Lake Washington seniors played little league together | Prep baseball

For the seniors on the Lake Washington High baseball team, winning the KingCo tournament title was a little more than a berth at state and a shiny trophy — it was payback.

By John William Howard • June 8, 2016 7:33 pm
A majority of the players for the Lake Washington High baseball team came through the Kirkland American Little League system. Photo courtesy of Jodi Scheffler
A majority of the players for the Lake Washington High baseball team came through the Kirkland American Little League system. Photo courtesy of Jodi Scheffler

For the seniors on the Lake Washington High baseball team, winning the KingCo tournament title was a little more than a berth at state and a shiny trophy — it was payback.

The Kangs beat Mercer Island for the league championship on May 10, and went on to win the Class 3A state title on May 28 in Pasco.

It’s a rivalry that goes back to the Little League days, when the Kirkland American Little League all-stars routinely battled Mercer Island squads and routinely fell short.

On the state title roster, 17 players came through Kirkland American and five from Redmond West.

Seven years ago, the Kirkland American all-stars met Mercer Island in the 12-year-old District Nine championship game and lost 2-0. The Mercer Island team went on to the state and regional tournaments, eventually advancing to the 2009 Little League World Series.

“Our team, we never could get by Mercer Island,” said Joe Steele, who coached the Kirkland team. “We could just never do it. They were good, like this year. We played them four times and split. They were the nemesis of Kirkland.”

Steele, father of Lake Washington senior Jake Steele, stepped down from coaching after that season. He said he’s been watching his son play since he was four or five years old, and has enjoyed watching the 2016 senior class play together since they were eight or nine.

Steele said he remembers the players’ love for baseball, even as youngsters.

“Back at that time, we had some kids that were bigger and more physical kids,” Steele said. “Connor Johnson was a big, strong kid. Very talented.”

The whole-team concept was a major focus for the coaching staff, something Steele said he can still see in the current group.

Once the players reached high school, a handful of the Redmond West Little League players were grouped into the Lake Washington High School pool and the legend began.

This season was 2009 in reverse.

“In their senior year, for them to be able to go through KingCo and go up against Mercer Island, beat them in the KingCo championships and go to state, it’s tremendous for those kids,” Steele said.

Two seniors, both from Kirkland American, were chosen to move on to the all-state game in Yakima. Pitcher Paul Falco and catcher Matt Scheffler both played in the KingCo all-star games, which the 3A and 4A teams split.