Vikings’ Ensrud, Micheles make offers official during National Signing Day

A pair of Puyallup Vikings made their athletic commitment for next year official last week during a ceremony at the high school’s commons and lunch area.

As family, friends and fellow students watched on as Emily Ensrud signed on with South Dakota State for softball and Chris Micheles signed on with the University of Washington for baseball. Both signings meant something different for each athlete.

It’s not often a Northwest athlete will travel out to Bookings, South Dakota and fall in love with the area and the school. But that’s what happened to Ensrud on her visit to the campus.

“I got contacted by the coach (Krista Wood) and I made a visit, and I absolutely loved it there,” Ensrud said. “I loved the engineering program and it was a perfect fit for me … and I get to play softball, so it’s a win-win.”

With math as her favorite subject, it’s no wondering why a school with a solid engineering program enticed Ensrud. After all, understanding and utilizing the calculations have made this softball player into an all-around performer in center field.

“I’m excited to be able to go to the school, and they want me to go to the school,” she said. “It just feels good to see all my hard work pay off.”

That hard work never went unnoticed by Puyallup softball coach Tony Batinovich as he witnessed first-hand how much his senior centerfielder had progressed over her career.

“Emily has grown a lot in her first three years,” Batinovich said via text message as he was heading to Kennewick for the Class 4A state volleyball tournament. “She has developed better physical skills and mental skills to improve her all around abilities every year.”

And now with her choice in hand, it just makes sense why Ensrud chose to become a Jackrabbit.

All-American signing

Chris Micheles had an amazing junior season with Puyallup baseball, and he ended the season as a member of the 2015 Louisville Slugger High School Second Team, and should be listed on preseason All-American lists this coming spring.

So there’s an obvious reason the Huskies wanted to lock this lefty up since his sophomore season.

“They offered December of my sophomore year,” Micheles said of his signing with UW. “It’s where I always wanted to go, so this was just making it official.”

During his junior season, Micheles compiled a 7-0 record with a 0.83 earned run average while striking out 60 batters over 57.1 innings pitched. He also picked up a win during the USA Baseball National High School Invitational in North Carolina.

“I was excited to have a new start and a good season (last year), and my success was the ability to let go and not worry about what teams or what awards I would win,” Micheles said.

That quieting of the mind gave Micheles all the ammunition he needed in his arm, as he often, seemingly effortlessly, let loose fastball and curves that overmatched even the best hitters this state — and nation — had to offer.

It was progress toward becoming the team’s ace and arguably the state’s top prep pitcher heading into his senior season.

“This is what it’s all about for the kids — to be able to move on to the next level,” Puyallup coach Marc Weise said. “He’s done nothing but great things (for us), and I’m exciting to see what he’s going to do here next (spring).”

This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Vikings’ Ensrud, Micheles make offers official during National Signing Day."