Back in the day when W.F. West High School hosted the Class A American Legion State Tournament, the players for Awesome Chevrolet had to keep the field in tip-top shape amongst other responsibilities.
Oh, and then play baseball in hopes of leaving with a first place trophy,
“Playing on the turf makes it a lot easier,” Coach Jesse Elam said.
Awesome Chevy had more than enough awesome moments over the last week.
Fueled by a high octane offense early in the tournament and a five-inning standout performance by Wyatt Hoffman late, the 16U legion team composed of Bearcats claimed the state title with a perfect 5-0 record for the tournament, ending with a 6-1 victory over Northern Lake Mountaineers out of Idaho.
Once the final out was recorded, an eruption ensued at Bearcat Stadium. Players donned white championship shirts and held the trophy.
“Really cool accomplishment for these guys. (It was the) goal we set at the beginning of the summer,” Elam said. “Every one of our guys got better and that’s what it is about. Winning that tournament is a cherry on top.”
From the opening game of the season in early June to the finale on the penultimate day in July, Awesome Chevy didn’t have issues lighting up the scoreboard. Just three times in 27 games was it held to under five runs.
The five state tournament games featured outputs of 10, 12, 15, 12 and six runs.
Still, Elam was quite pleased with the efforts on the bump.
In the opener versus the Medical Lake Dirt Dawgs, Emmett Goodman and Jackson Tracy Solorio combined for a no-hitter on just 56 pitches. Three pitchers totaled just six hits given up against the WWVBC Griz. And against the same Mountaineers squad it met later, Awesome Chevy allowed just two hits and two walks.
“Pitchers came out and dominated the strike zone,” Elam stated.
Then in the semis, a little bit of déjà vu happened.
Two months ago, it was W.F. West versus Othello in a Class 2A state quarterfinal game for the right to play in the Final Four. Othello blew the game open late and beat the Bearcats on their home field.
Fast forward to Tuesday and the Othello Aces were in the midst of another back and forth with a cavalcade of Bearcats. Awesome Chevy led 7-3 after three complete innings, then the Aces tied the game with a four-spot in the top of the fourth and took the lead in the sixth with another four runs.
“For it to drag and drag, that was not a typical game for us,” Elam admitted. “It was good for us to have a little bit of adversity and overcome that.”
Awesome Chevy cut into the deficit with three in the bottom of the sixth. Four straight walks in the seventh tied the game and Collin Elder drew a bases loaded walk in the eighth to snare the victory.
There were 15 walks by Awesome Chevy to nine hits and 12 RBIs. Reece Marquez drew four walks, but drove in three runs. Jack Becker had three base on balls plus two hits, two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases.
“We showed up every game and played hard and that’s what I believe legion baseball is all about,” Elam said. “Once we tied it up, I knew we’re going to win that game in my mind.”
Despite pitching the day before, Hoffman’s pitch count was low enough for him to start in the title game. Elam admitted the plan was for the sophomore-to-be to not pitch in the semis.
Even so, the right-hander pieced together a one-hit outing with six strikeouts in five frames. He finished the summer with 40 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.25. Goodman struck out 50 and ended the year with a sub-1.00 ERA.
“I think the kid is a special kid; he’s very talented,” Elam said of Hoffman. “It is his work ethic and leadership skills that separate him from everyone else.”
Awesome Chevy plated four in the bottom of the first and after Northern Lake threatened in the third, the rally was halted and two more crossed home in the bottom half.
Elam is hopeful this can push the Bearcats forward heading into the 2026 prep season.
“It gives them an idea of playing for me and gives me a chance to see them, the language we use gives them 25 more games,” he said. “It is special keeping our guys around here. Keeping that community kind of feel, kids from Chehalis can be excited to play for (us), an extension of our high school program.”
