Veteran hurlers give Kamiak, Shorecrest edge in league race

The two softball teams area coaches pointed to as the frontrunners in the Western Conference 4A South Division have one common attribute.

Veteran pitching.

While several of the league’s premier pitchers graduated in 2003, both Kamiak and Shorecrest return their all-league hurlers and are favored to battle for the Wesco South crown.

Shorecrest has claimed three straight league championships and is a remarkable 46-5 against Wesco South competition during that stretch.

Junior pitcher Ashley Morrison gained valuable playoff experience last season, as the Scots followed up their district title by advancing to a state championship game for the third year in a row.

Morrison’s numbers in her debut season were on pace with those of her predecessor, current UC Berkeley star Kristina Thorson. In roughly 146 innings, Morrison amassed 209 strikeouts and a 0.67 ERA. As a senior, Thorson collected 214 strikeouts with a 0.22 ERA in 161 innings.

But the Wesco South pitcher receiving the most preseason buzz is Kamiak’s Krista Colburn. The UCLA-bound senior went 12-3 for the Knights with 142 strikeouts and a 0.40 ERA during the regular season.

Colburn, who was recruited as an infielder by the Bruins, is also a threat at the plate. She hit .465 with four triples and three home runs as a junior, guiding the Knights to the Class 4A state tournament.

“Kamiak has got probably one of the best players we’ve ever seen. Krista Colburn is just a flat out stud,” raved Mountlake Terrace coach Kim Stewart.

The Shorecrest coaching staff was quick to acknowledge Colburn and the Knights appear to have the best chance at bringing an end to the Scots’ streak of league titles.

“I think you’ve got Kamiak at the top and then it’s a wide-open league. It could be anybody,” assistant coach Josh Lowe said.

“It’s whoever’s young pitchers step up and play well. There’s good pitchers out there, but there’s not a lot of experience at the varsity level.”

Jackson and Everett tied for third in the league standings behind Shorecrest and Kamiak last year and both teams are poised to get back to the playoffs in 2004.

The Timberwolves lost two all-league outfielders, but return most of their infielders as well as two dependable pitchers in Central Washington-bound senior Meaghan Craig and junior Rachel Koenig-Eng.

“Every team has improved somewhat, so it’s going to be tough games every day,” Jackson coach Mike Moran said. “That’s good because it prepares you for the postseason.”

Mountlake Terrace has advanced to districts all eight years Stewart has coached the Hawks and this season should be no different. Three of Terrace’s all-league honorees in 2003 have moved on to college ball, but the five starters who return agree that the team chemistry has reached new heights.

Shorewood and Edmonds-Woodway tied for fifth a year ago and are fielding two of the league’s younger lineups. The Thunderbirds return just three seniors and first-year E-W coach Chris Paulson kept four seniors. Both teams are hoping to improve their run support as they break in all-new pitching staffs.

While Shorecrest is a virtual shoo-in for one of the two 3A district playoff berths, the race for the league’s second spot should be tight.

Lynnwood and Meadowdale struggled last season, combining to win only two games the entire season against their 4A competition. Both teams look to be significantly improved and should record more victories against the league’s larger schools.

“It’s so hard to tell in this league,” Stewart said. “This league is always so tough.”

Last season, playoff-bound Mountlake Terrace lost two regular-season games to Edmonds-Woodway. Yet, the Warriors turned out to be the only team to lose to Lynnwood.

“Anybody can beat anybody on any given day,” Stewart said. Charlie Laughtland and David Pan cover sports for The Enterprise Newspapers. Questions and comments may be sent by e-mail to entsports@heraldnet.com, by fax to 425-774-8622 or by mail to Sports editor, The Enterprise, 4303 198th St. SW., Lynnwood, WA 98036.