PORT ANGELES — Some things change in North Olympic Peninsula high school softball, such as a new head coach in Forks and the re-establishment of the Chimacum program.
Other things, such as Port Angeles and Sequim looking like Olympic League favorites despite heavy graduation losses for each team, remain the same.
PORT ANGELES
Coach: Randy Steinman, third season.
Last year: 18-9 overall, 14-2 Olympic League (co-champion); three wins at state tournament, most in program history.
Top returners: Carly Gouge (sr., OF); Nizhoni Wheeler (jr., P/1B); Alicia Howell (sr., utility).
Newcomers: Jaidyn Larson (jr., inf.); Taylar Clark (so., 3B); Emily Johnson (jr.,C/1B/SS/OF).
Overall: Port Angeles lost six seniors to graduation and returns limited varsity experience. That said, Steinman is excited about the versatility of the players on this year’s roster.
“We have a number of good athletes out for the team, players that can play multiple positions, and we have enough of those types of girls that we should be OK,” Steinman said
“We’re taking it slow, with basically a whole new team. But by the end of the year, districts and state, that’s when we want to have everything clicking.”
The Riders do return ace pitcher Wheeler, consistent on-base presence Gouge and power-hitting Howell, who hit three home runs at last year’s state tournament.
Larson returns from an ACL injury that kept her out last season.
SEQUIM
Coach: Mike McFarlen, fourth year.
Last year: 20-6 overall, 14-2 Olympic League (co-champion); went 1-2 at the state tournament.
Top returners: Olivia Kirsch (sr., 3B/P); McKenzie Bentz (jr., C/P); Mary Lu Clift (sr., SS); Tia Bourm (sr., RF); Halie Wilson (sr., 2B); Allysen Montelius (jr., CF/P); Emily Copeland (jr., C).
Newcomers: Nicole Anders; Erin Vig; Kyla Rigg; Adrienne Haggerty; Jordan Bentz.
Outlook: Sequim is looking for its fifth consecutive state tournament appearance.
McFarlen said the Wolves “expect to be there at the end for league again, challenge for the district championship and make state.”
The team lost starting pitcher and Olympic League MVP Makayla Bentz to graduation, so pitching will be “by platoon.”
McFarlen said Kirsch, McKenzie Bentz, Montelius and Chloe Sparks will see time on the mound this season.
Leading hitter Shelby Lott is recovering from an ACL injury suffered during the soccer season, but McFarlen said she may return some time in April.
“Our infield is really solid,” McFarlen said.
“We are hitting the ball a little better than this time last year, and have more speed than last year’s team.”
PORT TOWNSEND
Coach: Kelli Parcher, second season.
Last year: 2-16 overall, 2-15 Olympic League (last).
Top returners: Bailey Shaw (sr., OF); Megan Lee (sr., P/util.); Tanna Sunkano (so., P); Crystal Crump (sr. OF); Jenna Carson (so. C/P).
Newcomers: Megan Juran (sr., C/3B); Frances Sheldon-O’Neal (sr., INF); Julie Fulton (sr., OF)
Outlook: “What we need to do first of all, because we have a lot of new people, is to work on building chemistry this year,” Parcher said.
“There are some athletes on the team and the group gets along well. I expect us to be more active hitters and to see more active play from the kids we have this year.
“And with a younger team, we want to develop the players and build that youth up for the future.”
CHIMACUM
Coach: J.R. Roberts, first season.
Last year: No team.
Contributors: Ryley Eldridge (jr., P); Brayden Nelson (fr., 2B); Kiersten Snyder (sr., SS); Mechelle Nisbet (so., C); Shanya Nisbet (so., 3B); Kyah McKinlay (jr., OF); Taylor Carthum (so., OF).
Outlook: First-year head coach J.R. Roberts didn’t know what to expect from the team after Chimacum failed to field a squad last year.
Roberts has been pleasantly surprised by his team’s performances in early-season wins against Class 2A Bremerton and North Kitsap.
“After the first couple of games they’ve really opened up our eyes and I think we have a good chance of taking our league,” Roberts said.
“Playing Sequim close for most of the game really showed the girls we can compete against the big schools.
“My outlook definitely changed. I thought it was going to be a rebuilding process trying to get the program back on track, but now I strongly believe we have a good chance of taking our league.
“It’s just a matter of keeping people healthy, on track academically and focused.”
FORKS
Coach: Avery Ironhill, first season.
Last year: 8-12 overall, 4-8 Evergreen League (fifth).
Top returners: Alex Henderson, (sr., 2B); Sarah Adams, (jr., P/3B/C); Halle Palmer (jr., /SS); Alicia Chase (sr., 3B); Sabrina Collins (sr./P).
Newcomers: Bailey Clean (fr., CF); Bailee Kratzer (fr., OF); Taegan Councill (fr., OF); Skylar DeMatties (so., OF); Hailey Engeseth (jr., C/1B); Esther Nguyen (jr., OF); Alexa Prose (jr, INF); Natasha Armenta (so., OF); Candis Goakey (so., OF).
Outlook: Four-year volunteer assistant Avery Ironhill takes over as head coach.
“I’ve been gifted a good group of girls who want to work hard, and who have set a goal of making it to districts,” Ironhill said.
“We have great leaders in Alex and Halle Palmer and
Sarah Adams.”
QUILCENE
Coach: Mark Thompson, third year.
Last year: 19-3; SeaTac League champions; fourth at 1B state tournament.
Top returners: Sammy Rae (sr., P); Megan Weller (jr., C/SS); Allison Jones (so., IF/OF); Katie Bailey (so., 1B); Alexis Gray (so., C); Bailey Kieffer (so., OF/P); Katie Love (fr., OF).
Newcomers: Erin Macedo (fr., C).
Outlook: The Rangers have 23 players out for softball this spring — not bad for a school with a WIAA enrollment of just 55 students.
The last two Quilcene teams have finished fourth at state, and this year’s team lost just one contributor.
“Everybody is coming back,” Thompson said.
“The girls are excited to play, and we have the potential for a special year.”
Rae will get the bulk of the work on the mound, but don’t be surprised to see Bailey Kieffer take the hill.
“She maybe made the most improvement of any of our players at pitcher,” Thompson said.
“She’s really pounding the mitt so far, so I expect to use her more to keep Sammy fresh.”
With a veteran team returning, Thompson hasn’t had to outlaw the word “state” from his players’ vocabulary like he did last season.
“I haven’t made a point of emphasizing that. The girls know what it takes this year,” Thompson said.