Dan Somoza expects his Edmonds-Woodway baseball team will have plenty of challenges this season despite moving down to Class 3A from 4A this spring.
The new Wesco 3A/2A South features strong, tradition-rich programs, talented players and veteran coaches.
Somoza, a product of Edmonds High School himself, is his in his sixth year as head coach of the Warriors.
Familiar teams Shorewood, Glacier Peak, Meadowdale, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood and 2A Shorecrest round out a league that has seen its share of postseason success in the last decade. Getting a high seed at districts and moving on to state could be a tough task this season.
“I think it’s going to be a very close league,” Somoza said. “Every team is very competitive.”
Among the Warriors’ top returnees is senior shortstop Joey Reece, a four-year varsity player, who batted over .400 last year. Reece, who bats left-handed, will anchor the middle of the batting order. He plans to play at Edmonds Community College next year.
Senior Chantz Justice will be the Warriors’ leadoff hitter and will be a starting pitcher. The athletic speedster will play in the outfield when not on the mound.
Senior Austin Vaughn and junior Brady Edwards round out the starting rotation.
Somoza said the E-W lineup is solid throughout, offensively.
“We just need experience working together as a team,” he said.
The Warriors lost a couple starters, Jack Kennelly and Cameron Sharpe to King’s in Shoreline, which launches its new baseball program this spring. Both players attend school there. King’s inaugural coach is former E-W star and JV coach Jake Beattiger.
The Warriors finished second in the Wesco 4A South last year with an 11-4 record. They qualified for state and lost in the first round, 1-0, to Puyallup, a school ranked No. 2 in the nation at the time, Somoza said. E-W was 17-9 overall.
Somoza likes his club, however, with the coaching experience, tradition and talent evident among the schools, it’s hard to pick a favorite out of the bunch.
The schools in the league will play each other three times, which means the main starters for each team will likely pitch against every opponent.
The Warriors open their season at home at 4 p.m. March 18 against Lake Stevens, which is a non-league contest. They start league play with a 4 p.m. game March 24 at Shorewood.
— By Tony Dondero
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