It’s wide open in ’09

There’s no clear favorite in the race for the 2009 Metro softball crown

By Miles Vance

The Beaverton Valley Times, Mar 26, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

SHE’S READY — Westview’s Ashley Garcia and the Wildcats are aiming for another state playoff berth in ’09.

Miles Vance / Beaverton Valley Times

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The Metro League has been one of the state’s best for softball in recent years and may prove to be so again this year.

But as the six Metro high school teams prepare to kick off their 2009 season — teams open league play April 13 — the league looks as balanced and up in the air as at any time in recent memory.

“I think our league is somewhat balanced this year,” said Westview coach Ronda McKenzie, mentioning Sunset, Southridge and Jesuit as likely favorites. “Sunset should be the favorite having finished second in league last year and graduating only two seniors, but they did lose two pitchers (and) the Metro League graduated lots of outstanding seniors, especially from Jesuit and Westview.”

“I think between Westview, Jesuit, us and Sunset — all four could lose to the other or beat each other,” said Southridge coach Wilbur Charters. “But you’ve still got to take it away from (2008 champion) Jesuit.”

As to Jesuit, which went unbeaten in league in 2008 and played its way into the 6A state semifinals, the Crusaders are definitely downplaying their chances to win again in ’09.

“Sunset and Southridge have the most returning players, so I’d have to give the edge to them,” said Jesuit coach Jim Speciale. “But it’s still too early to tell. And I think it will be a dogfight for the third and fourth spots between Westview, Jesuit, Aloha and Beaverton.”

Throw in the OSAA-mandated change of high school pitching distance from 40 to 43 feet and the 2009 season promises to be equal parts exciting and unpredictable.

Following are previews of the varsity softball teams at the six Metro League high schools.

ALOHA

ALOHA – While nothing is certain, things are definitely looking up at Aloha this year.

And, after spending 2008 looking up at the rest of the Metro League, that is a welcome change indeed for the Warriors.

“I think we will do really well this year,” said Aloha coach Laura Clark. “They just need to stay confident and keep their bats going and we will be fine.”

This year’s Warrior crew will be led by returning all-leaguers Stephanie Lascelles (a junior center fielder who won second-team honors last year) and Kylie Delenikos (a junior first baseman named honorable mention in ’08), and by senior third baseman Ashley Casebeer and sophomore pitcher Serenil Sierra.

Casebeer “is a great leader on the field and off. She is strong defensively wherever I put her,” Clark said, also lauding Lascelles’ speed in the outfield and Delenikos’ quiet leadership.

The rest of the starting lineup will likely include junior right fielder Kyla Wood, sophomore shortstop and catcher Anna Moore, sophomore second baseman/outfielder Shelby Newton, freshman pitcher/catcher Ryan Patterson, and freshman shortstop/outfielder Juana Lopez. Also due for varsity time this year are senior outfielder Ashley Himmelspach, sophomore pitcher Katie Ogelsby, sophomore pitcher/outfielder Macayla O’Riley, and sophomore third baseman/outfielder Desirae Levasseur.

The improvement of Sierra should, according to Clark, have a great impact on the team’s success this year.

“She is a great pitcher and shows total confidence,” Clark said. “She has incredible movement on the ball and she also is a strong defensive player.”

And that absolutely has the Warriors looking up.

“I think we have a good shot because we are strong this year, we have a great pitching staff, and other teams might not expect it,” Clark said.

BEAVERTON

BEAVERTON – The 2008 season was not all pink flowers and fuzzy bunnies for the Beaverton softball team, but 2009 figures to be better.

The Beavers bring back four players who won all-league honors a year ago, return a third-year starting pitcher and promise to be solid defensively. Put it all together and the Beavers are thinking playoffs.

“I am feeling very good about our place in the league,” said Beaverton coach Jim Marron. “Some major changes have occurred in the league with the graduation of some impact players (from other schools) and the Beavers have improved, so I like our chances.”

Top returners are senior pitcher/first baseman Megen Ickler (a second-team all-Metro pick a year ago), junior second baseman Hannah Johnson (second team in ’08), sophomore catcher/third baseman Willow Martinson (honorable mention last year) and senior shortstop Maddie Evans (honorable mention in ’08).

“Maddie Evans had the third highest batting average in the Metro League (last year) and we are expecting the same kind of year from her” in 2009, Marron said, adding that Ickler “is really focused on producing her best year.”

The rest of the lineup will include sophomore Ruby LaFollette at first base, junior Kayla Lauro at third, senior Samantha White in left field, freshman Megan John in center and senior Caitlin Ellerbe in right.

The infield “should be strong with the addition of Ruby LaFollette at first base. She … has a great glove and a great will to learn the position,” Marron said. “The rest of the infield is very strong with two Metro League (all-stars) … and Kayla Lauro at third.”

Also due for time are senior third baseman Victoria Sanchez, junior Japanese foreign exchange student Natsuki Horikawa at third, junior outfielder/first baseman Brieanne Vanderpool, sophomore pitcher/second baseman Molly Tyler, and sophomore pitcher/second baseman Moriah Kimmer.

JESUIT

BEAVERTON – Jesuit graduated just about everybody off last year’s unbeaten Metro League championship team.

The Crusaders graduated the Metro’s Player of the Year — Mary Claire Brenner. They graduated the Pitcher of the Year — Paige Hall. In total, they graduated five first-team all-leaguers from last year’s varsity squad.

But Jesuit is Jesuit — with the addition of new talent, a handful of strong returners and one prominent transfer, the Crusaders should be very good once again.

“Offensively, I think we’ll be a good hitting team,” said Jesuit coach Jim Speciale, whose Crusaders lost in the 6A state semifinals last year. “We hope to be a playoff team again, but it’s just such a tough league.”

The cupboard is hardly bare, however. Jesuit brings back senior catcher Shikara Lowe (a first-team all-leaguer in 2008), junior second baseman Sam Nelson (a second-teamer in ’08) and sophomore first baseman Elizabeth Brenner (another ’08 second-teamer), and are bolstered by the addition of junior pitcher Amanda Najdek, who won first-team honors last year at Sunset.

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