Jake Rife
Matt Gegax
Jesse Wight
Travis Snider
The shortstop is one of 11 seniors on a deep E-W squad. Warriors coach Joe Webster often uses the 6-2, 180-pound Gegax at the leadoff spot. “I want to make sure that Mark gets as many at-bats as anybody,” Webster said. Last season, Gegax batted .432, scored 23 times and drove in 24 runs. He also stole 10 bases and had a .588 on-base percentage.
The senior outfielder batted .447 and set Lakewood’s single-season hits record (38) in 2004 en route to making The Herald’s All-Area 2A/1A/B first team. A left-hander who will play for the University of Washington next season, Rife helped lead Lakewood to a second-place finish in the Class 2A state tournament last spring. He also played for the Seattle Mariners Area Code team.
| Here is how area baseball coaches predict the Wesco North and South Divisions will shape up: Wesco North 1. Marysville-Pilchuck 2. Snohomish 3. Cascade 4. Stanwood 5. Mt. Vernon 6. Lake Stevens 7. Monroe 8. Arlington 8. Oak Harbor Wesco South 1. Jackson 2. Edmonds-Woodway 3. Kamiak 4. Shorewood 5. Everett 5. Mountlake Terrace 7. Meadowdale 8. Shorecrest 9. Lynnwood 10. Mariner |
The outfielder/first baseman emerged last year as one of the most productive hitters around. As a sophomore, the left-hander led Jackson in batting average (.474), home runs (nine), RBI (30) and on-base percentage (.538). Snider, now a junior co-captain, has completely recovered from the broken leg and torn tendons he suffered last spring during a football scrimmage.
Edmonds-Woodway, shortstop
Lakewood, outfielder
Jackson, outfielder/1B
Four players to watch this season
Kamiak coach Steve Merkley said the senior right fielder, who will play for Bellevue Community College next season, might be the best hitter the Knights have ever had. A 6-foot-2, 180-pound player who hits from the left side, Wight batted .423 last season. Wight, who throws right-handed, is also an accomplished outfielder. He set a team record with seven assists in 2004.
Kamiak, outfielder
Gamebreakers
By Mike Cane
Herald Writer
MARYSVILLE – Can you feel it?
There’s an aura of enthusiasm hovering around the Marysville-Pilchuck High School baseball team this spring.
And why not?
The Tomahawks enjoyed a remarkable 2004 season that included their first league and district championships since 1985. Along the way, they twice rallied for district victories after trailing by five runs and advanced to the Class 4A state regional finals, finishing with a 20-5 record.
“Everybody’s really excited to be back,” said Marysville senior pitcher Nick Haughian, a left-hander who will play for the University of Washington next spring.
With a slew of experienced varsity players returning, the Tomahawks have their sights set even higher this season. One reason is their pitching staff, which includes Haughian and fellow seniors Brady Knuth and Donny Treat. The trio combined to go 14-2 in 2004.
Snohomish is considered by the Western Conference North Division coaches to be Marysville’s toughest challenger, but the Tommies say they’re ready for anyone.
“Everybody here expects us to win state,” Haughian said of his team’s goals, “and we think we’re that good.”
The Tomahawks already have suffered a setback. Senior Josh Short, a standout designated hitter who attends Grace Academy but plays baseball for Marysville because Grace doesn’t have a team, tore the anterior cruciate ligament and the meniscus in his left knee and is expected to miss the entire season. Short hit .456 with 14 doubles, 23 runs batted in and 36 runs scored in 2004.
Still, several talented Tomahawks hitters return, including Treat (.370 batting average and 34 RBI last year), who plays first base when he’s not pitching. Junior shortstop Brandon Williams is also dangerous at the plate (.367, 23 RBI).
Last year was more stressful than fun for Williams, who said he was mostly worried about not failing as a wide-eyed sophomore. Now he’s ready, mentally and physically.
“I’m just more confident in myself,” Williams said. “Last year I was nervous because I was so young.”
Even with heaps of talent, M-P can’t afford to look too far ahead. The Tomahawks recently committed six errors in a 6-5 non-conference loss against Sedro-Woolley on March 24. Knuth, who also plays third base, said he hopes the defeat will help his team re-focus, much like an early-season loss against Anacortes did a year ago.
“We kind of learned from that (Anacortes loss),” Knuth said, “and I’m hoping we do the same this year.
“If you know you’re gonna have a great season,” Knuth continued, “you have to be able to back it up.”
Keeping this gifted group on track is the job of Josh Rosenbach, who is in his fourth year as the Tomahawks head coach. Rosenbach, who graduated from Marysville-Pilchuck in 1994, was a catcher on the Tomahawks baseball team. He went on to coach baseball at Wenatchee Valley College before returning to Marysville.
“He’ll make sure we get the work done,” Treat said of Rosenbach’s approach, “but he lets us have fun too. He’s got a good knowledge of the game.”
Rosenbach said he’s been blessed with strong pitching since he took over the program, but this year’s group is the best he’s worked with.
“I like my guys,” Rosenbach said of his pitchers, “and I’m definitely excited to have them here.”
The team’s ace, Haughian, is equally eager. In a season full of high expectations, he and the Tomahawks are sure to have plenty of fun.
“The camaraderie is just huge,” Haughian said. “I love the guys out here.”
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