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. Main • Warrenton
861-2268 • 1-800-585-2268
GO
Tony Bogh • Owner
503.325.5000
CCB#188326
WARRENTON!