Local teams well represented as 1B Coastal all-league baseball, softball teams announced

Three local baseball players and nine softball players from the 1B Coastal League were recognized for their efforts as the all-league awards were announced earlier this week.

Lake Quinault’s Allen Espinoza had a standout season at the plate to earn league’s baseball MVP honors. Espinoza’s bat was relied on heavily throughout the season, including going 3-for-4 with an RBI in a close 4-2 loss against Evergreen Lutheran in the first round of the district tournament.

The Elks also had two other all-league selections with Eliceo Escobar and Murray Cottrell. Escobar came up big for his team in Lake Quinault’s first-round game of the district tournament against Muckleshoot Tribalwhere he hit a bases-clearing double and drove in three RBI.

Cotrell also had big hits down the stretch, hitting a double that plated three runs in victory that allowed the Elks to clinch a playoff spot.

Wishkah Valley was well represented on the list of 1B softball award winners, with Abbi Van Blaricom, Megan Hill and Aleah Clevenger all earning all-league selections.

Van Blaricom was a tough out, hitting for the cycle early in the season against North Beach and collecting six hits and two homers against Lake Quinault in a double header on April 19.

Hill made her presence felt in the middle of the line up this season and came up with an important home run in the team’s post-season clinching victory against Rainier Christian in a 1B Tri-District semifinal matchup on May 17.

Loggerettes Mackenzie Robertson and Erica Bomhoff were named as honorable mentions.

Katlynn Neeland was the lone Lake Quinault Elk named all-league and teammate Chrsitian Saavedra received an honorable mention nod.

Taholah made some noise in the league standings this season and head coach Jinny Marchand was named Co-Coach of the Year along with Naselle’s Rebekah Wirkkala.

Taholah also got strong years from Denise Curleybear, who was named to the all-league roster, and Teresa Billie, who received honorable mention.

1B Coastal Baseball

MVP: Allen Espinoza, Lake Quinault, Sr.

Sportsmanship Award : All Four Schools

Coach of the Year: Randy Lindstrom, Naselle

All-league: Ethan Lindstrom, Naselle, Fr.; Donny Edwards, Naselle, Jr.; Cole Dorman, Naselle Soph.; Eliceo Escobar, Lake Quinault, Sr. ; Carson Bergeson, Naselle, Jr. ; Caleb Moses, Mary M. Knight, Jr.; CJ Holloway, Oakville, Soph.; Warren Wirkkala, Naselle, Fr.; Murray Cottrell, Lake Quinault, Soph.

Honorable Mention: Alex Moran, Mary M. Knight, Fr.

1B Coastal Softball

MVP: Lily Harman, Naselle, Jr.

Sportsmanship Award: All Five Schools

Coaches of the Year: Rebekah Wirkkala, Naselle; Jinny Marchand, Taholah

All-League: Abbi Van Blaricom, Wishkah, Jr.; Megan Hill, Wishkah, Sr.;Holly Disch, Naselle, Jr.; Kylee Tarabochia, Naselle, Fr.; Katlynn Neeland, Lake Quinault, Soph.; Denise Curleybear, Taholah, Jr.;Taylor Gudmundsen, Naselle, Jr.; Aleah Clevenger, Wishkah, Soph.; Hollie Haataia, Naselle, Fr.

Honorable Mention: Christin Saavedra, Lake Quinault, Jr.; Teresa Billie, Taholah, Jr.; Erica Bomhoff, Wishkah, Soph.; Mackenzie Robertson, Wishkah, Jr.; Hailey Weston, Naselle, Jr. ; Candi Rivera, Oakville; Megan Begnaud, Oakville, Sr.