6/25/24

(Yakima, WA) For the third straight year, ESN made our way to Parker Faller Field on the campus of Yakima Valley Community College for the 2024 edition of the All-State Baseball Series. A two-day event for just high school seniors, players from all around the state convene in the middle of the state for four eight-inning games before they all head off to play their collegiate ball. We ended up getting four very good games as these players got to compete for and represent their high schools one last time.

In the opening game, Team Adams and Team Baker battled it out. A solo home run by Fife’s Andrew Olson gave Team Baker the early lead at 1-0. Team Adams would storm back to take a 3-1 lead with Ilwaco’s Boston Caron also leaving the yard with a solo bomb. The pitching was very strong for Team Adams in this one as Alec Ammerman and Jake Lockwood slowed down the Team Baker lineup with a healthy balance of heaters and off-speed. Baker would tie it up at 3-3 in the top of the 6th, but Team Adams responded immediately with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to propel them to the 8-3 win and the championship game.

Game two on the opening day saw a pitcher’s duel between Team Rainier and their duo of Cody Black and Aidan O’Neil against Team St. Helens and their combo of Kieran Markusen and Jabari Simon. The game was scoreless through four innings of play until both got on the board in the 5th as St. Helens took a 4-1 lead. Bryan Ho of Jackson HS was the offensive star of the show, going 3-3 with 3 RBI and a run scored while Edmonds-Woodway’s Diego Escandon paid homage to the late Willie Mays with a great running basket catch out in center field. The late offense from St. Helens was backed with more great pitching as they pulled away in the end for a 9-2 win.

Opening up the show on Sunday, Team Rainier took on Team Baker as the players all wore their high school uniforms in a very cool visual with all the different schools uniforms being represented. On the field, Team Rainier jumped out to an early 2-1 lead and extended the lead in the 2nd to 3-1. Both teams then began trading runs as the game was tied up 6-6 going into the 7th inning. In the bottom of the 7th, Team Baker loaded the bases with nobody out and tried to catch Team Rainier sleeping. A bunt would be popped up and caught by Zach Ziebell on the mound and he would turn and fire to Patrick Klinkenburg at third for a massive double play. That made the situation with runners on first and second with two outs for Bode Poler. Montesano’s leadoff man would come through in a bigger way than anyone could imagine as Poler sent a two-out, three-run home run out to right to lift Team Baker to the late win 9-6.

In the championship game, Team Adams and Team St. Helens met and Team Adams jumped out to a 4-0 lead. St. Helens answered back with three runs in the second to make it 4-3 before some extra base hits gave them a 7-4 lead after 3. Quinn Hubbs was the star for Team St. Helens as the Cheney graduate hung up three consecutive scoreless innings. Things then got really wild as both teams exploded in the 6th but Team St. Helens still had the lead at 10-7. A late surge for Team Adams wouldn’t be enough as the depth of the St. Helens lineup was too much as they took home the championship with an 11-9 win.

The Defensive Player of the Series was Freddy Frias Moreno from Auburn. He’s an infielder and pitches as well and will head to Pierce Community College. The Offensive Player of the Series was Diego Escandon from Edmonds-Woodway. Escandon is an outfielder who will be heading to Columbia Basin Community College.

The Washington State Baseball Coaches Association handed out numerous awards and also inducted four coaches into the Hall of Fame.

The award winners are:

Larry Linville Service Award – Doug Fillbach, Eatonville

Dan White Assistant Coach Recognition Award – Tim Luhring, Bonney Lake

Paton-Fouts Coach of the Year – Grant Richardson, Richland (2024 4A State Champion)

Dave Johnson Coach of the Year – Dylan McLaughlin, West Seattle (2024 3A State Champion)

Lem Elway Coach of the Year – Mike Davidson, Overlake-Bear Creek (2024 1A State Champion)

High School Players of the Year, Big Schools – Chris Daniels, Richland (2024 4A State Champion), and Caden Fahy, West Seattle (2024 3A State Champion)

High School Players of the Year, Small Schools – Lane Simonson, Lynden, Chris Parkin, Columbia River (2024 2A State Champion), and Henry Douglas, Tri-Cities Prep (2024 2B State Champion)

Doumit-Tonkin Ethics in Baseball Award – Darren Snyder, Deer Park

Frank Osborne Lifetime Achievement Award – Frank Silvestri, Stanwood

The Hall of Fame Class of 2024:

Tom Adams – Kelso, Hudson’s Bay

Brad Files – Newport

Benny Benevides – Lindbergh

Jim Holman – Asotin

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