Troy Colyer, of Liberty High School, gets a pat at third base from coach Steve Darnell after he smashes a three-RBI home run during a 2009 baseball game against West Seattle. By Greg Farrar

The Liberty High School baseball team is gearing up for another big season with 12 returning seniors, including powerhouse pitcher John McLeod.

Liberty went 20-5 overall and 16-2 in 3A KingCo Conference action last season. The Patriots won the 3A KingCo regular season title. In the postseason, the Patriots lost to Bellevue in the KingCo tournament, and defeated West Seattle in a playoff before falling to Timberline in the state regionals.

The 2010 season marks head coach Steve Darnell’s second year at the helm, and he said the Patriots are ready to go.

“I think they’re just pretty hungry and humble from last year,” he said about his returning players. “I know it’s hardened them for what we’re about to start.”

He also said the team is looking to improve upon last year’s season, which was quite successful.

“We would definitely like to represent KingCo at state,” Darnell said.

Meanwhile in the 4A KingCo Conference, Issaquah has a strong pitching staff and Skyline has another competitive team as both hope to challenge for the Crest Division title.

McLeod leads Patriots

McLeod will be perhaps the most dangerous man on the Liberty squad this year, and he has already signed with Wake Forest to play at the college level.

“He’s a great leader,” Darnell said.

Last year, McLeod was 8-1 overall with 56 innings pitched and 57 strikeouts. He pitched 43 of his innings and racked up 46 of his strikeouts in league play. His overall ERA was 2.10 and his ERA in league play was 1.63.

Last year, he was named first-team all-league by unanimous selection for his work on the mound.

Darnell said shortstop Troy Colyer will be a threat as well. Colyer is one of the returning seniors, and he was named first-team all-league last year. He will bat third in the Patriots’ lineup.

Other impact players on the team include centerfielder Troy Askins, third baseman Nick Hart, pitcher Dan Eck and catcher Cameron Talley. All four are seniors. Askins and Hart were named second-team all-league last year.

However, this year the team must do without shortstop Erick Peterson, a 2009 graduate who now plays for the University of Washington.

Liberty’s toughest competition could come from Mount Si and Bellevue, although no team can be overlooked.

Mount Si figures to be competitive with the return of such players as pitcher Frank Tassara and outfielder Rossco Castagno. Last season, Tassara finished with a 2.10 ERA and held batters to just a .132 batting average. Castagno hit .509 with 29 hits, 15 RBIs and had a league-leading 16 stolen bases.

Liberty, which had its March 12 season-opener at Skyline postponed because of rain, begins league play March 17 at Juanita.

Pitching key for Eagles

Issaquah had a rare off season in 2009, going 14-12. However, the Eagles figure to be one of the tougher 4A KingCo squads this spring, because of an experienced pitching staff.

The Eagles will see the return of five experienced pitchers, including all-league Shane Yarnell and Spencer Rogers. Yarnell was 4-3 with 38 strikeouts in 37.2 innings last spring. He should be one of the league’s best pitchers again.

Rogers, perhaps better known for his prowess as a hitter and defensive skills as a center fielder, was one of the Eagles’ top hurlers last season, too. He had a 2-1 record with one save.

Ethan Kalin, Mike Paulson and Matt Houser also return on the mound for Issaquah.

“It’s nice to have all that experience,” Issaquah coach Rob Reese said.

Rogers, who has signed a national letter of intent with the University of Washington, is one of the best all-around players in the league. He has earned all-state honors the past two seasons. As a junior, Rogers hit .410, belted three home runs and led the team in RBIs with 15. Just who joins Rogers in the outfield is still a mystery; the other returning starters graduated.

In the infield, Marcus Gaan returns at third base, and Paulson and Yarnell will be at first base. Gaan was one of Issaquah’s top hitters last season, batting .415. Shortstop Grant Gellatly, who missed last spring because of an injury, is also back.

“Having him back is huge. He’s a great athlete and an outstanding player,” Reese said. “Not having him last year really hurt.”

Issaquah has lost one player for the season — second baseman Gavin Shumaker — because of an injury. Adam Dondoyano will replace Shumaker.

Devin O’Donnell returns as catcher for the Eagles.

“I think we have a chance to be pretty good, but the whole league is tough,” Reese said.

Skyline works on fundamentals

The Skyline Spartans are gearing up for life without ace pitcher Adrian Sampson and workhorse pitcher Jared Lemke, who graduated last spring and now plays for Central Washington University.

Sampson, a senior, was 7-1 last season and earned all-league honors. However, he missed the entire summer American Legion season because of an injury. His status for this spring is unknown.

Skyline went 15-8 overall in 2009 (11-5 league) and coach Chris Tamminen said he hopes his few returning starters will step up big this season to give hard-hitting Redmond a run for its money.

“I’m thinking our pitching is still going to be strong,” he said.

Key returning players include outfielder Sean Penberthy, and pitchers Connor Lawhead and Peyton Harrod.

Tamminen added a slew of senior newcomers to the roster in 2010, including pitchers Jayce Nelson, Jim Carnes and Ryan Weideman. The Spartans will look to infielders Jake Opitz and Aaron Caditz, and outfielders Anthony DeMatteo and Michael Smith, for leadership and quick thinking in the field.

The key to success this season: focus on the fundamentals, Tamminen said.

“We have to make sure we have good team chemistry and do all the little things right,” he said.

Christopher Huber: 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Bob Taylor: ext. 236, or bobtaylor@isspress.com. Tim Pfarr: ext. 239, or newcas@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.

Alex Shane (7), Issaquah freshman forward, fights Newport team co-captain Brian Whitney for possession during the first period of their non-league soccer tournament match March 13 at Sammamish High School. The Knights won, 2-0. By Greg Farrar

The Issaquah High School boys soccer team discovered March 13 that it will have to work a little harder to duplicate last year’s success.

Issaquah was one of the best stories in the state last spring, with the team going from rags to riches. The Eagles improved by 10 wins over the previous season and reached the state tournament for the first time.

However, in their season-opener, the Eagles made two huge defensive blunders that led to a 2-0 loss to Newport in a nonleague game at Sammamish High School.

“Newport is a very good team, but I thought we came out sluggish. We didn’t execute our game plan, and we didn’t do a good job of defense on two corner kicks by Newport,” Issaquah coach Jason Lichtenberger said.

Both Newport goals came off corner kicks.

“We discovered we have a lot of work to do,” Lichtenberger said. “But I believe we have a talented team, and it’s a team that has set some big goals for this season.”

In other action, Skyline defeated Redmond 6-2 while Liberty lost to Roosevelt 2-1.Giancano Santoro and Pedro Miola each had a goal and an assist as Skyline won its opener at Sammamish High. Mitchell Kim had three assists for Skyline.

Kramer Janders, assisted by Riley Mackey, gave Liberty a 1-0 first-half lead, but host Roosevelt came back with two second-half goals to win the nonleague game.

Issaquah softball takes two

The Issaquah High School fastpitch softball team opened its season March 13 with two victories at the Kentwood Classic.

Issaquah edged Auburn Riverside 3-2 and pounded Mount Tahoma 12-0.

In the victory against Auburn Riverside, pitcher Mikenzie Voves tossed a four-hitter and struck out eight batters. Brielle Bray and Christian McKone each had two hits for Issaquah. Heather Benjamin drove in two runs.

In the second game, which went just four innings because of the mercy rule, Bray tossed a no-hitter and struck out seven batters.. She also went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs.

McKone had three hits and two RBIs, and Voves had two hits and two RBIs. Taylor Ladd also drove in two runs for the Eagles.

Both helped lead their teams to the 4A state basketball tournament this winter and both were selected as 4A KingCo Conference all-league first-team selections.

Hutsen, a 6-foot-9 senior, averaged 15.6 points a game and helped the Spartans win the 4A KingCo Crest Division title and tournament championship. His efforts also enabled the Spartans to reach the state tournament for just the second time in the history of the Skyline boys program.

Skyline placed eighth in the state tournament and ended the season with a 22-5 record.

Rounding out the all-league first team were Eastlake’s Michael Russo, Bothell’s Dominic Ballard, Lake Washington’s Ryan Guinesss and Matt Staudacher, and Garfield’s Glenn Brooks.

Skyline junior Kasen Williams, one of the league’s top all-around athletes, received second-team honors as a forward.

Issaquah sophomore guard Nick Jones, who averaged 15.9 points a game this season, was named to the all-league third team.

Earning honorable mention were Issaquah’s Joe Evans, and Skyline’s Connor Gacek and Miles Edwards.

Russo, who led the league in scoring with a 21.3 average, was selected as player of the year. Skyline’s J. Jay Davis was selected as the league’s coach of the year.

Pflaumer, a 5-11 junior, helped spark the Issaquah girls to the 4A KingCo Crest Division title and a 23-6 season record. She averaged 12.6 points a game for the season.

Kassia Fortier, a 5-10 senior wing for Skyline, also was named to the first team. Fortier averaged 13.9 points a game this season.

Completing the all-league first team were Newport’s Betsy Kingma, Woodinville’s Ali Forde, Eastlake’s Alyssa Charlston and Inglemoor’s Taylor Peacocke.

Earning second team honors was junior guard Blaire Brady, of Issaquah. Receiving honorable mention were Issaquah’s Mackenzie Schiltz and Domi Mendezona, and Skyline’s Haley Smith and Rachel Shim.

Kingma was selected as the girls’ player of the year. Newport’s Travis Whitaker was selected as the girls’ coach of the year.

In 3A KingCo, Liberty junior center Danni Sjolander was named to the girls’ all-league first team. Aspen Winegar and Breanne Faehnrich, of Liberty, each received honorable mention.

Liberty’s Chandler Jenkins was named to the 3A KingCo boys’ second team.

Skyline High School pitcher Lauren Richards tossed a perfect game March 15 as the Spartans won their fastpitch softball season-opener 2-0 against visiting Tahoma.

Richards struck out 10 batters. The Spartans, who had just two hits, scored single runs in the first and fifth innings.

Patriots drop opener

The Liberty High School baseball team outhit Lake Washington but defensive problems came back to haunt the Patriots, who dropped their season-opener 6-5.

Liberty had seven hits and held Lake Washington to two hits. However, Liberty also committed five errors.

Troy Colyer had two hits for Liberty.

Liberty High School boys basketball coach Jevon Green was suspended for the remainder of his contract after being arrested Dec. 26 for failure to appear in court after driving with a suspended license.

Police responded to a burglary alarm at Liberty on Dec. 26 to find Green doing laundry inside the building, according to John Urquhart, spokesman for the King County Sheriff’s Office. Police ran a check on Green, discovered the warrant for his arrest and took him into custody. His bail was set at $350.

Kathy Miyauchi, district executive director of personnel services, and Patrick Murphy, district executive director of high schools for the district, wrote a letter to the Liberty community addressing the matter.

In the letter, Miyauchi and Murphy said the incident occurred while Green was acting in his official capacity as the team’s coach and that his suspension came after an investigation by district officials. They did not give any details on the incident, nor did they comment further.

Eric Larson served as the boys basketball head coach for the remainder of the season.

Green could not be reached for comment.

Also, girls soccer coach Darren Tremblay was removed from his position as girls soccer coach.

“Liberty High School just felt it was time to go in a different direction,” Stark Porter, Liberty athletic director, said about Tremblay.

Tremblay also coaches the boys team, and he will continue to serve in that position.

Malia Arrant will become Liberty’s new girls soccer coach. Arrant previously coached at Eastside Catholic and is currently director of coaching for Dos FC in Kent.

Tim Pfarr: 392-6434, ext. 239, or newcas@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.

Cooper Pelluer (11), Skyline senior forward, and senior forward Corey Hutsen double-team Mead’s Taylor Farnsworth during the second quarter of the Spartans’ battle for fifth and eighth place in the state 4A tournament at the Tacoma Dome. By Don Borin

The 2009-2010 season was a season of firsts for the Skyline High School boys basketball team. Skyline brought home its first tournament trophy — Barlow Trails Classic — won its first 4A KingCo Conference championship and placed at the state tournament for the first time.

And after placing eighth in state, the Spartans will get to hang their first banner on the wall in the gym, coach J. Jay Davis said.

Skyline went 2-2 in the state 4A tournament in the Tacoma Dome March 3-6 to finish its most successful season in the school’s 13-year history.

“Twenty-two wins and placing at state, it’s obviously the best season in school history and we’re very proud of that,” Davis said. “Our goal was just to build the best program we can.”

As is every team’s dream that enters the state tournament, Skyline had aimed at the state title. But the prospect was cut short when the Spartans lost its first-round game to eventual runner-up Jackson, 45-43.

Skyline led nearly the entire game March 3, but back-to-back turnovers in the final minute proved costly as Jackson scored off the miscues to stifle the KingCo champ Spartans’ momentum. Skyline entered the tournament with a seven-game winning streak.

Will Parker led Skyline scorers with 14 points. Cory Hutsen had 11 and Kasen Williams had 10.

“We were excited about playing well,” Davis said. “The hard thing about Wednesday, when you lose by two … was that you had to refocus.”

In the consolation rounds, Skyline managed to beat Davis 55-44 to stay alive. It trailed 20-13 at halftime March 4 and rallied with 15 points in the third and 26 in the fourth. Williams led all scorers with 19 points and Hutsen finished with 16.

Still in the consolation bracket, Skyline pulled off a 63-60 victory against Stanwood on March 5. Hutsen led with 24 points and helped Skyline maintain a 26-23 lead at the break. Stanwood outscored the Spartans 19-13 in the third quarter, but a 24-point fourth period sealed the deal. Parker and Connor Gacek each added nine points against Stanwood.

Mead brought plenty of challenges on both sides of the ball against Skyline on March 6, Davis said. The two teams battled for the fifth-place spot and Mead came out on top 49-39. Mead’s tight defense forced Skyline to shoot from the perimeter and when that became ineffective, they tried to push it inside to Hutsen.

“They were just very focused and … it seemed like it was very important to them and they played that way,” Davis said. “We struggled. It wasn’t us, it was them. They played very physical and we struggled.”

The teams tied 8-8 to end the first quarter and Mead led 20-15 at halftime. Skyline scored just 20 points in the first three quarters. Hutsen finished with 10 points in the team’s final game. Miles Edwards had nine.

And when it was all said and done, Davis was named KingCo Conference coach of the year, said Skyline athletic director Kevin Rohrich.

“In a week, in a month … when we think back we won’t remember the Mead game, the Jackson game, we’ll remember the journey,” Davis said.

Christopher Huber: 392-6434, ext. 242, or chuber@isspress.com. Comment on this story at www.issaquahpress.com.

Mackenzie Schiltz, Issaquah junior guard, drives with a steal from Garfield’s Shaunice Robinson (right) during the third quarter in the 3A state tournament battle for third and sixth place March 6 at the Tacoma Dome. Issaquah was defeated by the Lady Bulldogs, 71-54. By Greg Farrar

The Issaquah High School girls basketball team overcame a variety of adversity throughout the season, especially in the final weeks of the season. When the season finally concluded March 6 in the 4A state tournament, the Eagles had many reasons to be proud of their accomplishments.

Issaquah took sixth place in the tournament last week in the Tacoma Dome to finish out the season with a 23-6 record. The Eagles had to win four loser-out games just to reach state.

In the Eagles’ final game, they lost to 4A KingCo Conference rival Garfield 71-54 for third place. Prior to that game, Issaquah defeated Lewis & Clark, of Spokane, 51-49 and Lake Stevens 67-47 before falling to eventual state champion Auburn Riverside 58-40 in the semifinals.

“I’m proud of the girls. Great effort and a heck of a run,” Issaquah coach Kathy Gibson said.

Issaquah went into the tournament as one of the younger and shorter teams. The Eagles were also minus guard Dayna Talley, a tough defender who tore her ACL in the final regular-season game.

“We were the underdogs and we weren’t expected to make it past the first round,” point guard Dominique Mendezona said. “It felt pretty good because we knew we were good enough to make it. It’s a bummer we had to finish like this but sixth place is still awesome.”

Issaquah opened with a nail-biter against Lewis & Clark, which had won state titles in 2008, 2007 and 2006. Two free throws by forward Maddey Pflaumer in the final seconds capped a dramatic victory for the Eagles.

Gibson said the team found its stride in the game against Lake Stevens. Mackenzie Schiltz hit six 3-point field goals and finished with a game-high 20 points as the Eagles breezed by Lake Stevens. Mendezona added 14 points and Pflaumer had 12 points as the Eagles shot 47.1 percent for the game.

When it faced Auburn Riverside in the semifinals, Issaquah’s rhythm hiccupped. The Eagles were unable to hit their 3-pointers and fell behind by 13 points. Issaquah did fight back in the third quarter with a 16-4 run to get within four points of Auburn Riverside. However, Auburn Riverside held off the Eagles to pull away.

Against Garfield, the Eagles fell behind early and were unable to catch up, despite sharp shooting by Pflaumer and strong rebounding by Blaire Brady. Pflaumer scored a game-high 20 points and Brady pulled down nine rebounds.

Schiltz and Brooke Miller also played well, as each scored nine points.

Issaquah played Garfield twice during the regular season. Issaquah won the first game 62-46 while Garfield won the second 59-53. In the third meeting, Issaquah had difficulty stopping Garfield’s bigger players. With a laugh, Gibson said her players seemed to resemble pinballs because of the size difference.

The future looks promising for the Eagles, who in two years at the 4A level have reached the state tournament both times.

Mendezona is the only graduating senior on the team, which took first place in the KingCo Crest Division this season.

“It was an honor to lead these girls,” Mendezona said. “They’re the most amazing girls ever and I’m definitely going to miss them.”

Mendezona plans to play at the college level next year, although she said she has not yet decided at what school.

Seven of Issaquah’s players will return as seniors next year, including Pflaumer, Brady, Miller and Schiltz.

“We’ve all been playing since fifth grade together so it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Miller said.

Pflaumer said the team will set its goals high next season.

“We’re really excited and we’re definitely going to go for the gold and try to go all out after it next year and win state,” she said. “That’s always the biggest goal.”

Tim Pfarr: 392-6434, ext. 239, or newcas@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.

Issaquah defeated Jackson 38-36 in the title game. Maggie Ciszewski had 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead Issaquah. Sophie Foreman contributed 10 points and six rebounds, and Tala Fry added four points and five rebounds for the Eagles.

In the semifinals, which were also held March 7, Issaquah coasted by Glacier Peak 48-25. Devan Talley and Annie Hoffman each had 11 points to lead the Eagles. Talley also had five rebounds and Hoffman had four steals. Ciszewski added eight points and nine rebounds.

Issaquah opened the tournament March 5 with a first-round 46-28 victory against Monroe. Fry, Ciszewski and Foreman each had seven points. McKenzie Bostic and Talley each had six points.

The Eagles defeated Liberty 43-35 March 6 in the quarterfinals. Hoffman led the Eagles with 15 points. Talley had seven points and four steals, and Ciszewski pulled down 12 rebounds.

Other key members of the team were Rachel Victory, Cienna Buyco, Emily Winterstein, Katie Hinchcliffe and Jill Roberson.

The school’s non-tumbling team did not make the finals.

Almost 500 schools from across the United States participated in 18 categories at the UCA High School National Cheerleading Championships, which was televised on ESPN.

“We were proud about our first showing at nationals,” said Stephania Lemeshko, Skyline’s coach. “And we hope to improve for the future.”

Skyline sent two teams, the small co-ed and the non-tumbling groups, to nationals after each placed second in their respective categories at the state competition in January.

Lemeshko said that although it faced tough, established teams from the South and East Coast, Skyline’s co-ed team performed some of the toughest routines at the competition. Group stunting is the team’s strength, she said.

“(They did) the most elite stunt series I saw in the whole nation,” Lemeshko said. “Just to make it to finals our first year is a pretty big accomplishment.”

The small co-ed team consists of two to four male and 17 female athletes.

A challenge of competing at the national level, Lemeshko said, was the nerves and inexperience of the squad at that level.

Washington schools tend to be about 10 years behind the national cheerleading trends, she said, so that’s part of the reason Skyline decided to step up its competition this school year. A handful of Skyline cheerleaders have received full-ride scholarships for college, and she said she hopes to see more reap the benefits of national attention.

“We’re trying to go to a more competitive environment,” Lemeshko said.

The Issaquah High School girls basketball team hoped it would get a shot at Auburn Riverside in this year’s 4A state tournament.

The Eagles got their wish.

Issaquah, 23-4, tangles with top-ranked Auburn Riverside, 27-0, at 7 p.m. Friday in the semifinals at the Tacoma Dome.

The Eagles reached the semifinals after flying by Lake Stevens 67-47 Thursday in the quarterfinals.

Mackenzie Schiltz hit six three-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points to lead Issaquah. Her six trys were one shy of the tournament record.

Domi Mendezona scored 14 points and Maddey Pflaumer had 12 points for Issaquah.

The Eagles, who shot 47.1 percent, led from start to fnish.

Issaquah lost to Auburn Riverside last year in game for fourth and seventh place. The Eagles, who led through most of the game, have been eager for another shot at Auburn Riverside.