Baseball players to watch

Chase Anselment

Meadowdale, senior, C/P/OF

College plans: University of Washington

2008 honors/stats: All-Wesco South first team utility, second team outfield; hit .380 with 11 doubles, four home runs, 26 RBI; four saves, 24 strikeouts in 172/3 innings on the mound.

Outlook: Ranked No. 1 among Washington seniors by Baseball Northwest, the hard-hitting Anselment (6 feet, 215 pounds) has received interest from pro scouts and might get drafted in June, Meadowdale coach Bill Hummel said. Anselment got bigger and stronger by working with a personal trainer, said Hummel: “Chase looks terrific. He’s all baseball and plays in a terrific summer program. He could not be more fired up for this season.”

Paul Clingan

Mountlake Terrace, senior, C

College plans: Washington State University

2008 honors/stats: All-Wesco South first team; hit .324 with nine doubles, two home runs, 22 RBI.

Outlook: A rare four-year starter for the 2008 division-and district-champion Hawks, Clingan will guide a stellar pitching staff that features Kyle Barisic and Ryan Sells. Clingan, a two-time co-captain, has led Terrace to three playoff appearances and two state-tournament trips. “Paul has caught all of our pitchers; some of them he’s caught probably since he was 9 years old,” Terrace coach Andrew Watters said. “He knows our pitchers really well and he knows how to work with them.” Clingan hopes to be a more consistent hitter this season, said Watters.

Travis Cook

Cedarcrest, senior, P/CF

College plans: Washington State University

2008 honors/stats: All-Cascade Conference first team pitcher, 2A coaches’ association all-state selection.

Outlook: Coming off a junior season in which he helped lead the Red Wolves to a 20-7 record and a second-straight third-place finish in the Class 2A state tournament, Cook is ready to cap his Cedarcrest career with another dominant spring. Cook (6-2 as a pitcher last year) is a hard-throwing right-hander who changes speeds well and hits his spots, Cedarcrest coach Scott Goldsberry said. Plus, Cook loves to battle. “As a four-year varsity starter, Travis has matured nicely over the past several seasons and has learned how to focus his competitive emotions to help him get the most out of his natural physical abilities,” Goldsberry said.

James Robbins

Shorecrest, senior, P/1B/OF

College plans: Washington State University

2008 honors/stats: All-Wesco South first team pitcher and first baseman; hit .365 with seven home runs, .788 slugging percentage; 5-2 with 76 strikeouts and a 1.92 earned-run average in 51 innings on the mound.

Outlook: Ultra-dangerous with a bat and a downright dominant pitcher, Robbins can take over a game. “He certainly has great skills, yet still always tries to improve,” Shorecrest coach Alan Bruns said. Robbins (ranked No. 11 among the state’s seniors by Baseball Northwest) is a true team player, said Bruns. “He will give us a chance to win every game that he pitches this season, and he’ll be the heart and soul of our line-up. He’s the most impressive hitter I’ve coached in my career, and his stuff on the mound is dominant.”

Brian Wolfe

Snohomish, senior, P/1B

College plans: University of Washington

2008 honors/stats: All-Wesco North second team pitcher and first baseman; helped Snohomish win 4A state title.

Outlook: The Panthers lost several top-notch pitchers. Wolfe will step in as the No. 1 starter, a role he loves. “I like having that kind of title and just being the one that everybody’s going after,” said Wolfe, ranked No. 16 among the state’s seniors by Baseball Northwest. Wolfe said his velocity tops out in the low 80s and he won’t overpower hitters. “But it’s more about hitting spots and throwing so they don’t make solid contact. It’s really easy for me to pitch that way because our defense is fantastic.”

Mike Cane: 425-339-3471, mcane@heraldnet.com