Most of the 2009 season was incredibly sweet for the Archbishop Murphy High School baseball team.
Guided by their then-new head coach, Stan Taloff, Archbishop Murphy soared. The Wildcats started 19-0, won the program’s first conference championship, snared a district title, received lofty state rankings and rolled into the 16-team Class 2A state tournament.
Then things turned sour.
In the opening round of state, Murphy’s promising season ended abruptly. Upset 5-3 by Kingston in Bellingham, the Wildcats were eliminated and finished the year 22-2.
“That’s a bitter taste in your mouth,” said Tyler Kane, one of Murphy’s stars last season.
“That was pretty harsh. We didn’t expect to be done right then. We thought we’d be playing the next weekend,” said Kevin Waldron, another standout on that Murphy team.
Adding to their frustration, Murphy’s Cascade Conference rival Cedarcrest rolled to the 2A state title. It provided ample motivation for players like Kane and Waldron, two of the many talented, experienced players who are back this spring for the Wildcats.
This time, Murphy — the unanimous pick to win the Cascade Conference in The Herald’s preseason coaches’ poll — plans to finish the job.
“That was very clear coming off of last year that we had the goals of advancing farther than we did. There’s no doubt that we’ve set the goal to make a solid run at the state championship (this season),” coach Taloff said.
Taloff’s team appears to have the talent to do it. Kane (third base/pitcher), Waldron (pitcher/first base) and left fielder Keanen Albright are seniors who earned all-conference first team honors last season. Kane, a University of Washington recruit, was a terror in the batter’s box in 2009, hitting .552 with 11 doubles and seven home runs.
Recruited by the UW as a pitcher, Kane was 4-0 on the mound for Murphy last year and has a fastball that approaches 90 miles per hour. He and Waldron (8-1, 61 strikeouts, 1.49 earned-run average in 2009) are a formidable pitching duo.
Murphy also returns all-conference second team honorees Jake Hines (first base) and Jacob Oster (shortstop).
Coaches expect Cedarcrest and Lakewood to be Murphy’s main challengers in the 2A/1A Cascade Conference.
“We’re excited to get going and see how (Murphy) guys have improved — what they can do this year now that they’re bigger and stronger,” Kane said.
“We’re all going towards the same thing — going to Yakima (in late May) and winning state. That’s our goal,” said Waldron.
M-P is Wesco North favorite
Just like Archbishop Murphy, Marysville-Pilchuck enjoyed a stellar 2009 season until the state tournament started.
Fueled by outstanding pitching and a high-scoring offense, M-P soared to a Western Conference North Division title (going 15-1 against league foes) and took second behind Snohomish in the 4A district. But after making Washington’s field of 16, the state-ranked Tomahawks were ousted immediately by Tahoma, 8-1.
It was the second straight year M-P got knocked out decisively in the opening round; it lost 10-2 versus Olympia in 2008.
With lots of top performers back, M-P is the unanimous favorite to win another North championship, according to local coaches. The Tomahawks are loaded with skilled pitchers and have highly touted hitters, like all-state honorable mention center fielder Austin Denton.
But something must change, M-P coach Kurt Koshelnik said, for the team to go further than it did the past two seasons. “I’m hoping it’s their work ethic,” said Koshelnik.
Once again, pitching should be a huge strength for M-P. Seniors Matt Cooper and Brennen Steinbaugh lead the way. Cooper earned all-league first team and Herald All-Area first team recognition last year, going 7-0 with a 4.59 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 44 innings. Steinbaugh (all-league second team) was 6-1 with a 4.57 ERA.
“I’m real excited about our pitching staff, just the options that we have,” Koshelnik said. “We’ve got lots of guys that are going to step in and I don’t think it’s going to drop off.”
A third-year starter, Steinbaugh is a proven leader who will also contribute as a designated hitter. “We’re looking for a real big year out of him,” said Koshelnik. “He’s the longest-tenured guy on our squad.”
Second baseman JV Estella (28 runs batted in and nine extra-base hits in 2009) has recovered from a knee injury and is another crucial leader, Koshelnik said.
Health has been an issue for Denton, who got hurt during the football season. But he is nearly back to full strength and will bat No. 3 in the lineup, said Koshelnik. Last season Denton put up huge offensive numbers: .478 batting average, 32 runs scored, 36 runs batted in, 15 extra-base hits.
Kamiak, Jackson are top Wesco South contenders
In the Wesco South, Kamiak and Jackson were picked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the preseason coaches’ poll.
Kamiak (six first-place votes) returns the bulk of its 2009 squad that was somewhat of a surprise 4A state qualifier. The Knights lost 6-3 in the first round against eventual state champion Richland.
Kamiak’s top players include All-Wesco South first team pitcher Andrew Groves, a senior, and fellow senior Chris Guinn, an all-league first team outfielder who also pitches.
Jackson, which received four first-place votes in the preseason poll, is led by infielder Mike Wishko, catcher Kyle Olson, pitcher Nick Kiel and center fielder Isaac Kim. As a sophomore last season Kim was named all-league second team.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at www.heraldnet.com/doubleteam.
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