Port Angeles (3A)
• Head coach: Buddy Bear (second year).
• Last year: 13-3 in Olympic League, 17-9 overall; eliminated at 3A state (1-2).
• Returning players: Stacy Webb (Jr., P), Miranda Pitz (Sr., SS), Jamie Curtis (Sr., 2B), Kelsey Hinsdale (Jr., 3B), Sade Pimentel (Sr., OF), Amanda Wasnock (Sr., P), Hannah Wahto (Soph., C).
• Top newcomers: Danielle Grall (Sr., OF), Ashley Polly (Sr., 1B), Shari Adams (Jr., OF), Katie Loghry (Jr., INF), Emily Drake (Soph., OF), Tori Holcomb (Soph., INF).
• Player to watch: Stacy Webb.
Webb was a quick study for the Riders last season, earning first team All-Olympic League honors as a sophomore pitcher.
She had a 1.66 ERA with a 12-5 record and 108 strikeouts in 109 innings pitched.
• Outlook: The Riders visited state for the first time after finishing second in the Olympic League last season.
Three first-team All-Olympic League players — Webb, Hinsdale and Pimentel — return to lead an experienced group. So another state run could be in the cards.
“We have our work cut out for us considering that we made it to the state playoffs last year,” coach Bear said.
“That was a great ride, but . . . we have to move forward and take one game at a time. We can’t look back.”
Pitz, an honorable mention all-leaguer, leads the infield at shortstop, Pimentel the outfield in center and Wahto takes over at catcher for departed star Molly Ward.
“We play well as a team,” Bear said. “There will be ‘new’ people at key positions, but it’s like they had been there all along.
“We will be a stronger defensive team to match the increased pitching distance.”
Sequim (2A)
• Head coach: Mel Hendrickson (eighth year).
• Last year: 11-5 in Olympic League, 17-9 overall; eliminated at 2A state (2-2).
• Returning players: Lauren Hendrickson (Sr.), Chelsea Winfield (Sr., OF), Maddy Zbaraschuk (Jr., C), Lea Hopson (Jr., SS), Demiree Briones (Soph., P), Cindy Miller (Jr.).
• Top newcomers: Jazzelyn Bradbury (Jr., OF), Rylleigh Zbaraschuk (Fr.).
• Player to watch: Lea Hopson.
A slick fielder at shortstop, and a potent bat in the middle of the Wolves’ lineup, there is little Hopson takes off the table.
She was a first-team All-Olympic League player last season after hitting .455 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs.
• Outlook: No team on the Peninsula benefitted more than the Wolves from the pitching mound being moved back this spring.
With a hard-throwing No. 1 pitcher (Briones) and a number of powerful bats in the lineup, the Wolves should be positioned to take full advantage of the rule change.
Playoff regulars — Sequim has reached state five times since 2004 — the Wolves are hoping to improve on last year’s 2-2 mark at state.
“This is the best lineup I’ve had in my eight years here as far as speed and power,” coach Hendrickson said.
Port Townsend (1A)
• Head coach: Bobby DuBois (first year).
• Last year: 0-16 in Olympic League, 0-16 overall; missed playoffs.
• Returning players: Brook Nutter (Sr., SS), Chloe DuBois (Sr., 3B), Teslin LeMaster (Jr., P), Briel Kilham (Soph., P), Chelsea Whipple (Soph., C/OF), Ashley Nollette (Soph., C/2B).
• Top newcomers: Kala Olin (Fr., OF), Pua Brown (Fr., OF), Jenny Apker (Fr., INF).
• Player to watch: Teslin LeMaster.
The Redskins’ junior pitcher has another year of experience under her belt on the mound.
• Outlook: Port Townsend has struggled to field a competitive team since moving to the Olympic League.
Now they enter this season with their third new coach in five years.
The Redskins haven’t won a game since 2008, so while there are a handful of players on the team with games under their belt, they have yet to experience much winning.
DuBois hopes to get his team to compete game to game, regardless of the opponent.
Chimacum (1A)
• Head coach: Bobby Cossell (third year).
• Last year: 10-0 in Nisqually League, 20-5 overall; fourth at 1A state (3-2).
• Returning players: Samantha Benner (Sr.,CF), Arlie Petrick (Sr., P/SS), Brittany Nelson (Sr.,P/C), Tara Peters (Sr., 2B), Natasha Kiesel (Sr., LF), Cece Dietz (Sr., 3B/SS), Lacey Carter (Sr., RF), Kailey Castillo (Jr., C/3B).
• Top newcomers: Kaitlyn Cadero (Soph., OF), Krista Hathaway (Fr., 1B), Cydney Nelson (Fr., P/SS), Mallori Cossell (Fr., OF).
• Player to watch: Samantha Benner.
There are so many to choose from on the Cowboys’ roster, but Benner is an easy choice.
A two-tine all-league player, she is coming off a junior season in which she hit .456 with 23 runs scored and 11 RBIs.
• Outlook: A lot of teams talk about going to the state championship. In the Cowboys’ case, this is no pipe dream.
Chimacum returns all but three players from last year’s fourth-place team in Class 1A.
That includes seven first- or second-team All-Nisqually League players in Peters, Benner, Petrick, B. Nelson, Dietz, Kiesel and Carter.
“I’m looking to my senior group to pass on their knowledge and experience to our younger players,” Cossell said. “Our goal is to be in the championship game at state.”
Forks (1A)
• Head coach: Scott Justus.
• Last year: 8-4 in SWL-Evergreen Division, 15-8 overall; eliminated at districts.
• Returning players: Gwen Gillett (Sr., C), Jordan Grahn (Sr., 3B), Taylor Morris (Jr., 2B), Raven McCann (Jr., SS), Whitney Fairbanks (Jr., INF).
• Top newcomers: Jillian Raben (Fr., P/SS), Sierra Noles (Soph., OF), Alissa Shaw (Fr., 2B), Terra Sheriff (Fr., OF), Sassy Price (Fr., OF).
• Player to watch: Gwen Gillett.
Gillett was named a second-team All-Evergreen Division player last season and has the potential to be a first-teamer this season.
As one of the team’s few seniors, she will be counted on for her leadership. She’ll also have to help bring along freshman pitcher Jillian Raben.
• Outlook: Forks needs to reload once again after the departure of all-league pitcher/infielder Alexa Justus.
Having reached districts each of the last four years under coach Justus, the Spartans have proven they can do that. It’s taking the next step to state that has been the problem.
Each of the last two years the Spartans have come up just short.
Seniors Gillett and Grahn will be counted on to lead an inexperienced group that includes three freshmen in the starting lineup.
“We play in the toughest league/district in the state for softball,” coach Justus said. “Improving everyday, playing with a desire to stay as one of the top teams in our district and just getting to the district tournament are just three of the expectations we have as a team this year.”
Quilcene (2B)
• Head coach: Joni Corey.
• Last year: 4-4 in Sea-Tac, 6-12 overall; eliminated at districts.
• Returning players: Amy Kaiser (Jr., 1B), Sarah Bacchus (Jr., P), Tawnya Turley (Jr., C), Kelsea Knutzen (Jr.), Jessica Conely (Soph.), Sam Bessey (Sr.).
• Top newcomers: Kiani Clissold (8th, SS), Patrice Beringer (Soph, CF), Kelsey Hughes (8th, Util.), Leanne Weed (Jr., 3B).
• Player to watch: Sarah Bacchus.
Bacchus continues to grow in confidence and skill with each passing year, according to coach Corey.
That’s good news for the Rangers, considering she was a second-team All-Sea-Tac League performer a year ago.
• Outlook: The Rangers reached districts last spring and are looking for more this season.
It wasn’t all that long ago that Quilcene was a regular on the state scene, with the team reaching the tournament three straight years between 2004-06.
The Rangers lost a key player with the departure of infielder Anne Parfitt (second-team all league), but they have some experience coming back.
The fact that one of those returning players (Bacchus) is the team’s starting pitcher is a bonus.
“Our strengths are our cohesiveness as a team, our positive attitude and determination to win,” Corey said. “I would like to see us at first or second in league.
