Federal Way Eagles
Coach: Rosemarie Burke (sixth season)
Last year’s record: 0-20
Strong returners: Sr. Thea Davelaar (OF); Sr. Alexis Boenisch (C/OF); Sr. Olivia Timothy (OF/1B).
Top newcomers: Fr. Sarah Tarica (C); Fr. Lexis Pawlowski (P); Fr. Amanda Steffins (3B); Fr. Kayla Quiroga (1B/P).
Beamer Titans
Coach: Dave Abrahamson (third season)
Last year’s record: 11-11
Strong returners: Sr. Taylor Winton (C); Sr. Sarah Petosa (CF); Soph. Emma Blauser (P); Sr. Courtney Taylor (LF); Sr. Brianne Grosche (SS/2B).
Top newcomers: Fr. Jenna Floyd (SS); Fr. Sammy Sunitsch (3B); Haley Colson (RF).
Jefferson Raiders
Coach: Chad Fahnlander (seventh season)
Last year’s record: 19-9
Strong returners: Sr. Hannah Kiyohara (SS); Sr. Cassidy Dewaele (2B); Alex Rodriguez (P/Util.); Sr. Christi Bruin (C); Sr. Julia Chanes (OF); Soph. Lexi Goranson (OF); Soph. Michaela Patton (3B).
Top newcomers: Fr. Alyssa Keyes (OF); Jr. Allie Crowe (1B); Jr. Cyrena Bui (OF); Fr. Katie Jackson (P/Util).
Decatur Gators
Coach: Molly Rutter (first season)
Last year’s record: 1-12
Strong returners: Shelly Van Wagner; Lindsey Dickinson; Erin Slater; Kayla Lipston.
Top newcomers: None listed
The Thomas Jefferson Raiders rolled into the Class 4A State Softball Tournament last year for the second time in the last three seasons. Jefferson finished third place in the rugged South Puget Sound League North Division and have put together an impressive 56-29 record during those last three years.
Jefferson is hoping to keep things rolling this season. Head coach Chad Fahnlander brings back seven starters from a team that finished 19-9 overall, including 1-2 at the state tournament.
The Raiders bring back All-SPSL shortstop Hannah Kiyohara, who has already inked a letter of intent to play at the University of Louisville. Last year, Kiyohara was the Mirror’s Player of the Year after leading TJ in basically every offensive category from the leadoff position. She finished with a .508 batting average, 33 hits, two triples, one home run, scored 21 times, knocked in 22 runs and stole eight bases — all of which led the Raiders. She also led the SPSL North Division with 14 runs scored and a .744 slugging percentage.
“Hannah is a gifted athlete who has great hands, which makes her a very talented fielder,” said Louisville head coach Sandy Pearsall. “She continues to become better and better offensively and will bring a great deal of speed to the team. She has a great attitude and clearly loves playing the game.”
But Kiyohara isn’t the only impressive returner. Also back are seniors Cassidy Dewaele, Christi Bruin and Julia Chanes, along with sophomores Alex Rodriguez and Lexi Goranson.
Bruin was solid behind the plate last year for the Raiders. Bruin hit .365 during the regular season with eight doubles. She scored 12 runs and knocked in 17.
Dewaele, a second baseman, finished with a .235 batting average with two doubles, two triples, one home run and 10 runs scored. DeWaele also knocked in eight runs for the Raiders.
But Rodriquez might be the key to Jefferson getting back to state. The sophomore takes over on the mound from graduated Jessica Dickson. Rodriguez will also have some help from freshman Katie Jackson.
“We return seven starters from a state team,” Fahnlander said. “We will hit and defend well. But it all comes down to pitching, where we have a sophomore and a freshman.”
Beamer Titans
Last year was a historic season on the softball field at Todd Beamer High School. For the first time in the history of the school, the Titans qualified for the postseason.
Beamer is hoping that trend continues this year.
Third-year coach Dave Abrahamson returns five starters and seven seniors from a team that finished 11-11 overall and played at the West Central District Tournament.
Leading the list of returners are a pair of seniors who have already signed with college programs in catcher Taylor Winton and centerfielder Sarah Petosa. Winton is headed to Marshall University and Petosa will play at Seattle University.
Winton had six multi-hit games last season and pounded out two home runs. She was a second-team, All-SPSL South selection and led the Titans to the program’s first-ever postseason.
“Taylor is one of the better power hitters we have seen,” said Marshall head coach Shonda Stanton. “She has tremendous strength and is a legitimate long ball hitter. With all the speed we signed in 2009, Taylor was a must have and could potentially be one of the strongest players we have ever signed.”
Petosa was a first-team, All-SPSL South Division selection and was the Titans’ best offensive player last season. Petosa had six multi-hit games during the year and stole double-digit bases, including three in three different games.
The Titans also bring back sophomore pitcher Emma Blauser and seniors Courtney Taylor (LF) and Brianne Grosche (SS/2B). Abrahamson also has a talented group of freshmen this year, including Jenna Floyd (SS), Sammy Sunitsch (3B) and Haley Colson (RF).
“We need to exploit our strengths while minimizing our weakness,” Abrahamson said.
Federal Way Eagles
The Eagles finished the 2009 season without a victory, suffering to an 0-20 record.
Head coach Rosemarie Burke and the rest of the Eagles are hoping to change that. The 2010 edition has been practicing twice a week at 6:30 a.m., conducting extended practice twice a week and taking batting practice on Saturdays.
“Federal Way High School is doing everything in its power to work hard and to take advantage of our potential,” Burke said. “FWHS is no longer an 0-20 program.”
The Eagles return only three players from last year’s team in seniors Thea Develaar, Alexis Boenisch and Olivia Timothy. Davelaar is an outfielder, Boenisch is a catcher/outfielder and Timothy plays outfield and first base.
But it’s the newcomers that have Burke excited about the possibilities. A solid freshmen class, led by catcher Sarah Tarica, pitcher Lexis Pawlowski, third baseman Amanda Steffins and first baseman/pitcher Kayla Quiroga.
“We are young,” Burke said. “We are learning how to play together and deep a competitive spirit throughout a tough season.”
The Eagles have started the season 0-3 with shutout losses to Beamer and Kentridge and an 8-2 loss to Kentwood.
“Each day we take the field we work hard we do not save energy for the next drill the next play, the next day or the next game,” Burke said. Good players leave it all on the
field each day and are present and focused doing the best in each moment.”
Decatur Gators
The Gators struggled to just one win a season ago and finished in last place in the SPSL South Division.
Decatur and first-year head coach Molly Rutter are hoping to improve on that this year. The Gators return a lot of players, including pitcher Shelly Van Wagner, outfielder Lindsey Dickinson, Erin Slater and catcher Kayla Lipston.
Decatur has struggled during the early part of the season, rolling out to an 0-5 record. But the Gators hung tough with Beamer Wednesday, losing 5-3 when the Titans tallied two runs in their final at bat to break a tie.
