Enumclaw Baseball First Look: Primed for Another Run at State Championship

The Enumclaw High School boys baseball team had a special season in 2010. They had everything: chemistry, strong pitching and timely hitting and defense  that propelled them to the State 3A baseball finals at Safeco Field last May. But it wasn't quite enough to snag the top spot. The Hornets lost to O'Dea 18-9 in the state semifinals; they ended the season with a 9-1 win over Columbia River High School to claim the third place trophy in the State 3A Baseball Championship. 

Senior outfielder Kyle Baumgartner talked of the invaluable experience gained from playing at Safeco Field last season. "I think it's huge [playing at Safeco]," he said. "We realize that it's just a baseball field and now we are more focused on winning this year." 

The task of dealing with high expectations is not always an easy one but in the preseason so far, Enumclaw head coach Eric Fiedler praised his team's approach to practices so far in preparation for tonight's opener against Federal Way.

"We don't have to teach as much scheme," Fiedler said. "It's more coaching baseball; this is a very experienced, mature team and the biggest challenge will be to create the chemistry from last year."

The Hornets are a deep and versatile squad coming back in 2011 starting on the mound with senior right hander Marcus Madden (3-1 2.83 E.R.A), the team's ace, and Coach  Fiedler is excited about Madden's prospects. "Marcus was our team MVP last year and will be our number one starter this season," he said.

In the rest of the starting rotation, Fiedler is looking to key contributions from seniors D.J. Hitch and lefty Kevin Johnson. "Kevin Johnson needs to step for us this season being our only lefty, " Fiedler said. "He was good at times for us last year and will be relied upon on a more consistent basis this year."

The bullpen will be anchored by senior closer Michael Lucarelli. Lucarelli was the SPSL MVP in 2010 who had a 0.00 E.R.A and will be relied upon late in games to shorten the game for the Hornets by slamming the door on the opposition in the seventh inning. Also, Lucarelli's father, Frank Lucarelli is the pitching coach for Enumclaw.

Enumclaw will be anchored in the infield by their left side average returning third baseman Eric Koenig and shortstop Lucarelli.  Koening .386 avg, .463 on base-percentage, and Lucarelli, .367 avg, .458 on base percenatge, and a .612 slugging percentage will be key in getting the Hornets bats off to a strong start in the early season cold weather. 

"I would put [Koening and Lucarelli] against left side of the infield in the state," Fiedler said.

Other key contributors will come from Trenton Disque and Hitch behind the plate, and Cody Hughes at first base. Hughes is a three-year starter who will provide a big bat in the Enumclaw lineup. Also, the battle for second base has several candidates as the Hornets look to replace Calen Bickler who had a school record  43 hits in 2010.

In the outfield, Kyle Thomson (.421 batting average) should be joined in the mix by a variety of players such as C/OF Disque, Baumgartner and lone junior outfielder Tyler Carlson. Fiedler expects this area to be a heavily competed for set of positions for playing time this season.

"We have got a lot of competition for jobs," Fiedler said. "Guys are definitely competing during practice; there is not a lot of standing around."

Enumclaw should be the projected preseason favorite in the SPSL 3A league, but Fiedler and Lucarelli see that every game will be a battle. "We got a bullseye on our back. We know that we are going to have beat good pitching," Fiedler said.

Lucarelli said, " We know everyone in our league is going to be coming after us and we have to be ready."

In 2011, the state finals will return to the newly renovated Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, and senior ace Madden is excited about the new season.

"If our pitching and hitting come togther like last year, we have a great chance at state," Madden said. "We just have to focus on working hard and don't look past anyone."

Enumclaw opens its 2011 campaign tonight against Federal Way High School at Osborne Field on the Enumclaw High School campus. Start time is 7 p.m.