Gone are the days of funky tiebreakers and wondering which teams make up the Evergreen Conference’s representation in the Class 2A District 4 tournament.
There won’t be any confusion in 2025. And every league game means something.
Traditionally the league has played three games, but only two count towards the standings. Now, all three meetings carry significant weight in determining which four squads will make the trek to the RORC in Ridgefield for the postseason. Still, how the league shapes up at the top may remain constant.
Tumwater and W.F. West have jostled in being two of the best teams in SW Washington and in the classification. Both came in as top-eight seeds, but each dropped quarterfinal heartbreakers to Enumclaw and Columbia River, respectively.
Coach Lyle Overbay’s squad, who recently had four seniors commit to play college baseball, will lead on the shoulders of Derek Thompson on the bump and Luke Overbay in the lineup, a pair of returning first team all-leaguers. Gone is the heartbeat of the group Eddie Marson and EvCo MVP Liam Karlson, but consistent starters Charlie Crawford, Jimmy Womach, Landon Roy and Peyton Davis are back.
W.F. West may have the most speed in the league, buoyed by Coach Jessie Elam’s confidence that the entire lineup can bunt and reach base. Pitching is expected to be a strength behind a four-headed monster of Cole Ozretich, Miles Martin, Connor Coleman and Grady Westlund.
Coleman is expected back after suffering an injury early in the football season.
All-league catcher Deacon Meller and two-time all-league infielder Ross Kelley anchor the lineup.
Centralia was hit hard to graduation, but a core four of Jon Leedy, Kellan Rooklidge, Jacob Johnson and Hudson Chambers lead a younger group.
The Tigers are starting fresh on the mound with Kadin Yeung and Brock Boone pocketing starts early. Rocco Waring has been the top option in relief.
Black Hills is also in a rebuild with most of its pitching and a trio of second team all-league players gone. Three seniors — William Kytta, Cole Moss and Logan Swannack — are back and aim to carry the bulk of the leadership.
The Wolves won just four league games a season ago, but with Shelton moving up to 3A, they could challenge for the final district tourney berth.
