Tri-Cities fastpitch team wins back-to-back WA state 1B championships
Edgar Rogel wasn’t sure he was getting into when he was offered the Liberty Christian girls fastpitch softball coaching job in February of 2022.
That was just about 20 days before the first team practice.
“I had no clue,” said Rogel. “My assistant coach and I walked into the gym that first day to meet the team. There were only four girls there.”
So those four girls went out and started pulling other girls in for the team.
“The first day of actual practice, we had 11 girls turn out,” Rogel said. “I said, ‘Congratulations. You’ve made the team.’”
That team would go on to win the 1B state softball championship.
Rogel had come up to the Tri-Cities from California, where he’d been a coach for a traveling softball program.
He wasn’t sure what he’d gotten himself into at LC.
“The first time I got there, the girls could barely hit the ball past the infield,” said Rogel. “We did a lot of tee work.”
Just smacking the ball, sitting there on a tee.
It must’ve worked, because the Patriots were 21-2 en route to that state title.
So what were the expectations for the Pats for this season?
Not much. Just a bullseye on the team’s back.
Didn’t matter. The Patriots went 25-0, winning by an average score of 13-1, and they beat Inchelium 12-2 in the state championship game.
So in Rogel’s two seasons at LC, the results are two state titles, and a combined record of 46-2.
The secret?
Start with two ace pitchers, junior Hannah Butcher and freshman Bella Rogel (Edgar’s daughter).
“In 1B, if you have good pitchers, you’re sitting pretty,” said Edgar. “Now you add some sticks, you are all set.”
Butcher was named this past week to the Scorebook Live Washington’s all-state softball team.
But both pitchers can sling it from the circle.
“I’m blessed that I’ve got two great pitchers,” said Edgar. “Before a doubleheader, I’d let the two of them decide who gets to go first.”
Those two pitchers are the only Patriots who play summer travel ball.
“But the others are all athletes,” Edgar interjected.
Those other teammates are Savannah Armijo, Maloriie Barr, Alison Bush, Megan Butcher, Calista Davis, Annalisa Drinkard, Faith Frankenfield, Katherine Lindsey, Lauren Reed, Annalise Roy, Camas Van Hollebeke.
Winning is a funny thing. It attracts people. That’s what’s happened at Liberty Christian.
“That first state title in 2021 brought out more girls this spring,” said Rogel. “We had a high school varsity, a middle school team, and a JV team this year. That JV team was the first time we had one.
“The girls want to play. The parents want to help the program. It’s crazy how it developed.”
College softball
Richland High grad Kaylie Northrop finished her junior softball season at Appalachian State by going 8-9 in the pitcher’s circle.
Northrop, a left-handed, struck out 89 batters over 104.2 innings of work. Opponents hit just .233 off of her, and her earned run average was 3.34.
Appy State finished the season with a 23-28 record.
Signings
Hermiston senior Jaxson Gribskov, who won the Class 3A state championship at 182 pounds as a junior, is headed to Southern Oregon University in the fall, where he’ll compete for the men’s wrestling team.
▪ Walla Walla High School senior Liam Bergevin will compete in track next year, as the Blue Devils standout recently committed to Willamette University.
College baseball
Hudson Shupe had an outstanding season as a true freshman for the Seattle University baseball team.
The infielder hit .333 and scored 32 runs while starting all but one of the team’s 53 games.
A few weeks ago, Shupe decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
He didn’t last long, as the Hanford High grad announced a week later that he had signed with Gonzaga University.
▪ Walla Walla Community College center fielder Logan Meyer will play next season at Ottawa University in Arizona. Meyer led the Warriors this spring with 6 home runs, 38 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. He also hit .269 (43 hits in 160 at bats).
▪ Spencer Juul (Hermiston) had a strong season playing baseball for Wenatchee Valley College. Juul hit .284 (29 for 102).
Soccer
Chase Potter just finished his junior season, scoring 12 goals and 9 assists for the Pasco High School boys soccer team.
Now the junior midfielder heads into his senior season come this fall for the Bulldogs, and he’s already got his college plans set: Gonzaga University.
Basketball
Kaia Foster and Malia Ruud still have two fulls seasons of girls basketball to play for the Chiawana Riverhawks.
The pair will spent some of that time determining where they’ll play women’s basketball in college. And the offers will continue to come in.
The latest? Foster, a lanky shooting guard, announced that the University of Hawaii has offered her a scholarship.
Meanwhile, Ruud garnered an offer from UC Santa Barbara this past week.
Jeff Morrow is former sports editor for the Tri-City Herald.
