The Todd Beamer softball program played at the Class 4A State Tournament for the first time in the program’s history a season ago, finishing with an eighth-place trophy.
The future looks even brighter for the Titans. Head coach Brian Hering graduated only one senior from last year’s team.
“If we come and play like a team we will go far,” said head coach Brian Hering. “If we play as individuals, we won’t.”
Leading the list of returners for the Titans is junior pitcher Madison Rogers. Last year, Rogers was dominant for Beamer both on the mound and at the plate. Rogers won all 23 games for Beamer on the mound. She had an earned-run average of just 2.26 in 204 1/3 innings. Rogers also finished with a school record 301 strikeouts. Opponents hit just .199 against her and she threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts during a 9-0 win over Curtis on April 22.
At the plate, the first-team, All-South Puget Sound League South Division selection hit .302 with 26 RBIs, seven doubles, three triples and two home runs.
Also back for the Titans are infielders Megan Jewett-Chan and Kelsey McDonnell and outfielders Jourdin Hering, Maddy Colson and Analee Scott.
Jewett-Chan was a first-team, All-SPSL South Division as a junior after hitting .398 with a team-best 33 RBIs, 10 doubles and six triples. Jewett-Chan also scored 31 runs and connected on three home runs.
McDonnell hit .340 with 26 runs, 17 RBIs and two doubles last year. McDonnell was a second-team, All-SPSL South selection and had 10 stolen bases. Colson hit .392 with two home runs and also had three triples, two doubles and 13 RBIs while scoring 27 runs. Colson finished with 13 stolen bases.
As a freshman, Hering finished with a .271 batting average, but scored 32 runs with 19 RBIs. Hering led the team with 14 stolen bases and had three doubles and five triples. She was a second-team, All-SPSL South selection.
Scott was a first-team, All-SPSL South selection after leading Beamer in hitting with an eye-popping .461 batting average. Scott finished with 47 hits, 10 doubles, three triples, one home run and scored a team-best 33 runs. She had 19 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.
The Titans opened the 2014 season with an 0-2 record with non-league losses to Woodinville and Kentridge, but have won their last three games in impressive fashion over Issaquah, Emerald Ridge and Federal Way. During Beamer’s 9-1 win over Federal Way Monday, Rogers finished with 15 strikeouts and Scott was 4 for 5 with three runs and four stolen bases.
Tradition has been a big part of the Thomas Jefferson softball program. The Raiders have made 12 consecutive appearances in the postseason and seem to be in a very good position to make it 13.
Head coach Chad Fahnlander returns a bulk of the lineup from a team that went 13-11 last year. Back are seniors Annalise Campbell, Rocky Hale and Bailey Rundle, along with sophomores Sam Simundson, Kyleigh Carbon and Brittany Leggett.
Campbell will play shortstop for the Raiders after a stellar junior season. Campbell was a second-team, All-SPSL North selection and finished 4 for 4 with four RBIs, three triples and a double during the Raiders’ season-opening 12-2 win over Decatur. She was also 2 for 2 with four RBIs during a 14-0 win over Auburn Monday.
Hale returns as the Raiders’ pitcher and Rundle returns as a second-team, All-SPSL North Division selection as a utility player after several multi-hit games. Rundle was 3 for 5 with three RBIs during a win over Kentridge last year.
Carbon was also a second-team, All-SPSL North pick a year ago as an outfielder and she finished 2 for 2 during the win over Decatur on March 18. Leggett, a first baseman, was a second-teamer a season ago.
Things are looking up at Federal Way High School. The Eagles won the program’s first SPSL South game on March 25 over the Curtis Vikings. Federal Way also beat Auburn Riverside and opened the season with an impressive 11-9 win over Mercer Island.
The Eagles are led by Jaclyn Gillis, who will see a bulk of the innings this season on the mound for Federal Way.
Offensively, the Eagles should be led by Jayme Scanson, who finished 3 for 5 with five RBIs with a double, triple and home run during the win over Mercer Island. Gillis finished 3 for 4 with two runs and freshman Payten Hurn also collected three hits, including a double.
The Decatur Gators should be improved from a season ago under first-year head coach Sara Steinmetz. Decatur opened the season with a non-league win over Steilacoom.
