Coach: Ed Bomber
Home Field: Lynden High School
Last Season: 19-9 (9-3 Conference)
Key Losses: Blakely Doerge (.458 AVG, .496 OBP, 39 R, 13 2B, 6 HR, 30 RBI), Breanna Swendt (.388 AVG, .514 OBP, 36 R, 10 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 29 RBI, 17 W, 102 IP, 60 K’s), Lauren Groen (.333 AVG, .447, 21 R, 17 RBI), Olivia Wittenberg (.321 AVG, .368 OBP, 27 R, 8 2B, 17 RBI), Paige DeVries (.250 AVG, .333 OBP, 10 R, 5 RBI).
Top Returnees: 1B Riley Anderson, 3B Taylor Simonsen, SS Haley Saur, OF Ashlyn Alexander, C Kamden Crass, P Emma Ramerman.
Pitchers and Catchers: Moving on from Breanna Swendt will be extremely difficult, as she graduated with a number of school records, but Coach Bomber likes the possibilities that sophomores Emma Ramerman (52 IP, 50 K’s, 3.48 ERA) and Claire DeVries (12 IP, 11 K’s) bring into the circle. Both got valuable innings last season, and will get the bulk of them in 2020. Junior Kamden Crass (.370 AVG, .457 OBP, 11 R, 5 2B, 3 HR, 32 RBI) is a “next-level” talent behind the plate that is one of the strongest girls in Whatcom County.
Infield: Watching the Lions whip the ball around the infield is extremely impressive. Junior Riley Anderson (.506 AVG, .581 OBP, 38 R, 12 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 35 RBI) returns at first base, and her offensive prowess cannot be overstated, and at 5’11” she provides a great target for her teammates. Junior Haley Saur (.472 AVG, .521 OBP, 43 R, 10 2B, 2 3B, 29 RBI) returns to shortstop, and is one of the top overall players in the county. Senior Taylor Simonsen (.412 AVG, .447 OBP, 27 R, 7 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 36 RBI) will play third base after starting in right field last season, and DeVries, who Coach Bomber describes as possibly the best overall athlete on the team, will be at second. When DeVries is pitching, look for the possibility of freshman Grace Potter to fill in at second base.
Outfield: Sophomore Ashlyn Alexander (.383 AVG, .525 OBP, 17 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 14 RBI) returns, and will take over in center field, and junior Saylor Tarrell (13 R) has great speed and will be in right field. Senior Haley Greene-Harris is slotted to start in left field, but an injury could slow her down.
Final Analysis: I just can’t see how this team doesn’t make a big run in 2020. Many of the girls return from last year’s team, and even more of them play softball on club teams during the summer. It’s a great group that knows what’s expected of them, and they could really make some noise.
