It was a rough week for the top Class 3A baseball teams in the state. First, top-ranked Mt. Rainier (Des Moines) stumbled in the championship game of the Seamount/Sub-District tournament, losing to unranked Enumclaw. Then the Rams lost their West Central/Southwest district opener to Union, 11-1.
Things ended for OK for the Rams, as they beat Olympic (Bremerton) to claim a spot in state. Things didn't go as well for the North Kitsap (Poulsbo) Vikings. Ranked No. 2 heading into districts, the Vikings lost to Enumclaw 5-4 in nine innings and 4-3 to Sumner. NK ended the season on a four-game losing streak.
2. Bomber return to state: Richland, the defending Class 4A state champion, wasn't expected to be much of a factor this year, but the Bombers (17-5) won the Columbia Basin district title by beating Kennewick 8-1.
3. One soccer champ still going, one done: Shorecrest (Seattle) (19-0), the defending Class 3A state champ, heads into the state tournament on a 38-game win streak after winning the Northwest District title by beating Mount Vernon 6-0. The state tournament begins this Tuesday. Defending Class 4A state champ South Kitsap (Port Orchard) was eliminated in the district tournament by Beamer [Todd] (Federal Way), 2-0.
4. State champs get new coach: Brian Davis, who has been an assistant coach at Squalicum (Bellingham) as the Storm won the last two Class 2A state titles, takes over as boys basketball coach at Kentwood (Covington). The Conquerors, behind state player of the year Joshua Smith, won the Class 4A state title in March.
5. Another lacrosse title for Lakeside: The Lakeside (Seattle) Lions (16-0) won their fifth straight state Division I lacrosse title, beating Bainbridge (Bainbridge Island) 15-10. Lakeside has a record eight girls state titles.
Top five performers
Tyler Baumgartner, Central Kitsap (Silverdale): The senior hit two home runs and had five RBI in a 7-1 win over Emerald Ridge (South Hill) that put the Cougars back in the state tournament for the fourth straight year.
Kasen Williams, Skyline (Sammamish): The senior football standout won all three jump events at the King Co. meet. He set the meet record in the triple jump (49-3.75) and won the high jump (6-10) and long jump (23-10.5).
Kenny Krotzer, Auburn Riverside: The Stanford-bound senior swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the South Puget Sound League meet. He set the meet record in the 800 at 1:52.23.
Paige Goulet, Richland: The freshman, who has battled shoulder problems this year, threw a complete game, striking out four and walking none and giving up nine hits, as the Bombers won the district title by beating Walla Walla 2-1 in eight innings.
Ruby Roberts, Kingston: The senior cross country champ won the 800 and 1,600 at the Olympic League meet and set meet records in both the 800 (2:13.74) and 1,600 (5:07.29).
Coming up
The state soccer tournaments begin on Tuesday. First-round games must be completed by Wednesday. Quarterfinal games are Saturday.
The state baseball tournaments begin Saturday. First- and second-round games are both played that day. This week is a busy one. District events for softball, track and field, tennis and golf are all underway.
Nate's notes
Secretary's Day is already on the books. I think it's time somebody thinks of a day for high school sports writers. You probably already think we have it well enough, getting paid to watch games. You're right; it's a good way to make a living. But covering playoffs, especially in the spring, is a thankless, month-long siege designed to keep us from our friends and family. Take my Saturday, for example. I covered district baseball. That was three games before hanging out in my truck writing the story. Then it was back to the office to help put the paper out and complete my 14-hour day. And the scene was played out across the country for my colleagues. Don't get me wrong, I can't think of another way I'd choose to make a living. Maybe just remember us when you're sending out Christmas cards?
Nathan Joyce has been a sports writer in Washington for 12 years. He works at the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton.
