Wahiakum and Naselle kick off seasons

There are still plenty of showers darkening the skies this month, but the green shoots of the spring season have been cropping up. One of the best indicators of this time of year is the return of high school baseball and softball to the basepaths.

Naselle and Wahkiakum have already gotten their seasons underway, so there's plenty to catch up on.

Wahkiakum preview

Mules baseball and softball have each had some success in the early season, and the main goal for both programs has been the same: improve every day.

Softball Head Coach Kami Gray has been pleased with the Mules' 2-1 start and, with a blend of senior leaders and hungry young guns, something feels special this season.

"What a start to the season," said Gray. "Kicking things off with a win set a completely different tone than years past. Starting off competitively has been a great energy boost for the whole program. We have more returning players this year, which has allowed us to dive into advanced skills much earlier than usual. On top of that, the turnout in our younger softball program has been really exciting. We're building a strong foundation that sets this program up for continuous growth."

Wahkiakum opened the spring season with a dominant 18-5 win over Morton/White Pass on Monday, March 16, and an extra-inning thriller against Ocosta on Wednesday, March 18. Though the Mules fell to Ocosta 10-12, Gray was happy with the spirited start the games represented for Wahkiakum and said those results set the tone for what they want to accomplish this season.

"Our focus is on growing both our knowledge and our skills and using these competitive matchups as opportunities to gain experience and push ourselves to the next level," Gray said. "We're also putting a lot of emphasis on building chemistry as a team. We are learning each other's strengths and how to work together because we know that will help us continue to be competitive and improve as the season goes on."

Senior and team captain Evy Hogue carried the torch for the Mules in their opening games, "setting the standard for the entire team." In the first two games, Hogue was "on fire" at the plate, recording three hits, including two doubles and an inside-the-park home run. Amy Horman has also been a standout contributor, leading the team with four RBI. In the pitcher's circle, Ryen Hurley has been a force to be reckoned with, recording 16 strikeouts after only two games.

"The work she has put in outside of practice has shown up in a big way during games, bringing a strong and competitive presence every time she takes the mound," Gray said. "Rounding out our impressive start, several of our eighth graders have already made an impactful contribution and proven they are ready to compete at this level."

After the "oh-so-close" loss to Ocosta, Wahkiakum scored a huge win against Winlock in a topsy-turvy game. After scoring two in the top of the first inning, the Mules surrendered 10 runs to the Cardinals in the bottom of the frame, trailing 10-2 after one. Wahkiakum fought back, scoring four runs in the second, and three more in the top of the third to bring the score to 9-13 entering the fourth. With neither team scoring in the fourth, it looked like maybe things had settled down, but it turned out there was plenty of offense still in store for the Mules.

Wahkiakum ended up blowing away the Cardinals in the final two innings, scoring 13 runs in the fifth and 10 in the sixth to end the game early by a score of 32-15. It was a wild one for both sides, as they combined for 20 errors and eight batters hit by pitches between the two sides.

Still, in a game with chaotic and frenetic action, Horman had a cool-headed performance with two hits, four walks, seven runs scored, and three stolen bases. Ella Doiron also put up big-time numbers, racking up four hits, six RBI, and a stolen base. Ryen Hurley was again on the mound for Wahkiakum and, though Winlock scored 15 runs, only five of them were earned. Hurley continued to send batters back to the dugout, with six strikeouts in the game.

For Gray, the arrow is definitely pointing up for her squad this season.

"This spring feels different," she said. "Between the returners stepping into leadership roles and the younger girls pushing from behind, there's an energy in this program right now that is really exciting. Our mentality this spring is simple: get better every day. We're not just focused on wins and losses. We're focused on development, both as individual players and as a team. Every practice, every game is an opportunity to learn something new and push ourselves further than we were the day before."

Meanwhile, Head Coach Matt Mogush is trying to get his players back into the swing of things on the baseball diamond. There are a lot of multi-sport athletes playing for the Mules this season, and Mogush said a lot of his players were busy during the preseason as the basketball team made its run at state. This kept some of the athletes preoccupied heading into the spring.

There's been a good turnout for the squad this season, and Mogush said 21 players are with the program, with competition within the team driving the Mules forward.

"They are all working hard to earn their spot," said Mogush. "We lost two outstanding seniors last year, so we have a lot of guys trying to get those starting spots. We are looking forward to leaving it all out on the field. We have a group of seniors who have been playing together since Little League. This is their last ride."

The Mules split their opening games, narrowly losing to Northwest Christian, and then bouncing back with a resounding win against Quilcene a few days later.

The March 16 game against Northwest Christian couldn't have been much closer, as a late rally from the Navigators stole away an opening-day win from the Mules. Wahkiakum ended up losing 12-13 on a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh, capping a five-run resurgence in the final frame for Northwest Christian.

In defeat, there was no shortage of quality play from the Mules, with Parker Leitz shining in the first game, notching two hits, two RBI, two runs, and four stolen bases. Gage Robinson, Preston West, and Matthew Wills each registered a hit and two RBI apiece, helping fuel the Mules' offense.

Despite a disappointing loss, the Mules quickly rebounded against Quilcene in their next game. The contest was capped after the fifth inning, with Wahkiakum holding a 16-3 advantage.

Sophomore Aiden Scott put together a strong showing on the mound and at the plate for the Mules, leading Wahkiakum in both departments. Scott recorded two hits, one RBI, four runs scored, and struck out four batters over four innings pitched.

Hank Wilson and Josh Moon each recorded three RBI, and Wilson recorded the only double of the day for Wahkiakum. The Mules ended up with six hits in the game, plating 16 runs thanks to some great hitting and the ability to capitalize on Quilcene errors.

This season is going to be something of a revenge tour for the Mules, as they are looking to get back to the state playoffs and avenge the loss they suffered in the quarterfinals to Almira-Coulee-Hartline.

"Our big goal is to make a deep state run in the postseason, topping last year's fifth place finish," said Mogush. "Our daily goal is to get better everyday. Our group of seniors is back with a grudge after last year's fifth-place finish. They will be fun to watch, and sophomore Aiden Scott continues to be a pitching powerhouse. He had a 56-strikeout season last year. Can't wait to see what he has in store this year."

While there is still plenty of ball to be played, one thing Mogush wanted to pass along to the community is that this season's games are being played at the elementary school field. With no entry fee to come watch, Mogush is hoping the fans will start to come out in droves to support their hometown team.

"I would love to see our fan base grow," he said. "Spread the word: these guys are fun to watch. Go Mules!"

Naselle quick hits

Naselle's softball squad started with a win in its first game against Ocosta, taking the contest 16-6 and wrapping it up in only five innings. The Comets were electric at the plate, racking up an impressive 16 hits, led by Avrey Ford, Brooke Davis, and Jessie Smith.

Ford had a team-high four hits and also knocked in two runs. On the mound, Ford was flummoxing batters for Ocosta, ringing up nine batters via the strikeout. Davis and Smith were a wrecking crew at the plate for Naselle, each totalling three hits, including a triple each to show their power and speed. Smith led the team with five RBI.

Naselle softball was back in action against Morton/White Pass on Wednesday, March 25, but the results of the game were not available at the time of press.

Naselle's baseball team has gotten off to a flying start, going 2-0 in their first two games against Raymond/South Bend and Ocosta.

The win against Raymond/Southbend was a romp for Naselle, as the Comets won 12-0 in four and a half innings. The Comets tallied five hits, with Trajen Ford and Leith Chadwick leading the way in that department, notching two hits and multiple RBI each. Chadwick had the only double on the day for Naselle, driving in two runs in the bottom of the third to put the score at 8-0. Ford and Chadwick were also Naselle's two pitchers during the game, combining for six strikeouts across five innings and giving up no hits.

In the 6-2 win against Ocosta on Monday, March 23, Naselle outhit the Wildcats 11-2, but took some time to convert success at the plate into runs on the scoreboard. After a scoreless first inning, Naselle struck in the bottom of the second, going up 1-0 on a sacrifice fly from Garrett Boggs. Ocosta would score next, tying the game 1-1 in the top of the fourth, and then taking a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth.

Naselle went on a hitting spree in the bottom of the fifth. Eli Gardner and Brodie Troffer each hit doubles, and Trajen Ford, Kayden Wirkkala, and Boggs grabbed a single each. Thanks to the five-hit explosion, Naselle scored five runs in the frame, wresting control from the Wildcats and taking a decisive 5-2 lead. They added one more run in the bottom of the sixth to bring the score to its final 6-2 tally. Troffer led the Comets in hits with three, while Boggs had the most RBI with two.

Naselle plays next against Oakville on Thursday, March 26.

Stay tuned next week for a preview of Naselle's season, as well as a recap of results from both the Comets and the Mules.