Death, taxes, and the Central 2B League being absolutely loaded. Some things don’t change.
Though the C2BL will be strong once again this season, with multiple teams capable of competing for a state championship, a host of teams will look to win an elusive state title. The league’s last team to win a chip was Mossyrock, back in 2007.
The Vikings have now made the full-time move to the 1B level, leaving it up to teams like Wahkiakum, Adna, Toledo, and Onalaska.
The Pirates, who return almost every starter from a third-place finish at districts last year, and an 11-1 record, will be a force. Stalwarts like Kaylin Todd, Summer White, and Karlee Von Moos will all feature heavily for the Pirates.
“We got off to a late start getting everyone back into basketball after the soccer playoffs, but the expectation is to get better each day at practice,” Pirates coach Chris Bannish said. “This is a great group of kids to coach and we expect them to compete on a high level daily.”
Wahkiakum, which won the district championship in the spring in dominant fashion, will be susceptible this season, replacing its two best players from the spring, leading the way for other teams to step in and win District 4.
The team that lost to the Mules in the district title game, Toledo, will also be replacing a lot of production. Greenlee Clark returns, and Vanesa Rodriguez and Rose Dillon will feature, but they’ll look to compete with the top of the C2BL once again.
Napavine, which lost to Adna in the district quarterfinals, returns Natalya Marcial, Keira O’Neill, and Danielle Tupuola and should be much improved from a 9-5 season last spring. The Rainier Mountaineers, which finished 8-3 in league, will also compete for a top bid. They return three seniors: Isabella Holmes, Faith Boesch, and Selena Niemi, and freshman Bryn Beckman will also contribute.
Elsewhere, two teams that lost to the Mules in districts will look to improve, Onalaska and Morton-White Pass. The Loggers, which return Brooklyn Sandridge, Morgan and Dakota Hamilton, Alex Cleveland Barrera, Cierra Russ, and first-team all league selection Callie Lawrence, should be strong.
The Timberwolves, which had a tough year in the spring, return all five of their starters, including Natalia Armstrong and Mckenzee Mays.
“With our juniors and sophomores taking the next step, and with a large group of freshmen coming in,” coach Curt Atkinson said. “We are very excited about the upcoming season.”
A wildcard in the C2BL state race is Winlock, which returns Addison Hall and Madison Vigre from a 5-7 team, and adds the talents of Pe Ell’s roster after the girls program was cut this year. Now, the Cardinals will receive the services of scrappy defender Charlie Carper, who will feature immediately under first year coach Dracy McCoy.
“The team is working hard learning a new system,” McCoy said. “We’re learning to play together and putting the time in needed to be a league contender.”
At the 1B level, the Vikings have all the makings for another strong state run in their first full season at the lower level. Mossy went 8-1, with its only loss being to 2B Toledo, as the Vikings ran the table and won both their league and district last spring.
Those that followed volleyball will see familiar faces in Payton Torrey and Caelyn Marshall as the Vikings look to continue a strong sports season into the winter.
