The top 10 things to watch as the spring playoffs kick into high gear this week:
1. Last chance to see baseball stars: Two of the state's top baseball prospects will hear their names called early in next month's MLB draft, but you can seem them in the playoffs now. Josh Sale of Bishop Blanchet in Seattle and Drew Vettleson of Central Kitsap in Silverdale are two stars not to be missed. This could be one of last chances to see Vettleson's ambidextrous pitching. He'll be drafted for his bat, not his arm.
2. Here's another reason to head to the track: Some of the top distance runners in the nation call Washington home. While distance running isn't always the biggest draw for track and field meets, this year is an exception. Ben Johnson of North Central (Spokane) (Class 3A) ran the nation's fastest 1,600 recently. He has the state's top times in the 1,600 and 3,200. Central Kitsap (Silverdale)'s Shane Moskowitz is the defending Class 4A champ in both events. On the girls side, Maddie Meyers from Northwest (Seattle) and Amy Eloise Neale from Glacier Peak (Snohomish) are worth the price of admission.
3. Here's another reason to head to the field: While track gets more attention, there are some field events worth seeing this year. Derek Eager from Tahoma (Kent) already owns the state record in the javelin (229 feet, 5 inches), and he's the top discus thrower in the state (187-0). The high jump will be fun to watch as Kasen Williams, a top football recruit from Skyline of Sammamish, tries to defend his state high jump. He's one of two in the state who have cleared 6-11, along with A.J. Maricich from Mead (Spokane). The high jump has an incredibly deep field.
4. High school ball in major league setting: I can't tell you how many states hold their baseball championships in a major league venue, but Washington does. Safeco Field in Seattle, one of the majors' top facilities, hosts the Class 4A sand 3A state baseball final four over Memorial Day weekend.
5. Watch a record-breaking pitcher try for a title: Union (Vancouver, Wash.) pitcher Maria Dawson broke the state record for career strikeouts last week as the top-ranked Titans clinched at least a share of the Greater St. Helen's League title. Dawson struck out 15 in a 2-1 win against Prairie (Brush Prairie). That gave her 957 strikeouts, which broke the record of Skyview (Vancouver, Wash.)'s Whitney Baker, who currently plays for UCLA.
6. Check out state's top soccer player: Camas junior Nick Palodichuk was named the Gatorade State Soccer Player of the Year last week, and he's a candidate for the national award. He leads the undefeated Papermakers back into the playoffs. Camas is looking for its third Class 3A state title in five years. Palodichuk was a starter on the U.S. Soccer Federation's Under-18 national team in the World Cup last year in Nigeria.
7. Painting the golf tournament Tan: Holy Names Academy (Seattle)'s Kristin Tan won a state title as a sophomore. She finished third as a junior, but she led the Seattle school to the state tournament. Can she do both this year?
8. A battle of champs in tennis final? Natalie Allen from Holy Names in Seattle won the Class 3A tennis title this year, but a repeat won't be easy. Bainbridge (Bainbridge Island)'s Sasha Carter won a Class 1A title as a freshman at Annie Wright in Tacoma. She had to sit out last season because of WIAA transfer rules. She and Allen are evenly matched and favored to meet for the title.
9. See the top dynasty of spring sports: The DeSales (Walla Walla) Fighting Irish are looking to win the Class 2B state baseball title. It’s odd that they aren’t looking to repeat. The Irish, 17-2 heading into districts, has lost the state small-school title only twice since 1992. Last year was one of those rare years, as Northwest Christian (Lacey) beat them 11-10 in eight innings.
10: Give lacrosse a chance: The WIAA didn't sanction lacrosse as a state sport this year, but the club sport is still plenty popular. Lacrosse likes to bill itself as the fastest-grown sport west of the Mississippi. Well, you can see the state title games this month. The boys play May 29 at Seattle's Memorial Stadium. The girls play May 15 at Eastside Catholic (Bellevue).
Nathan Joyce has covered high school sports in Washington for 13 years. He works at the Kitsap Sun in Bremerton.
