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WHS PREVIEWS 4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016 Low numbers, high expectations for Young Warriors will Warrenton’s 11-player baseball team compete in L&C By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian With an all-league return- ing SitFher anG a VRliG in¿elG of young stars, the Warren- ton softball team is hoping for more success in 2016 … at least in the league season. An injury to one player — suffered in another sport, with another school — will have an impact on Warrenton’s presea- son results. The player happens to be their all-league pitcher, soph- omore Niqui Blodgett (a stu- dent at Jewell High School) who tore her ACL during bas- ketball season. Since there’s no softball at Jewell, Blodgett plays softball at Warrenton. Blodgett has already had surgery, and “she has limited mobility right now,” said War- renton coach Staci Miethe. “But the doctor thinks she will be able to throw by the ¿rst league game (April 1). That’s a better prognosis than we expected, but she’s still not going to be 100 percent when she comes back.” Entering his 2th year as the Warrenton baseball coach, Len- nie Wolfe gets right to the point when describing his 2016 team “There’s not a lot of depth … well, no depth at all, when you get right down to it.” Indeed, the Warriors are heading into a baseball sea- son with just 11 players on the roster. And that’s the complete program. With six seniors, things could get really tricky next year, but for now, “the nice thing at this stage is that both freshmen are versatile, so they will get some playing time,” Wolfe said. L&C LEAGUE Even with the lack of num- bers, the Warriors are going to be a major player in how the Lewis & Clark League shakes out. Warrenton has a lack of depth, but other teams in the league were hit heavy in the graduation department. “There’s a fair amount of transition for everyone,” Wolfe said. “Clatskanie lost seven starters. Their two returning starters are (Alex) McCallis- ter, and (Cole) Warren will be a really tough pitcher. “Rainier has a pretty good core back, but they lost some important seniors (includ- ing Carson Nicklous and Jeff Tripp). They have at least two back, (Mason) Schimmel and (Tim) Seybert, who are both pretty good pitchers. They have some good arms and they will be tough. Rainier would be my preseason favorite.” THE WARRIORS The top half of the Warrior lineup could be the best (cer- tainly the most-experienced) in the league. Leading off will be senior catcher Gavon McFadden “A four-year starter, sec- ond year behind the plate. He had a breakout year last year offensively, and ¿lled a gap- ing hole behind the plate. He put a lot of time in the weight room, and he’s one of the fast- est kids around. He will be a pretty exciting guy in the lead- off spot.” Batting second is senior third baseman/catcher Justice Watson “A four-year starter, L&C LEAGUE Photos by Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian Warrenton’s Dalton Knight pitches during a baseball game against County Christian. WARRENTON BASEBALL Coach: Lennie Wolfe, 25th year 2015: 11-14 (6-6 L&C) Playoffs: Lost league playoff to Catlin Gabel, 1-2 All-League Losses: Brock Johnson, Hunter Michaelson All-League Returners: Joe Little, Sr.; Gavon McFadden, Sr.; Justice Watson, Sr. ¿rst-team all-league. He’s con- sistent and gives us quality at-bats. He’s got quick hands, and we’re hoping that’s the case defensively. It hurts to take an all-league center ¿elder and say ‘I need you at third base,’ but we need him to be our third baseman. He’s a consummate team player and will play what- ever we ask.” McFadden and Watson “gives me two guys at the top of the order who can Àat-out hoof it,” Wolfe said. “As a team we will be much faster, so it will allow us to return to some old practices. They will be exciting on the bases, and sta- tistically, they’ve always been on the bases.” Batting third, senior pitcher/ shortstop Joe Little “His bat- ting came around last spring, he has improved contact at the plate. And we should have peo- ple in scoring position when he comes up. His off-season com- mitment to pitching will be noticeable.” The No. 4 and spots will go to senior right ¿elder Anthony Cochran, and senior ¿rst baseman Hunter Wilson. “Anthony started clicking offensively last summer, and led the team in hitting (RBIs and average). He’s a two-time all-league lineman in football, so he can put a big hurt on the ball.” Wilson is a three-year starter at ¿rst, “developed as a defen- sive player in the spring, and only struck out once in the sum- mer. He’s made improvements offensively.” The sixth senior is second baseman David Foster “He’s not Àashy, but gets the job done. He’s an early enlistee in the Army, and we’re proud of Warrenton’s Gavon McFad- den looks to throw a runner out during a baseball game against County Christian. the commitments he’s mak- ing, both to our country and our team,” Wolfe said. “Those are rare kids.” The lone junior is out¿elder Derek Ham, and the sopho- mores include Preston Miller and Matt Burgher. Freshmen utility play- ers Kale’o Kapua and Dalton Knight will both see playing time (“Dalton’s biggest contri- bution this spring may be on the hill”). The theme, as it seems to be every year in Lewis & Clark League softball, is “Chasing Rainier.” The Columbians lost the state title game to Dayton last year, and they’re back for another strong season. “Rainier is always above everybody else,” Miethe said. “Last year, we were right there (tied for third with Portland Adventist). “We lost to Clatskanie every time, but I think we can be more competitive with them this year. If I were doing a coaches poll, they would prob- ably be No. 2, and then PAA and us split last year (with the Cougars defeating Warrenton in the league playoffs). We’ll be pretty competitive with them. “Our goal is to be at least third in league, and that would put us in a home ¿eld advan- tage for the (league) playoffs, and we’ll go from there.” Portland Christian ¿nished 0-12 last season. “We lost some league The Daily Astorian Warrenton’s Nikki Blodgett, No. 11, pitches in a game against Willamina last spring. games that we shouldn’t have lost last year,” Miethe said. “Fortunately for us, we only have a ¿ve-team league, and four make it to the playoffs, so we always have a chance.” THE WARRIORS “We’re very, very young. It’s the youngest team we’ve ever had,” Miethe said. Junior all-leaguer Landree Miethe is the only returning player with any extensive var- sity experience, while senior Heidi Erland has seen limited action. Brittany Rasmussen is the only other senior, but has not played since her freshman year. Still, the Warriors are plenty athletic. The three sophomores on the roster are Rachel Dyer, Kiley Holdiman and Tyla Lit- tle, while the Warriors have two freshmen who can step in to play the middle in¿eld, Danielle Bue (from Knappa) and Claire Bussert. Fresh- man Jo Armstrong, from Jew- ell, has also contributed in the pre-season. Before Blodgett returns, Landree Miethe and Bussert will share the pitching duties. Bue and Bussert “will both be solid in the in¿eld as far as the fundamentals,” coach Miethe said, adding that fresh- man Lilly Thomas “will serve as the catcher when Landree is not behind the plate.” The Warriors (1-6 after seven games) should be more than competitive once Blodgett returns and league play starts. WARRENTON SOFTBALL Coach: Staci Miethe, 15th year 2015: 11-13 (5-7 L&C) Playoffs: Lost league playoff to Portland Adventist, 0-4 All-League Loss: Bri Marsch All-League Returners: Niqui Blodgett, So.; Landree Miethe, Jr. Warriors ready to run, jump, throw By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian A normal preseason for War- renton track & ¿eld Replace key losses, return young athletes with potential, get better as the weather warms up, and score big at districts. The Warriors did all of the above in 201, and they’re back to do the same this year. Warrenton lost some key athletes to graduation, but the Warriors also return some high- class, talented underclassmen who will be scoring points at state. THE WARRIORS Girls Fernanda Alvarez, Fr. Cailin Bennett, Fr. Libby Biel, Sr. Morgan Blodgett, Fr. Alma Bolanos, So. Adriana DeJesus, Fr. Sagi Diego, Fr. Macen Fritz, So. Cheyanne Harrison, Jr. Christina Hopkins, Fr. Alexis Maddox, Fr. Taylor Owens, Jr. Leticia Sanchez, Fr. Sarah Stein, Sr. Pamela Talancon, Fr. Vanessa Talancon, So. Sophia Thomas, Sr. Grace Travis, So. Trinity Womack, So. THE OUTLOOK With 143 points, the Warren- ton boys placed second behind Catlin Gabel (188), and well ahead of third-place Clatskanie (98) in last year’s district meet. The Warriors could be challeng- ing for the top spot in 2016. On the track, junior Ray- mond Alcobendas was sixth in the 400-meter ¿nal and junior Luke Liljenwall was a district ¿nalist in the 800 and 1,00 meters. Sophomore Austin Stein placed fourth in the 110-meter hurdles, and has the district’s second-fastest time among returners. Junior Tyler Whitaker placed second in the 300-meter hurdles, GIVE ‘EM YOUR BEST TEAMS! APPLIANCE AND HOME FURNISHINGS 529 SE MARLIN, WARRENTON 503-861-0929 HOURS OPEN: MON-FRI 8-6 • SATURDAY 9-5 • SUNDAY 10-4 We Service What We Sell Boys Raymond Alcobendas, Jr. Forrest Bigelow, Fr. Hayden Bingham, Jr. Devon Bowser, Jr. Colin Burchell, So. Charles Burrows, Sr. Kordell Dungar, Fr. Jeff Lafferty, So. Levi Lewis, Sr. Luke Liljenwall, Jr. Alan Martinez, Jr. Giovanni Martinez, Fr. Andrea Ortalli, Sr. Eli Petersen, Sr. Nate Pringle, Sr. Jesse Salcedo, Sr. Tyson Secord, Sr. Austin Stein, So. Rodrigo Verrisimo, Sr. Tyler Whitaker, Jr. and takes over the district favor- ite role, with the graduation of Oregon Episcopal’s James Graybeal. Whitaker was also third in the district long jump and triple jump last season. As always, the Warren- ton boys scored big points in the throws, and the same will Macen Fritz competed in the OSAA 2015 Track and Field State Championships. Luke Liljenwall competed in last year’s Daily Astorian Track Meet at Astoria High School. be true this season, despite key graduations. Bryton Kyme was the dis- trict champion in the shot put (seventh at state) and took sec- ond in the discus; Juan Salcedo was third in the shot and fourth in the discus. Both are gone, as is Chris Ocana (district champ in the javelin, second in state). Senior Eli Petersen is the top returner in the throws depart- ment, after placing second in the shot and third in the discus in 201. The Warrenton girls were fourth in the team standings at districts. Sarah Stein returns for her senior season, after placing sixth in both the 1,00 and 3,000- meter district races. Macen Fritz had a great freshman season (district champ in the 300 hurdles, second in the 100 hurdles), and will be one of Photos by Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian the contenders in both events at state. The four members of War- renton’s 1,600-meter relay squad (Libby Biel, Sophia Thomas, Stein and Fritz) all return. Sophomore Ciara Kish (fourth in the district shot put and javelin) will lead the throws group; and Biel (district cham- pion in triple jump, second in long jump) is another state title contender. W a rren t o n ® Auto Parts , Inc. H AVE A GREAT SEASON! 269 S. 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