Powerhouse TJ highlights 2012 All-City Softball Team

Michaela Patton had a monster season for the Raiders and was named first-team, All-SPSL North by the league’s coaches.

By Casey Olson • June 14, 2012 8:01 pm
Jefferson senior centerfielder Lexi Goranson smacks a two-RBI double to the left field fence in the state semifinal against Walla Walla on May 26 in Spokane.
Jefferson senior centerfielder Lexi Goranson smacks a two-RBI double to the left field fence in the state semifinal against Walla Walla on May 26 in Spokane.

INFIELD

Michaela Patton, Jefferson

The senior had a monster season for the Raiders and was named first-team, All-SPSL North by the league’s coaches. Jefferson second baseman is headed to Savannah State University in Georgia in the fall. Patton led Jefferson to the state tournament for the fourth-straight season after setting an all-time TJ record for hits in a season with 57 and tied for highest batting average at .559. She also had a team-best 40 RBIs, scored 44 runs, 13 doubles, seven triples and one home run. Patton was also 9 for 9 in stolen bases.

Savannah State finished the 2012 season with a 26-24 record, but won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division title.

Reno Whitcomb, Jefferson

The Raider shortstop had a huge role in Jefferson’s run to the state tournament. Whitcomb played stellar defense in the middle of the TJ infield and was also lethal at the top of the offensive lineup. She finished with a .490 batting average and stole an astounding 36 bases in 38 attempts.

Whitcomb also finished with 52 singles and only three extra-base hits. She did have one home run and scored a team-high 49 runs and had 16 RBIs.

Emma Blauser, Beamer

After being the Titans’ main pitcher during her first three seasons, Blauser played her more comfortable infield position while Madison Rogers handled most of the mound duty.

Blauser, who will play next year at Western Washington University, was a second-team, All-SPSL South selection as a utility player by the league’s coaches. Her best offensive game came April 20 against Curtis when she went 2 for 3 with a home run, double, three runs and four RBIs. She also had a complete-game, four-hitter on the mound over Spanaway Lake on March 21.

Meghan Pewitt-Chan, Beamer

The sophomore shortstop proved to be one of the best defensive infielders in the SPSL South this season. Pewitt-Chan was a first-team, All-SPSL South selection by the league’s coaches. Offensively, Pewitt-Chan also had some very impressive games for the Titans. Her best game at the plate may have come during a big late-season win over the Puyallup Vikings on May 10. She finished 3 for 5 with a double and three RBIs.

Pewitt-Chan will lead an impressive group of returners for Beamer next season.

Annalise Campbell, Jefferson

The Raider first baseman was another key part of the potent Jefferson offense that led TJ to a fourth-place finish at the Class 4A State Softball Tournament.

Campbell finished with a .410 batting average and led the Raiders with 20 sacrifices. Campbell also stole 17 out of 18 bases she attempted and had 15 RBIs and scored 37 runs.

OUTFIELD

Kelsey McDonnell, Beamer

For the second year in a row, McDonnell was recognized as a first-team, All-SPSL South outfielder by the league’s coaches. The sophomore, who bats left-handed and throws right-handed, might be the fastest player in the league and had numerous games with multiple stolen bases. McDonnell plays for the highly-successful Sidewinders summer softball team.

Lexi Goranson, Jefferson

The Thomas Jefferson senior centerfielder will head to Portland State University in the fall. Goranson played a huge part in leading the Raiders to the Class 4A State Softball Tournament all four years of her career and hit over .500 during three of those seasons.

This season, Goranson hit .517 with 38 RBIs, 37 runs and five home runs, leading the Raiders, who finished in fourth place at state. As a junior, Goranson finished fourth in the SPSL North Division with an eye-popping .565 batting average and was a first-team, all-league selection by the league’s coaches.

Portland State finished 28-25 and won the Pacific Coast Softball Conference championship, advancing into the NCAA Division I Tournament. The Vikings played in the Eugene Regional and finished 1-2 with losses to Oregon and BYU.

Bailey Rundle, Jefferson

Rundle finished with an impressive .370 batting average and 23 RBIs for the Raiders, who finished third in the SPSL North before winning the SPSL Tournament in impressive fashion. Rundle also had four doubles and two triples and scored 25 runs for Jefferson. She also only struck out four times during the entire season.

UTILITY

Katie Jackson, Jefferson

The senior was a first-team, All-SPSL North selection as a utility player. Jackson played numerous positions for the Raiders and finished with a .310 batting average with eight doubles and three triples. Jackson also knocked in 16 runs and scored 17.

Jackson was also Jefferson’s top pitcher, starting 24 games on the mound. The right-hander finished with a 2.49 earned-run average and struck out 125 hitters in 149 innings of work. Jackson also pitched in every game during the Raiders’ postseason run.

CATCHER

Halle Colson, Beamer

The junior had some huge offensive games for the Titans during the SPSL South season, including a pair of multi-home run games. Colson dominated the Curtis Vikings. During an 11-1 win over Curtis on March 30, Colson finished 3 for 3 with two home runs and five RBIs. She was 3 for 4 during a 15-2 win over Curtis April 20 with two home runs and six RBIs. Colson helped Beamer qualify for the West Central District Tournament with a 13-12 overall record.

PITCHER

Rocky Hale, Jefferson

The sophomore was a perfect 7-0 during the SPSL North season and also led the division in earned-run average.  In total, Hale threw 76 innings on the season and struck out 68. She finished with a 3.32 ERA and opponents hit just .265.