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North Whidbey Little League begins evaluations today, Feb. 22. See “Sports in Brief” below for details.
Saturday, February 22, 2014 • Whidbey News-Times
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New ’Cat softball coach wants players to work hard, have fun By JIM WALLER Sports editor
“Own it.” First-year Oak Harbor High School softball coach Todd Showalter picked the motto for his team to align with his philosophy of “work hard and have fun competing.” Showalter takes over the softball program this spring from Jess Boswell, who stepped down to focus on completing her master’s degree and starting a family. Showalter served as the junior varsity coach for three years before becoming the varsity assistant last season. He also worked as an assistant in the boys and girls basketball programs at Cheney, Medical Lake and Oak Harbor middle and high schools. When the Oak Harbor softball head coaching job opened, Showalter said he “thought it would
be a good opportunity to work with our returning players and keep consistency in the program.” “I really enjoyed the girls on the team last year and the positive attitude throughout the program,” he added. Oak Harbor qualified for the playoffs last spring for the first time since 1998, and Showalter hopes to make postseason play a common occurrence for the Wildcats. To help reach this goal, he “would like to build a program with more influences from all four grades contributing instead of relying on one strong class to carry the program for three or four years at a time.” Such was the case the past few years when members of the class of 2013 formed the nucleus of the varsity squad throughout their fouryear careers. Seven players graduated last spring, four earning first-team, allWesco North Division honors. To build talent throughout the grade levels, Showalter wants the
team to work hard to “do the right things to get better every day and win games as a result of improvement.” “With so many younger players, we will focus on the basics of softball but be aggressive in trying to make the right play,” Showalter said. For example, players will strike out swinging at pitches in the strike zone instead of taking a called third strike because they are afraid to fail, he said. Which leads to “Own it.” “I want the players to own their position and keep their position everyday. They should own their spot in the batting order and not give me a reason to move them. “I want players to own their successes and build on them and own their mistakes and grow from them.” “Practice will be fast-paced with a focus for the day and the week,” he added. It will be competitive to “keep players pushing themselves to become better players.”
Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News-Times
First-year Oak Harbor High School softball coach Todd Showalter discusses throwing technique during a recent off-season workout. Showalter is excited about the participation in off-season workouts: “We’ve had up to 24 girls showing up from all grades and experience
Washington, Leete among OH career scoring leaders The Oak Harbor High School boys and girls basketball teams had quiet seasons, but that didn’t stop two players from making individual noise. A pair of seniors, Drew Washington and Joanna Leete, completed their careers as two of the school’s most prolific scorers. Washington amassed 998 points over four years, the third most among the boys in school history. Leete piled up 901, sixth among Wildcat girls. Washington trails only his brother, Mike Washington Jr., who scored 1,526 points from 2009-12, and Brannon Stone, who scored 1,427 from 1995-98. His per game average this winter, 21.1 points, is also third best. Stone averaged 21.8 in 1998 and Ron Durant 21.7 in 1977. Drew Washington’s 423 points this season is the seventh-best for one season; Stone tops the list with 458 in 1998.
Washington also scored 44 points in one game this year, the second-highest single-game total. Pat McGreevey scored 49 in 1953. Heidi McNeill leads the girls career scoring list with 1,664 points from 2002-05. She also has the three highest single-season totals, led by 441 in 2003. Her 17.7 points per game for her career heads the all-time list. Leete scored 253 points this season for a 12.65 average. Her highest-scoring year was last winter when she scored 319 points, 12th best all-time, with a 15.95 average, which included a single-game high of 32 points. The 32-point game is the fourth highest; McNeill owns the all-time best of 40 in 2005. Leete’s career per-game average of 11.26 points is sixth best. Drew Washington led Oak Harbor in more than scoring this season. He finished first in field
goals made (138), field goals attempted (424), three-pointers made (61), three-pointers attempted (245), free throws made (86), free throws attempted (108), free-throw percentage (79.6), defensive rebounds (106), assists (36), blocks (24) and steals (20). Zach Gibbs finished with the best field goal percentage among the regulars (71-146, 48.6 percent), led in total rebounds (169), and tied Gabe Groenig for most offensive rebounds (68). Elijah Smith posted the best three-point field goal percentage (15-40, 37.5 percent). Gibbs was second in blocks (7) and steals (18); Dyllan Harris was second in scoring (277 points, 13.9 per game), free throw percentage (38-50, 76 percent) and assists (18); and Groenig was second rebounds (139) and field goal percentage (34-86, 37.5 percent).
levels.” The first practice is Monday, March 3, and play begins at the Marysville-Pilchuck jamboree
SPORTS IN BRIEF NW Little League begins evaluations North Whidbey Little League will hold evaluations for all players ages 9 and above this weekend. Baseball evaluations will take place Saturday, Feb. 22, on Field A at Windjammer Park: 12-yearolds, 9 a.m.; 11-year-olds, 11 a.m.; 10-year-olds, 1 p.m.; and 9-yearolds, 3 p.m. Softball evaluations will take place Sunday, Feb. 23, on Field 1 at Volunteer Park: 13- to 16-yearolds, 1 p.m.; 11- and 12-year-olds, 2 p.m.; and 9- and 10-year-olds, 3 p.m. Complete registrations with payment will be taken each day. Registration forms can also be picked at Big 5, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, Dairy Queen, Burger King and the league’s website, www. northwhidbeylittleleague.org Call the league phone at 360679-1522 for current information.
CW soccer clubs holds annual meeting Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News-Times
Drew Washington finished his career with 998 points, third-best among boys in Oak Harbor High School history.
The annual general meeting of the Central Whidbey Soccer Club is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at the Whidbey General Hospital conference room.