Lakeridge, Wilsonville, Gladstone softball ready to chase titles
It's time.
Time for a full season. Time for a state championship race. Time to play without masks.
It's time for softball.
Clackamas County's high school softball players — after losing the entire 2020 season to COVID-19 restrictions and seeing 2021 limited to just six weeks with no state championship — are back to normalcy in 2022 for the first time since this year's seniors were freshmen.
With that as pretext, the varsity teams at Lake Oswego, Lakeridge, Oregon City, West Linn, Clackamas, Nelson, La Salle, Milwaukie, Putnam, Wilsonville and Gladstone are ready to go, a group that includes returning league champions from Wilsonville and Gladstone.
Read more about each team's 2022 prospects below.
Three Rivers League
Lake Oswego
Head coach: Chris Gobel
2021 record: 2-10 in TRL play, 6-11-1 overall
2022 outlook: "We have two quality pitchers this year … who are ready to compete in a full season. They will be surrounded by quality defense … which will help us be competitive in every game." — Chris Gobel
League contenders: Lakeridge, Oregon City, Tigard
Top pitchers: Junior Paris Richards, junior Ava Brenden
Top players: Junior third baseman Riley O'Mara, senior shortstop Chloe Carnegie shortstop, sophomore outfielder Lia Komitor
Lakeridge
Head coach: Katie Boos
2021 record: 8-4 in TRL play, 14-4 overall
2022 outlook: "We lost two all-state starters at key positions to graduation and transfer. While those are big shoes to fill, with two of the top pitchers in the league, we are looking to compete for a TRL title in 2022." — Katie Boos
League contenders: Tigard, West Linn, Lakeridge, Canby
Top pitchers: Senior Holly Beeman, sophomore Delaney Hoyle
Top players: Senior pitcher/utility Holly Beeman, sophomore pitcher/utility Delaney Hoyle, senior third baseman Ella Hoyle
Oregon City
Head coach: Mackenzie Washington
2021 record: 6-6 in TRL play, 11-7 overall
2022 outlook: "We are returning nine players this year and have added junior transfer Gina Allen at shortstop. This team will be strong, cohesive and experienced. I am looking forward to seeing all the pieces come together and seeing these girls compete for a league title." — Mackenzie Washington
League contenders: Tigard, Tualatin, Oregon City
Top pitchers: Sophomore Lily Riley, junior Allyson Nordling
Top players: Senior third baseman Phoebe Borkus, junior shortstop Gina Allen, sophomore outfielder Ally Pagel
West Linn
Head coach: Monica Sorenson
2021 record: 6-6 in TRL play, 10-7 overall
2022 outlook: "We're excited for this year. The Three Rivers League is always competitive and we're ready to compete." — Monica Sorenson
League contenders: Tigard, Lakeridge
Top pitchers: Junior Ava Sullivan
Top players: Senior shortstop Cydney Hess, senior catcher Ava Sin, junior outfielder Jenna Wheeler
Mt. Hood Conference
Clackamas
Head coach: Danielle McKay
2021 record: 8-4 in MHC play, 10-8 overall
2022 outlook: "We have a pretty good mix of newcomers and experienced varsity players. We should develop into a contender in the Mt. Hood Conference as the year progresses." — Danielle McKay
League contenders: Barlow, Sandy
Top pitchers: Senior Pressley Staudenmaier
Top players: Senior shortstop Kate Kraljev, senior third baseman Zoe Lam, junior center fielder Jordan Reichlein
Nelson
Head coach: Ken Gemma
2021 record: N/A (first-year school)
2022 outlook: "We're not going to commit to winning a league championship, but we'll compete. This is a new team, we're building the program, but we'll compete." — Ken Gemma
League contenders: Clackamas, Gresham, Barlow
Top pitchers: Senior Noel Julison, freshman Sofia Forbito
Top players: Senior Noel Julison, junior shortstop Kaylie Christopher, junior center fielder Ailee Young, freshman third baseman Sofia Forbito, senior second baseman Olivia Wooten
Northwest Oregon Conference
La Salle
Head coach: Geoff Richter
2021 record: 5-6 in NWOC play, 7-7 overall
2022 outlook: "(Our) 2021 starting pitcher and catcher both graduated, but those were the only two seniors on a young team. With the experience of returning players, I think we have the talent to compete for a league title this season." — Geoff Richter
League contenders: Wilsonville, Scappoose
Top pitcher: Sophomore Layne Portash
Top players: Senior shortstop Ryley Vickroy, senior center fielder Elsie Buczkowski, junior catcher Halia Richter
Milwaukie
Head coach: Diana Williams
2021 record: 0-1 in NWOC play, 0-1 overall
2022 outlook: "We have a strong core of returning players with some talented new faces. We are looking forward to a lot of growth this season." — Diana Williams
League contenders: Wilsonville, St. Helens
Top pitchers: Junior Josie Hoff, junior Jazell Allen
Top players: Senior center fielder Aksana Gusinsky, junior catcher Aliza Hedden, senior second baseman Taylor Bergman
Rex Putnam
Head coach: Samantha Frost
2021 record: 7-5 in NWOC play, 7-5 overall
2022 outlook: "I'm excited to see what this group can do. We have a lot of solid athletes that are already coming together early in the season. I believe we have the talent this season to go after a conference championship." — Samantha Frost
League contenders: La Salle, Wilsonville, Putnam
Top pitchers: Junior Jessica Cracknell, sophomore Kendall Clark
Top players: Senior center fielder Lucy Rose, junior shortstop Shiloh Thompson, junior catcher/outfielder Sophia Lambert
Wilsonville
Head coach: Steve Harms
2021 record: 10-1 in NWOC play, 13-5 overall
2022 outlook: "(This is) likely the most talented group of softball student-athletes in school history. (It should be a) fun year for the girls, coaching staff and the Wilsonville softball community." — Steve Harms
League contenders: Wilsonville, Scappoose
Top pitchers: Senior Maddie Erickson (a Michigan commit), junior Anna Jardin (a Rhode Island commit)
Top players: Senior infielder Natalie Adams, senior utility Neina-Leilani Santer, junior infielder Catherine Classen, junior outfielder Taylor Hadden, sophomore catcher Maddie Holly, sophomore outfielder Mary Matthews, sophomore infielder Talia Valdez, sophomore outfielder Cali Weaving, sophomore infielder Grace Wilson
Tri-Valley Conference
Gladstone
Head coach: Emily Smith
2021 record: 9-3 in TVC play, 9-6 overall
2022 outlook: "We are excited about this team's potential." — Emily Smith
League contenders: "(It's a) very competitive league. Everyone is in the hunt." — Emily Smith
Top pitchers: Senior Allie Grant, junior Emerysn Stepp
Top players: Senior third baseman Carmen Collins, junior utility Emerysn Stepp Utility, junior center fielder Delaney McNett
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