campaign begins March 24 with a visit to White River. Game time is 4 p.m.

White River: The White River High fastpitch program “is excited to be able to move up to a new league and division and welcome the new challenge.” That’s the word from head coach Brandon Walker as he leads the Hornets into the uncharted waters of the 3A North Puget Sound League.

“We have a solid foundation of returning players and a few players that will be taking on new roles to help the team be successful,” he reported after the first full week of practice. “White River expects to be competitive this season in the new league and make a run in the postseason.”

As he prepares his Hornet squad for the spring season Walker can call upon the proven talents of a core group of players. That includes seniors Kennedy Selander and Elliotte Kajita, junior Abby Akins and sophomores McKenna Charlton and Ashley Terlaje.

A season ago Selander was a first team, all-league infielder, Kajita was a second team pitcher and Akins was a second team infielder. Both Charlton and Terlaje received all-league honorable mention a year ago.

As a bonus, Walker has welcomed Nevaeh Jenkins to the team. The junior couldn’t play last year but “should be a great addition to our outfield this season,” he said.

The Hornets will open their 2025 campaign today (Wednesday) when the Class 4A Bethel High squad visits the Buckley campus for a 4 p.m., nonleague contest. The early-season schedule also includes a Friday trip to face the Fife Trojans and a Saturday appearance in a Tahoma High jamboree.

The 3A North Puget Sound League season gets under way Monday, March 24, when White River hosts Plateau rival Enumclaw High in a diamond version of the Battle of the Bridge.