PREP BASEBALL: Five Players to Watch

Taylor Brennan, Meadowdale

Senior shortstop

2009 recap: Hit .375 with two home runs, scored 27 runs and stole 25 bases; All-Wesco South second team IF.

College plans: Lewis-Clark State College.

2010 outlook: Thanks to what his coach called a religious dedication to weightlifting, Brennan put on 33 pounds since last season yet maintained his top-notch speed and mobility. “He looks like a man among boys right now,” Meadowdale coach Bill Hummel said. Always a threat on the base paths, Brennan averaged more than one steal per game in 2009 for the Class 3A Mavericks. Ranked No. 10 among the state’s seniors by Baseball Northwest, Brennan has the potential to get selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft and is currently projected to go somewhere between the 15th and 18th rounds, said Hummel.

Tyler Kane, A. Murphy

Senior pitcher/third base

2009 recap: Hit .552 with 11 doubles and seven home runs; pitching record was 4-0; All-Cascade Conference first team 3B, Herald All-Area second team 3B.

College plans: University of Washington.

2010 outlook: Kane verbally committed to Gonzaga University in October but got an offer from new UW coach Lindsay Meggs in early November and signed with the Huskies. “It’s my dream school,” said Kane, whose grandpa and dad attended Washington. Kane’s older brother currently attends the UW.

Recruited as a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who might also contribute as a hitter in college, Kane puts in extra time before and after practices to hone his skills, Murphy coach Stan Taloff said: “He pays the price to maximize his talent.”

Austin Denton Marysville-Pilchuck

Senior outfield

2009 recap: Hit .478 with five doubles, three triples, seven home runs, scored 32 runs, drove in 36 runs; All-State honorable mention OF, Herald All-Area first team OF, All-Wesco North first team OF.

College plans: Undecided.

2010 outlook: Considerably banged up and sidelined at the end of his prolific senior football season, Denton was not fully healthy when baseball practice started on March 1, M-P coach Kurt Koshelnik said. But the heavy-hitting center fielder has diligently rehabilitated his body and is nearly back to 100 percent, said Koshelnik: “He’s a hardworking kid. For all the success that he’s had, he’s always a hard worker.”

Possessing exceptional speed and power, Denton will bat third for M-P. “He’s a special player. He just does everything that you need him to do at the plate,” Koshelnik said.

Dylan LaVelle Lake Stevens

Sophomore third base/shortstop/pitcher

2009 recap: Hit .319 with four doubles, two triples, five home runs, drove in 13 runs; pitching record was 3-3, 2.10 earned-run average; All-Wesco North first team P and second team IF.

College plans: Undecided.

2010 outlook: Among players who earned All-Wesco North first team honors last season, only one (LaVelle) was a freshman. From Day 1 he performed like an upperclassman for Lake Stevens. “He was really, really mature. His first day in the program you could just tell — he didn’t act like a freshman,” Vikings coach Rodger Anderson said.

Ranked No. 2 in the state’s Class of 2012 by Baseball Northwest, LaVelle lost 15 pounds since the end of last season, said Anderson. The confident sophomore is more nimble yet still very strong, the coach said. LaVelle is expected to be the No. 1 starter in a pitching rotation loaded with quality throwers.

Trevor Mitsui, Shorewood

Junior third base

2009 recap: Hit .455 with 12 doubles, four home runs, drove in 36 runs, .565 on-base percentage; All-State first team IF, Herald All-Area first team 3B, All-Wesco South first team IF.

College plans: University of Washington (verbal commitment).

2010 outlook: Mitsui had a monster sophomore season, compiling one of the best springs 12th-year Shorewood coach Wyatt Tonkin has seen. Signs point to an impressive junior season too. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Mitsui “looks bigger and stronger and he’s the hitting the ball just as well as he did last year,” Tonkin said. “I expect him to put up big numbers again if we can protect him (in the lineup).”

Mitsui stays level-headed no matter what happens from at-bat to at-bat and pitch to pitch. “His boat never goes up or down,” said Tonkin. “He has confidence in himself that he can hit with any count.”

Mike Cane, Herald Writer

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren watches his team against Washington Sunday, November 9, 2003. (George Bridges / KRT / Tribune News Services)
No Holmgren in Hall is a travesty

The Former Seahawks coach carries a resume superior to many already in the HOF.

A Snohomish School District truck clears the parking lot at Glacier Peak High School on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Aaron Coe / The Herald)
Inclement weather cancellations strain high school sports calendar

With state tournaments on the horizon, ADs from Wesco, Northwest and Kingco must be flexible

Gonzaga overcomes stagnant start to beat LMU

Bulldogs get ‘best of best’ play down the stretch in 73-53 win.

Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates during a stop of the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field on Nov. 24, 2024 (Photo courtesy of Rod Mar / Seattle Seahawks)
Leonard Williams restructures Seahawks deal

More moves may be coming as Seattle deals with salary cap.

Former Archbishop Murphy High School stars, Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (6) and Seahawks right tackle Abraham Lucas (72), prepare for play at Soldier Field in Chicago on Dec. 26, 2024. Though Lucas is likely to return as a starter, Seattle's interior line needs offseason upgrades. (Photo courtesy of Edwin Hooper / Seattle Seahawks)
The Seahawks offensive line needs work

A mix free agency and draft could lead to upgraded interior.

UW men stumble in second half, fall to Nebraska

The three-pointers that fell so frequently — and from a… Continue reading

Edmonds-Woodway’s William Alseth dribbles the ball down the court during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys basketball enters playoffs on high note

The Warriors never let up in 63-43 win vs. Shorewood on Tuesday to secure Wesco South 3A/2A title

Prep basketball roundup for Tuesday, Feb. 4

Parker powers Seagulls to district berth.

Kraken rally to force overtime, fall in shootout

Streaking Red Wings too much for young Kraken lineup that showed some promise.

Slivertips’ Clarke Schaefer tries to maneuver around Medicine Hat’s Josh Van Mulligen during the game on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tips Week in Review: Everett splits slate in high-scoring week

The Silvertips were outscored 24-18 in four games this week, losing two to the next-best WHL teams

Everett Silvertips’ Landon DuPont during the game against the Medicine Hat Tigers on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tips’ DuPont becomes first rookie D to score 50 points in 35 years

The 15-year-old star defenseman joined Scott Niedermayer in exclusive company with an assist Sunday.

Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto believes players like Jorge Polanco (7) will enjoy bounceback seasons in 2025. (Alika Jenner / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Despite quiet Mariners offseason, Jerry Dipoto confident

With the pre-spring training luncheon and news conference no longer an annual… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.