American Legion ball kicks off
June 11, 2008
By Bob Taylor
Pitching will be one of Lakeside’s strengths this summer as the Senior American Legion baseball team makes another run at the state title.
Lakeside, a perennial state power under manager Rob Reese, has won four state titles. Reese, Issaquah High School’s baseball coach, directed the club to championships in 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2006. Reese believes this summer’s team has the arms to be a contender for the state championship again.
Three of the team’s top pitchers from last summer are back again – Adrian Sampson, Jacob Kemmerer and Nathan Eisenhauer.
Sampson, from Skyline High School, led the team in strikeouts last season. He comes off a banner season for the 3A KingCo Conference championship Spartans, too. Sampson earned first-team all-conference honors this spring. He led the league with a 6-0 record. Sampson also had a 1.58 earned run average.
The staff also includes Tyler VanderBoegh and Alex DeMarne, of Issaquah; Blake Fulghum and Jared Lemke, of Skyline; and Brandon Andreini, of Newport.
Lakeside’s pitching staff was young last season, with most of the hurlers playing at the senior level for the first time.
“Hopefully, the experience they got last year will pay off this season. I think it will,” Reese said. “I really think the eight kids on our staff gives us one of the deepest pitching staffs around.”
Lakeside won’t rely just on pitching this summer. The club is solid at every position.
“We have a real athletic team,” Reese said.
Some of the best athletes make up Lakeside’s outfield - Spencer Rogers, Miles Perkins and Brennan Miller, of Issaquah; and Collin Bennett, of Newport.
Rogers had a spectacular sophomore season for the Eagles. He led KingCo in hitting with a .571 average. For the entire season, including the playoffs, Rogers hit .489 with 28 runs batted in and 14 doubles.
“Rogers had a great year. He was all-everything,” Reese said.
“Our outfield has great athletes. They are outstanding offensive and defensive players,” Reese said.
The infield is solid with Will Pierce and Trace Tam Sing, of Newport; Mario Sanelli and Grant Gellatly, of Issaquah; and Ryan Somers, of Skyline. Kyle Sutherland, of Issaquah, and Ned Jones, of Newport, will handle the catching. The infield not only will be strong defensively, but it has good hitters. Tam Sing hit .413 and Pierce .368 batted for the Knights. Sanelli batted .329 this spring and Somers hit .421. Sutherland, a powerful hitter, batted .360 with 28 RBIs and 10 doubles this spring for the Eagles.
Lakeside, as usual, will play a demanding schedule this summer. The club has 48 games scheduled in 60 days. The schedule includes tournaments in San Diego and Portland, Ore. along with Lakeside’s annual Brandy Pugh Tournament in July.
The club already is off to a promising start. On June 4, Lakeside rallied for a 7-6 victory against Chaffey, one of the area’s strongest select teams. Eisenhauer picked up the victory in relief of Sampson. Somers and Rogers each had two hits, while Sanelli drove in the game-winning run.
“Beating Chaffey was really a good start for our team,” Reese said. “Chaffey is the best team in the area this year. Beating them is a real confidence builder for our team.”
Before the victory, Reese was already feeling optimistic about his team.
“I think we’re going to have a good season. We have a solid lineup, pitching depth and a real athletic team,” Reese said. “We will play one of the toughest schedules around, which will only help us get better. I think we’re in pretty good shape to make another run at the state title.”
Reach Bob Taylor at 392-6434, ext. 236. or bobtaylor@isspress.com
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