Prep baseball: Wilson hopes to make noise behind first-year coach in 3A district tournament
Wilson High School baseball coach Derek Jennings joked he would even take all that lead-filled water at this point. His team’s baseball field hasn’t been watered in about a month because of construction at the school.
But the Rams are used to having to wait for things. For example – their last state tournament berth was 16 years ago.
None of these Wilson seniors had won a district tournament game until last season. Just to get back there, the team’s had to do so with a first-year coach, without its staff ace and a myriad of other moving pieces, injuries and, of course, that dried-out field.
“If your season goes just the way you drew it up, then there’s something wrong,” Jennings said. “That’s just baseball.
Wilson opens the 3A West Central/Southwest bidistrict tournament at 10 a.m. Saturday against Kelso at Auburn High School. A win sends it to a winner-to-state game against the winner of Bonney Lake vs. Auburn at 7 p.m., while a loss sends the Rams to the consolation bracket for a 4 p.m. loser-out game.
Right-hander Mack Larson, last year’s 3A Narrows pitcher of the year, has been limited to six innings this season after injuring his back playing last summer and aggravating it in December, he said.
He’ll make his second start of the year in Wilson’s second game Saturday – after throwing all seven innings in Wilson’s 3-2 district win over Bonney Lake last year.
“It’s been frustrating,” Larson said. “But I’m glad I’m back now and hopefully I can show I can be just as dominant as I was last year.”
Jennings graduated from Kentridge in 2003 before playing seven seasons of semi-pro baseball as a shortstop, including three years as an All-American, with the Seattle Studs. He was inducted into the semi-pro hall of fame this year – for which he joked that he and Will Ferrell are both a part of.
Jennings was manning shortstop during a team drill Friday – in one moment shouting at a player to bunt down the third-base line with a runner on second, and in the next running forward for a ground ball and tossing it behind his back from shortstop to first base.
And he’s relatable. If something’s not done right, Jennings can demonstrate it, himself.
“I feel like we have a bond beyond baseball, too,” senior Cyrus Maxon said. “I feel like I could go to him for anything. He’s just a great influence. A guy to look up to.”
Wilson placed third in the 3A Narrows League this season. But you’d think it was a team coming off the league title with the way it ended Friday’s practice.
“We are going to win out tomorrow,” said senior Ethan Denney, who has filled the void this season as Wilson’s No. 1 starter. He’s one of nine pitchers Wilson has used this season.
“And it would mean everything,” Denney said. “If we win out tomorrow, that is going to put Wilson on the map — that we’re not just a basketball school.”
Jennings’ voice boomed as he broke a team huddle, signaling the end of practice.
“Get sleep tonight. Don’t be selfish,” he said. “It’s not about you. It’s about the name on your chest.”
One they’d like to make a name for Saturday.
TJ Cotterill: 253-597-8677
@TJCotterill
4A SPSL BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
Thursday’s schedule
At Kent Memorial Park (Art Wright Field)
Emerald Ridge 7, Tahoma 4 (Winner earns SPSL No. 4)
Puyallup 1, Kentwood 0 (Winner earns SPSL No. 1)
At Heritage Park (Puyallup)
Kentridge 12, Graham-Kapowsin 2
Kentlake 4, Curtis 1
Friday’s schedule
Graham-Kapowsin 9, Curtis 8 (Winner earns SPSL No. 11, loser out)
At Kent Memorial Park (Art Wright Field)
Tahoma 7, Thomas Jefferson 3 (Winner earns SPSL No. 5, loser No. 6)
Federal Way 6, Kentwood 4 (Winner earns SPSL No. 2, loser No. 3)
At Heritage Park (Puyallup)
Rogers 6, Kentridge 2 (Winner earns SPSL No. 8, loser No. 10)
Kentlake 15, Mount Rainier 3 (Winner earns SPSL No. 7, loser No. 9)
4A WEST CENTRAL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Tuesday’s schedule
Loser out
Game 1: Kentridge (10-13) vs. Rogers (13-8), 4 p.m. at Heidelberg Recreation Center (Tacoma)
Game 3: Graham-Kapowsin (10-12) vs. Olympia (13-6), 4 p.m. at Heritage Recreation Center (Puyallup)
Game 5: South Kitsap (11-9) vs. Mount Rainier (9-13), 4 p.m. at Bellarmine Prep
Game 7: Yelm (8-9) vs. Kentlake (11-12) , 4 p.m. at Kent Memorial Park
Winner to state
Game 2: Tahoma (17-6) vs. Gig Harbor (15-5), 7 p.m. at Heidelberg Park (Tacoma)
Game 4: Emerald Ridge (16-5) vs. Federal Way (17-3), 7 p.m. at Heritage Recreation Center (Puyallup)
Game 6: Timberline (13-6) vs. Kentwood (19-3), 4 p.m. at Foss HS
Game 8: Thomas Jefferson (9-11) vs. Puyallup (17-4), 7 p.m. at Kent Memorial Park
Wednesday’s schedule
Loser out
Game 9: Kentridge-Rogers winner vs. Tahoma-Gig Harbor loser, 4 p.m. at Heritage Recreation Center (Puyallup)
Game 10: Graham-Kapowsin-Olympia winner vs. Emerald Ridge-Federal Way loser, 7 p.m. at Heritage Recreation Center (Puyallup)
Game 11: South Kitsap-Mount Rainier winner vs. Timberline-Kentwood loser, 4 p.m. at Kent Memorial Park
Game 12: Yelm-Kentlake winner vs. Thomas Jefferson-Puyallup loser, 7 p.m. at Kent Memorial Park
Saturday’s schedule (May 14)
District semifinals
Game 13: Tahoma-Gig Harbor winner vs. Emerald Ridge-Federal Way winner, 10 a.m. at Kent Memorial Park
Game 14: Timberline-Kentwood winner vs. Thomas Jefferson-Puyallup winner, 1 p.m. at Kent Memorial Park
District championship
Game 19: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 7 p.m. at Kent Memorial Park
Winner No. 3, loser No. 4
Game 18: Game 13 loser vs. Game 14 loser, 4 p.m. at Kent Memorial Park
Winner to state, loser out
Game 15: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 10 a.m. at Heritage Recreation Center (Puyallup)
Game 16: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 1 p.m. at Heritage Recreation Center (Puyallup)
Winner No. 5, loser No. 6
Game 17: Game 15 winner vs. Game 16 winner, 4 p.m. at Heritage Recreation Center (Puyallup)
3A WEST CENTRAL/SOUTHWEST BIDISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Saturday’s schedule (May 7)
Game 1: Shelton (8-12) vs. Sumner (14-5), 10 a.m. at Kelso HS
Game 2: SeaKing No. 2 vs. Columbia River (16-4), 1 p.m. at Kelso HS
Game 3: North Thurston (9-11) vs. Auburn Mountainview (11-8), 11 a.m. at Foss HS
Game 4: Peninsula (6-14) vs. Central Kitsap (18-2), 11 a.m. at Heidelberg Park (Tacoma)
Game 5: Enumclaw (10-9) vs. Capital (12-7), 10 a.m. at Kent Memorial Park
Game 6: Prairie (8-10) vs. SeaKing No. 1, 1 p.m. at Kent Memorial Park
Game 7: Kelso (12-6) vs. Wilson (12-8), 10 a.m. at Auburn HS
Game 8: Auburn (8-12) vs. Bonney Lake (16-4), 1 p.m. at Auburn HS
Winner to state
Game 9: Shelton-Sumner winner vs. SeaKing No. 2-Columbia River winner, 7 p.m. at Kelso HS
Game 10: North Thurston-Auburn Mountainview winner vs. Peninsula-Central Kitsap winner, 2 p.m. at Heidelberg Park (Tacoma)
Game 11: Enumclaw-Capital winner vs. Prairie-SeaKing No. 1 winner, 7 p.m. at Kent Memorial Park
Game 12: Kelso-Wilson winner vs. Auburn-Bonney Lake winner, 7 p.m. at Auburn HS
Loser out
Game 13: Shelton-Sumner loser vs. SeaKing No. 2-Columbia River loser, 4 p.m. at Kelso HS
Game 14: North Thurston-Auburn Mountainview loser vs. Peninsula-Central Kitsap loser, 2 p.m. at Foss HS
Game 15: Enumclaw-Capital loser vs. Prairie-SeaKing No. 1 loser, 4 p.m. at Kent Memorial Park
Game 16: Kelso-Wilson loser vs. Auburn-Bonney Lake loser, 4 p.m. at Auburn HS
Wednesday’s schedule
Loser out
Game 19: Game 13 winner vs. Game 12 loser, 4 p.m. at Heidelberg Park (Tacoma)
Game 20: Game 14 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 7 p.m. at Heidelberg Park (Tacoma)
Game 21: Game 15 winner vs. Game 10 loser, 4 p.m. at Auburn HS
Game 22: Game 16 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 7 p.m. at Auburn HS
Saturday’s schedule (May 14)
Bidistrict semifinals
Game 17: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 10 a.m. at Auburn Riverside HS
Game 18: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 1 p.m. at Auburn Riverside HS
Bidistrict championship
Game 27: Game 17 winner vs. Game 18 winner, 7 p.m. at Auburn Riverside HS
Winner No. 3, loser No. 4
Game 26: Game 17 loser vs. Game 18 loser, 4 p.m. at Auburn Riverside HS
Winner to state, loser out
Game 23: Game 19 winner vs. Game 20 winner, 10 a.m. at Heidelberg Park (Tacoma)
Game 24: Game 21 winner vs. Game 22 winner, 1 p.m. at Heidelberg Park (Tacoma)
Winner No. 5, loser No. 6
Game 25: Game 23 winner vs. Game 24 winner, 4 p.m. at Heidelberg Park (Tacoma)
2A WEST CENTRAL/SEAKING BIDISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Saturday’s schedule (May 7)
Game 1: Sequim (11-8) vs. White River (9-5), 10 a.m. at Russell Road Park (Kent)
Game 2: Sammamish (1-19) vs. Highline (14-6), 1 p.m. at Russell Road Park (Kent)
Game 3: Lindbergh (7-10) vs. River Ridge (9-11), 10 a.m. at Kitsap County Fairgrounds
Game 4: Orting (8-11) vs. North Kitsap (14-4), 1 p.m. at Kitsap County Fairgrounds
Game 5: Steilacoom (11-9) vs. Port Angeles (15-4), 9:30 a.m. at Eastlake HS
Game 6: Renton (5-16) vs. Liberty of Issaquah (9-11), 12:30 p.m. at Eastlake HS
Game 7: Olympic (13-5) vs. Tyee (8-9), 9:30 a.m. at Franklin Pierce HS
Game 8: Bremerton (9-9) vs. Fife (17-2), noon at Franklin Pierce HS
Winner to state
Game 9: Sequim-White River winner vs. Sammamish-Highline winner, 7 p.m. at Russell Road Park (Kent)
Game 10: Lindbergh-River Ridge winner vs. Franklin Pierce-North Kitsap winner, 7 p.m. at Kitsap County Fairgrounds
Game 11: Steilacoom-Port Angeles winner vs. Renton-Liberty of Issaquah winner, 6:30 p.m. at Eastlake HS
Game 12: Olympic-Tyee winner vs. Bremerton-Fife winner, 5 p.m. at Franklin Pierce HS
Loser out
Game 13: Sequim-White River loser vs. Sammamish-Highline loser, 4 p.m. at Russell Road Park (Kent)
Game 14: Lindbergh-River Ridge loser vs. Orting-North Kitsap loser, 4 p.m. at Kitsap County Fairgrounds
Game 15: Steilacoom-Port Angeles loser vs. Renton-Liberty of Issaquah loser, 3:30 p.m. at Eastlake HS
Game 16: Olympic-Tyee loser vs. Bremerton-Fife loser, 2:30 p.m. at Franklin Pierce HS
Wednesday’s schedule
Loser out
Game 19: Game 13 winner vs. Game 12 loser, 2:30 p.m. at Franklin Pierce HS
Game 20: Game 14 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 5 p.m. at Franklin Pierce HS
Game 21: Game 15 winner vs. Game 10 loser, 4 p.m. at Kitsap County Fairgrounds
Game 22: Game 16 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 7 p.m. at Kitsap County Fairgrounds
Saturday’s schedule (May 14)
Bidistrict semifinals
Game 17: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 10 a.m. at Kitsap County Fairgrounds
Game 18: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 1 p.m. at Kitsap County Fairgrounds
Bidistrict championship
Game 26: Game 17 winner vs. Game 18 winner, 4 p.m. at Kitsap County Fairgrounds
Winner No. 3, Loser No. 4
Game 27: Game 17 loser vs. Game 18 loser, 7 p.m. at Kitsap County Fairgrounds
Winner to state, loser out
Game 23: Game 19 winner vs. Game 20 winner, 10 a.m. at Franklin Pierce HS
Game 24: Game 21 winner vs. Game 22 winner, 1 p.m. at Franklin Pierce HS
Winner No. 5, loser No. 6
Game 25: Game 23 winner vs. Game 24 winner, 4 p.m. at Franklin Pierce HS
2A SOUTHWEST DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Friday’s schedule (May 6)
Loser out
Game A: Tumwater 5, Hudson’s Bay 4
Tuesday’s schedule
Game 1: R.A. Long (9-7) vs. Centralia (10-10), 4:30 p.m. at Wheeler Field (Centralia)
Game 2: Tumwater (10-8) vs. Ridgefield (12-5), 4:30 p.m. at View Ridge Middle School
Game 3: Black Hills (9-11) at Hockinson (11-5), 4:30 p.m.
Game 4: Mark Morris (8-7) at W.F. West (13-6), 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s schedule
District semifinals
Game 7: R.A. Long-Centralia winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m. at Wheeler Field (Centralia)
Game 8: Black Hills-Hockinson winner vs. Mark Morris, W.F. West winner, 4 p.m. at Wheeler Field (Centralia)
Loser out
Game 5: R.A. Long-Centralia loser vs. Game 2 loser, 6 p.m. at W.F. West
Game 6: Black Hills-Hockinson loser vs. Mark Morris, W.F. West loser, 4 p.m. at W.F. West
Saturday’s schedule (May 14)
Loser out
Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 11 a.m. at Wheeler Field (Centralia)
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 1:30 p.m. at Wheeler Field (Centralia)
Winner No. 3, loser out
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 4 p.m. at Wheeler Field (Centralia)
District championship
Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 5 p.m. at Wheeler Field (Centralia)
1A WEST CENTRAL DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Saturday’s schedule (May 7)
Loser out
Game 1: Chimacum (7-10) at Cascade Christian (8-6), 2 p.m.
Game 2: Seattle Christian (10-8) at Klahoywa (16-4)
Tuesday’s schedule
District semifinals
Game 3: Olympic No. 3-Cascade Christian winner vs. Coupeville (10-10), 4 p.m. at Curtis HS
Game 4: Seattle Christian-Klahoywa winner vs. Vashon Island (13-4), 4 p.m. at Charles Wright
Thursday’s schedule
District championship
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m. at Curtis HS
Loser out
Game 6: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 4 p.m. at Charles Wright
Saturday’s schedule (May 14)
Winner to state, loser out
Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 winner, noon at Curtis HS
2B SOUTHWEST DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
Saturday’s schedule (May 7)
Loser out
Game 1: Northwest Christian (5-14) vs. Adna (14-5), noon at RAC
Game 2: Napavine (9-10) vs. Ocosta (10-5), noon at Toledo HS
Game 3: Wahkiakum (14-6) vs. Ilwaco (8-9), noon at Pe Ell
Game 4: Mossyrock (5-13) vs. Toutle Lake (14-5), noon at Life Christian
Winner to state
Game 5: Northwest Christian-Adna winner vs. Rainier (17-3), 3 p.m. at RAC
Game 6: Napavine-Ocosta winner at Toledo (16-4), 3 p.m.
Game 7: Wahkiakum-Ilwaco winner at Pe Ell (17-3), 3 p.m.
Game 8: Mossyrock-Toutle Lake winner at Life Christian (12-7), 3 p.m.
Tuesday’s schedule
District semifinals
Game 11: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 1 p.m. at Mossyrock HS
Game 12: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 4 p.m. at Mossyrock HS
Loser out
Game 9: Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser, 1 p.m. at Adna HS
Game 10: Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 4 p.m. at Adna HS
Friday’s schedule
Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 12 loser, 1 p.m. at Adna HS
Game 14: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 4 p.m. at Adna HS
Saturday’s schedule (May 14)
Winner to state, loser out
Game 17: Game 13 loser vs. Game 14 loser, 10 a.m. at Mossyrock HS
Winner No. 3, loser No. 4
Game 16: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 1 p.m. at Mossyrock HS
District championship
Game 15: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 4 p.m at Mossyrock HS
To report a score, call 253-597-8680 or email preps@thenewstribune.com
253-597-8680
This story was originally published May 6, 2016 at 7:22 PM with the headline "Prep baseball: Wilson hopes to make noise behind first-year coach in 3A district tournament."