Even when snow was on the ground a couple weeks ago, baseball fever was in the air at Kentlake High.
The snow is gone. The fever isn’t.
The Falcons certainly have plenty of reason for excitement these days. One doesn’t have to look any further than the magic that took place on the diamond last spring, then glance down this year’s roster and realize what’s returning.
“I am pumped,” said first-team all-league shortstop Bobby Joe Tannehill, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior who has received interest from Washington State University, the University of Oregon and Sacramento State among others. “I’m chomping at the bit. Everybody is pumped right now, ready for the season to start and get the credit that we deserve.”
These days, however, the Falcons are receiving plenty of credit — and praise — from coaches throughout the South Puget Sound League North Division. In the preseason coaches poll, Kentlake was the unanimous choice to win the division.
“They definitely should be at the top of the league,” Kentwood coach Jon Aarstad said.
Tahoma coach Russ Hayden agrees.
“They’re loaded,” he said.
Loaded might be an understatement. Though the Falcons graduated six players from last year’s team that won a school-record 21 games, the SPSL North title and went on to a second-place finish at state, they still return most of pieces that helped them reach the title game at Safeco Field.
Right now, the key is keeping things in perspective, coach Jason Evans said.
“(Our biggest issue is) keeping our heads in the game for seven innings, not just walking on the field and saying, ‘We’re the Falcons and we’re going to win.’ That’s the biggest challenge,” Evans said. “Being top-ranked, that’s my fear. Nobody is going to lay down for us.”
The first state poll had not been released as of late last week. But when it does arrive, the Falcons are likely to see their name rather high. Because when it comes to talent, few teams can compete with what Kentlake has returning.
Tannehill, a switch-hitting shortstop who received letters from every major league team during the offseason, anchors a talent-laden bunch hungry to get one game further than last year. Gifted defensively, there aren’t many players in the state who have the range or arm that Tannehill possesses.
“I think everybody on the team’s thought process is that we took second last year, and we’re just as good,” Tannehill said. “The plan is to win at Safeco, to walk away with a state championship.”
The Falcons have the depth and talent to do it, too.
Matter of fact, no team in the area can boast quite the one-two punch on the mound that the Falcons have. Right-handers Zach Wright and Doug Christie, two kids who bring it in the high ‘80s, proved unflappable last year as sophomores. The two seemingly traded big-game performance after big-game performance, coupling good velocity with pinpoint location to both baffle and dominate hitters.
“They’re really coming into themselves,” Evans said. “They pitch like they’re 18-19 years old.”
Add slugging first baseman Miles Nagel, a first-team all-leaguer last spring, and second-team outfielder Andy Enders, and the enthusiasm at Kentlake is understandable.
“They want to get league, win SPSL and win Safeco to top it all off,” Evans said.
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