When the W.F. West High School arrived at Joe Martin Stadium in both 2022 and 2023, it entrenched a richer expectation they’d get back to the Final Four. Progress in baseball, for all its quirks and wonkiness, is far from linear.
Falling short the last two years as the No. 7 and No. 4 seeds left a bitter taste in the Bearcats mouths. And yet, they aren’t talking about the shortcomings of yesteryear.
“All we’re trying to do is go 1-0,” their head coach Jesse Elam said. “Normally, I put in our preseason thing talking about Bellingham and I didn’t put it on this year. We’re going one pitch at a time, one game at a time.
It might be a rundown saying, but W.F. West is hopeful a laser focus will result in avoiding a third straight early exit in the Class 2A state tournament and instead, a much-awaited return trip to Bellingham in late-May.
“I know there are going to be growing pains,” Elam said. “It is all about getting us better, one day at a time. It keeps us focused and keeps us together, more than anything.”
There’s been zero mention of what transpired on W.F. West’s field last spring, losing a lead and unable to stop the bleeding in the 14-8 loss to Othello. It has turned the page to 2026, which has started with a three-run loss to 4A Camas.
Still, the standard for the program hasn’t changed.
“We remember the feeling and it is our goal to get to Bellingham,” senior outfielder Miles Martin said.
The Bearcats’ strength of returners will be on the mound.
Connor Coleman, who committed to Washington State earlier in the week, headlines a seven-player staff that six of them threw varsity innings last year. Wyatt Hoffman pitched a bulk of innings for Chehalis’ summer league team.
Hayden Rooney emerged as a lethal arm and Martin came on in relief several times. Emmett Goodman, Hudson McCallum and the budding star from two years ago Cole Ozretich are all back.
“We got guys we trust,” Coleman said.
One of the top pitchers by Prep Baseball Report in the state, Coleman got a full offseason of work after needing to recover from his knee injury last spring. His fastball velocity ticked above 93 miles per hour.
The southpaw is aiming for a stellar final season before heading to Pullman.
“I put in a lot of work this offseason, put in as much work in baseball as I ever have,” he said. “I feel really comfortable and I’m ready to go.”
Goodman came on in relief of Coleman and pitched well in the district title game last season. Rooney established himself with a three-pitch repertoire and McCallum earned the trust of the coaching staff.
Elam admits it is a luxury to have plenty of arms to use in a pinch.
“We got a ton of guys, it is going to come down to throwing strikes,” Elam said. “We have a whole bunch of competition going on now. Who has the hot hand? That’s what we’re excited about.”
Three infield spots, catcher and a pair of outfield spots are up for grabs with the graduation of staples such as Deacon Meller, Ross Kelley and Weston Potter. The competition is deep behind a roster made up of all upperclassmen minus four sophomores.
Martin headlines the outfield and Hiroto Smaciarz returns at second base. Beckman Dvorak was a first team all-EvCo designated hitter that could see time in the field. Alex Stafford is expected to be the catcher.
“We’ve been really deep defensively the last couple of years,” Martin said. “We got guys that are ready for the new roles. It is a good change of pace.”
“It could be a platoon type thing or it could be a guy wins it and never gives it back,” Elam added on the inner competition.
The league has been dominated by the Bearcats and Thunderbirds for the last handful of years and with three meetings on deck to determine an outright winner, it could come down to the two sides once again.
District 4 only has three bids to the final 16 and Elam believes it will be tougher to nab a spot, primarily based on what the GSHL returns.
“Anything can happen in those district games,” he said. “Sure, should Tumwater and us be at the top of that? I think so, but nothing is ever given.”
W.F. West has already tested itself with the Papermakers, the No. 9 seed in 4A last year, and it will be in the Baseballism Kickoff Classic for the second year in a row. The Bearcats will face Lynden in the quarterfinals of the Richie Sexson Bracket; other teams include Othello, East Valley Yakima, Anacortes and Ridgefield.
“Just keep playing our (brand) of baseball,” Martin said. “The way we do things here is to win.”
