Forget angels, Issaquah has Eagles in the outfield
March 16, 2009
By Christopher Huber
With apologies to J.D. Salinger, if the great author were writing about the Issaquah High School baseball team he might describe a trio of outfielders as “catchers of the fly.”
Issaquah, one of the most successful programs in the state, will see the return of three starters — Spencer Rogers, Miles Perkins and Brennan Miller — who comprise possibly the Eagles’ best outfield of all time and one of the best in the Northwest.
As talented as the trio are, the key for Issaquah in its first season moving up to the 4A KingCo Conference will likely come on the mound. Among Issaquah’s major graduation losses from last season were three pitchers who helped the Eagles win the 3A state title in 2007 and place third at state in 2008.
District rivals Skyline and Liberty appear to have an edge in pitching this season. Skyline, which also moves up to 4A KingCo, has all-leaguer Adrian Sampson returning along with some other seasoned pitchers. Liberty’s title hopes in the 3A/2A KingCo will depend a great deal on John McLeod, who ranked among the league’s top pitchers last season.
Eagles still loaded
Issaquah saw some key starters from last season’s team graduate, but the cupboard is far from bare, especially in the outfield with Rogers, a junior, and Perkins and Miller, both seniors.
“They are a pretty good outfield. All three guys can catch the ball, throw, run, hit and field,” Issaquah coach Rob Reese said.
Center fielder Rogers comes off a sensational season where he set a school-record for hitting with a .487 average. He also topped the Eagles in hits (41), runs scored (30) and doubles (15). Rogers ranked second on the team with 26 RBIs.
“He’s pretty special,” said Reese, who likens Rogers to former Issaquah standout Colin Curtis. The latter was a stellar player at Arizona State University and now plays in the New York Yankees’ organization.
In KingCo competition, Rogers led the league with a .571 average, RBIs with 16, runs scored with 20 and doubles with 10.
Perkins, a right fielder, and Miller, a left fielder, were tough outs last spring, too, hitting .328 and .321, respectively.
In addition to the outfield, Issaquah has a strong infield doubleplay combination of shortstop Grant Gellatly and second baseman Michael Dixon returning. Dixon hit .317 last spring.
Other starting positions are still up for grabs. Marcus Gaan, Alex Severin and Devin O’Donnell are the main candidates for third base. Mike Paulson and Shane Yarnell will probably split time at first base. Behind the plate, O’Donnell, Pete Balzarini and Kyle Skavaril are battling for the starting job. O’Donnell, a strong hitter, will be in the lineup somewhere.
Pitching, usually a strong point for the Eagles, is a bit of a question mark, although Reese said he likes the potential and depth there. Austin O’Neill, who saw some varsity action last year, is returning. Yarnell, a promising 6-foot-4 junior, Paulson, Severin, Kevin Baker, Matt Houser, Tyler Allot and Rogers are other pitchers Reese is counting on this season.
“Our pitching numbers are great,” he said. We will see if they can compete.”
After being one of the dominant teams in 3A KingCo for several years, Issaquah gets a new challenge this season. Woodinville, which has several talented players, could be the team to beat in 4A KingCo.
Issaquah got its season off to a winning start March 13 with a 6-2 nonleague victory against Kentridge. Rogers and Perkins each had two hits and drove in a run. O’Neill threw four scoreless innings in relief, holding Kentridge to one hit and striking out four.
Patriots look powerful
With Skyline, Issaquah and Newport moving up to 4A KingCo, Liberty should be one of the dominant teams in 3A/2A KingCo, although new head coach Steve Darnell maintains it won’t be that easy.
Bellevue has an experienced pitching staff returning along with some talented starters, and Mount Si has its two top pitchers back. Juanita, which moved down from 4A KingCo, has some strong pitchers, too.
“Pitching in our league will definitely be a premium,” said Darnell, who served as an assistant coach for the Patriots the past six years.
“Even with Newport, Issaquah and Skyline leaving, this league is always going to be tough,” he said. “I think the championship and playoff spots will go down to the last week of the season.”
Liberty sees the return of one of the league’s top pitchers in McLeod, who compiled a 4-1 mark last spring. In addition, the Patriots have Eric Peterson and Troy Colyer, talented infielders who will take a turn on the mound at times. Peterson was Liberty’s closer last spring and led 3A KingCo with three saves. Keegan Bennett, who was injured last season, Dan Eck and Connor Sjolander are other key pitchers the Patriots are depending on this season.
Peterson, a versatile player, will play shortstop and possibly first base. He earned all-league honors last spring and has signed a national letter of intent to play for the University of Washington.
“He is a tremendous athlete. He will be the center of our offense and defense,” Darnell said.
Colyer returns at second base and will move to shortstop when Peterson pitches.
“He is one of the best infielders in the state. His glove is incredible,” Darnell said.
Third baseman Nick Hart is also returning. Kyle Arbaugh and Peter Wiggum are other versatile infielders for the Patriots.
Bennett, who will play center when not pitching, right fielder Eric Etter and Troy Askins, a left fielder, will likely be the starting outfield.
The Patriots got off to a promising start March 13, beating Inglemoor 10-3 in a nonleague contest. Peterson highlighted an eight-run sixth inning with a grand slam. He had two hits and five RBIs for the game. Colyer also had two hits, including a home run; Askins had three hits.
Fundamentals key for Skyline
The outlook for the spring schedule for most teams on the plateau seems to be mostly optimistic.
For the Skyline baseball team, which went 16-7 in 2008, it is, according to head coach Chris Tamminen.
“It’s going to be a dog fight,” he said.
A dogfight, indeed. Since the Spartans moved up to Class 4A, the KingCo Crest division will be even tougher than last year. This year will be about getting back to basics, Tamminen said. Focusing on the fundamentals, he said, will hopefully get Skyline far in one of the toughest leagues in the state.
“Hopefully, we can throw strikes, get timely hitting to be competitive and just go out and play a hard seven,” he said. “Every game’s going to be tough game.”
Skyline took a hit to the roster last week when starting centerfielder Anthony DeMatteo was injured during practice. He will be out for the season, Tamminen said. But despite a couple of setbacks, the team is full of senior leadership.
Some key returning players for the Spartans are pitchers Adrian Sampson and Blake Fulgham, as well as catcher Ryan Somers, infielder Jacob Shannon and outfielders Jake Knecht and William Chandler.
Seniors Tony Beattie, Ryan Gilchrist and Chris Hedberg will round out the line-up for Skyline.
After being injured all last season, senior Jared Lemke returns in a pitching role and junior Sean Penberthy should be an asset in the outfield, Tamminen said.
“Execution is going be the key to this season,” he said. “Fundamentals. If we can play fundamentally sound, that’ll be a good start.”
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