As Marysville-Pilchuck slugger Joe Newland walked off a baseball field wearing his high school baseball uniform for the last time on Sunday, he glanced back at his team feeling pride in what the Tomahawks have and will accomplish.
The team won its first league and district titles since 1985 – a year before any of the players on the 2004 team were born. The Tommies scored 258 runs in a 20-5 season that took them all the way to the regional championship game for the first time since 1985. Though Newland will be taking swings for the University of Puget Sound baseball team, he believes the M-P baseball team can win it all next season.
“Between last year, this year and next year, hopefully this is the start of a dynamic, prolific program,” said Newland, who finished his season with a .516 batting average and 39 RBI. “Last year we lost in the first round. … This year we finished in the top eight. Hopefully next year – they’ve got all the talent coming back – they can go top four or better. They could be state champs. They have a legitimate shot next year.”
Though the Tommies will lose Newland, shortstop Jared Neyens and catcher James “Bubba” Day, they bring back six position players, including leadoff hitter Brandon Williams, No. 3 hitter Josh Short and Donny Treat, who bats fifth in the lineup and is a starting pitcher. No. 1 pitcher Nick Haughian is also expected back along with reliever/third baseman Brady Knuth.
“This is an outstanding group of guys,” said Tomahawks third-year coach Josh Rosenbach. “I wouldn’t trade a single one of them for anybody else. All good things come to an end, and this is the end of the road for the season for us. I wish the seniors the best on our way out, and the underclassmen will be back for another run at it next year.”
Nickelson’s dimes: If you see reporters in stitches at a track or cross country meet, there’s a good chance they are interviewing Lake Stevens distance runner Amber Nickelson. Ask her one question, and she’ll fill a notebook. Here are some gems from Friday’s Northwest District 4A track meet.
* “I have hated track until this year. Not hated. That’s a harsh word. It’s not my favorite. That’s what my math teacher tells me, ‘Don’t say I hate math. Say it’s not my favorite.’ Functions are fun!”
* “As a senior, I’m supposed to be a positive role model. In order to be a good role model, you’re supposed to be positive, a team player, show up for practice. There’s a list of things. Trust me, I qualified for like two of them last year.”
* “I have high hopes for the (state meet) 3,200. I like that distance because I can think about what I’m doing. Sometimes that’s a bad thing, because I’m thinking and not running. That’s where the phrase ‘Be dumb, run like a horse’ comes in. (Assistant coach Ernie Goshorn) is my jockey.”
Softball all-stars: Twelve Western Conference softball players have been named to the Wesco-Northwest League team for the first annual Senior All-Star Challenge to be played at 5:30 p.m. June 4 at Fort Dent in Tukwila. The Wesco-Northwest team will compete against squads representing the Kingco-Metro, South Puget Sound-Seamont King Division and Narrows-Seamont Pierce Division-Pacific 9 Leagues. The Wesco-Northwest team will be coached by Rachel Kane of Kamiak, Monica Bowers of Lake Stevens and Dan Teeter of Sedro-Woolley.
Wesco players selected include: Kelly Baugh and Vanessa Pineros of Kamiak, Whitney Cochran of Lake Stevens, Victoria Coury and Amy Hudson of Everett, Emily Gray, Amanda Shiflet and Courtney Stillman of Stanwood, Geneva Hale of Shorecrest, Brianna Knight of Mountlake Terrace, Brynn Noack of Edmonds-Woodway and Shannon Sullivan of Shorewood.
Gatorade names its state baseball player of the year: Sean McNaughton of Curtis has been named the Gatorade Washington high school baseball player of the year. Through April 30, McNaughton was batting .591 with four doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 22 RBI.
Hoop Hall of Fame: Jack Cleveland, Terry Irwin, Denny Humphrey and Marty O’Brien will be inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame during ceremonies June 28 at the Spokane Red Lion Inn at the Park.
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