REDMOND BASEBALL AT A GLANCE
• Head coach: Dan Pudwill, 7th season
• Last year: 12-4, 4A Kingco champions; 20-6 overall
• 2011 turnout: 34
KEY RETURNERS
• Sr. Dylan Davis, P/OF: All-league first team last year, he will anchor the staff with a mid-90s fastball and provides power at the plate. Led the league with 11 home runs last year.
• Sr. Michael Conforto, SS: Big lefty power bat, he hit nine homers last year and will be a key leader.
• Sr. Zach Abbruzza, P/INF: Front-line arm for the Mustangs and middle of the order bat, provides a nasty 1-2 punch in the rotation with Davis.
• Sr. T.J. Whidby, Utility: Key role-player will see time on the mound, infield and provide key hits in the lineup this year.
• Jrs. Patrick McGrath, INF and Peter Hendron, P/OF: Pair of middle-of-the-lineup bats will provide power to an already loaded lineup.
• Sr. Jake Levin, 1B: At 6-5 and 210, just adds more fuel to the Mustangs’ fire.
• Sr. Colin McBride, C/OF: Great doubles hitter, will provide new leadership behind the plate after Ryan Beliel graduated last year.
KEY GAME:
• Newport vs. Redmond: Monday, March 28 at Hartman Park, 6 p.m.
This early-season test against the always-tough Knights will show the Mustangs where they stand against the league’s top competition.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ever since taking over the Mustangs’ baseball program in 2005, head coach Dan Pudwill has amassed a career record of 84-24 (.778) in 4A Kingco league play, making the playoffs every year.
COACH’S QUOTE
“We have some individually talented players. We just need to come together as a team, accept our roles, and focus on our team goals. If we do that, we should have a successful season. We have a lot of home run power in a small park, could be a few fireworks… but the biggest story is whether or not we can get over the hump in the state tournament.” — Redmond coach Dan Pudwill
OVERLAKE BASEBALL AT A GLANCE
• Head coach: Mike Davidson, 10th season
• Last year: 6-6, 3rd in 1A Emerald City League; 8-9 overall
• 2011 turnout: 25
KEY RETURNERS
• Sr. Josh Bensussen, 1B: All-league first team last year, he swings a big bat and is always a threat to go yard, especially at tiny parks like Marymoor.
• Sr. Lucas Peterson, SS: Fresh off a 3rd-place state finish with Bear Creek basketball, another first-team all-leaguer last year will be a key leader for the Owls.
• Jr. Jackson Umberger, 2B: Great athlete and three-sport varsity player (soccer, basketball) will patrol the middle infield.
• Jr. Aaron DiGenova, 3B: Another talented Bear Creek athlete, he will look to bolster the Owls offensively and defensively from the hot corner.
TOP NEWCOMERS
•Jr. Steven Sacia, Fr. Matt Kaiser, INF: Pair of first-year varsity players will get a chance to develop and see time on the diamond.
KEY GAMES:
Overlake vs. Bellevue Christian: Monday, May 2, 7 p.m. at Bannerwood; Wednesday, May 4, 3:30p.m. at Marymoor: Crucial late-season two-game series against the tough Vikings will be important as the teams jockey for seeding heading into the playoffs.
DID YOU KNOW?
Overlake graduate Brett Gardner (Class of 2006) just finished a solid collegiate career at Dartmouth, batting .280, scoring 24 runs and hitting nine doubles for the Big Green this season. One of the best clutch hitters on the team, he went 12-for-24 with 14 RBIs with runners on and two out in his senior year.
COACH’S QUOTE
“The bulk of our lineup returns from a year ago, but our key question is which of our pitchers will step forward to be the guy in big games. One important competition is at catcher, where talented underclassmen are seeking to take over from John Stolarczuk, who graduated. Overall, this is the deepest team we have ever fielded.” — Overlake coach Mike Davidson
