OVERLAKE OWLS

• Head coach: Mike Davidson, 8th season

• Last year: 3rd in 1A Emerald City League, 7-5 league; 11-6 overall

• 2008 turnout: 18.

Key returners

• Sr. Danny Poplawski, SS: Three-time all-league selection headed to Georgetown next year on a baseball scholarship.

• Sr. Michael Curtis, P: Staff ace and all-league selection is an imposing presence on the mound at 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds.

• Sr. Seth Bensussen, 2B/3B: Tore the cover off the ball as a junior, batting a team-leading .479 with 16 RBI.

• Sr. Tommy Castle, CF: Two-sport star was part of Bellevue’s 3A state-champion football team. Great speed as a defensive playmaker and leadoff hitter.

Top newcomers

• Soph. Josh Bensussen 1B: Young lefty with good power will be a great run producer.

• Soph. Lucas Peterson, IF: One of four Bear Creek players on the roster with Overlake. A talented player who was out with an injury last year.

DID YOU KNOW?

Tommy Castle spent the fall winning a state-championship football ring as Bellevue’s starting QB. He was also the lead in Overlake’s school musical last winter despite never having been in a drama production before. He will patrol center field for the Owls in the spring. Castle is also a top-notch student and is looking to play Division-3 football and baseball next year.

COACH’S QUOTE

“The nucleus of players who we have been building around for a couple of years are now seniors, and they have big dreams for their final campaign. If the veterans stay healthy and produce, and the freshmen and sophomores are able to step up, this has the potential to be the deepest and most talented team at Overlake in years.”

— Coach MIKE DAVIDSON on his veteran baseball team