It was three years ago when an all-turf field was announced for Bearcat Stadium. In August 2023, the project broke ground. Last year, there were bumps along the way and the field was far from ready.
Then two weeks ago, the expected home opener for the W.F. West High School baseball team was canceled. Being able to play a competitive game in Chehalis dragged on.
“The way it was going I didn’t know if it was ever going to get done, to be honest,” Bearcats head coach Jesse Elam said. “I’m glad these seniors get to play on it.”
The wait was over on Tuesday afternoon.
For the first time in over 365 days, W.F. West hosted a game and christened its new turf field to the tune of a 10-0, five-inning triumph over district foe Mark Morris. It held a ceremonial first pitch and its players debuted pinstriped Mint City jerseys.
“It is flippin’ awesome,” Elam stated.
After playing the 2024 season at Centralia College and various other sites for home games, the Bearcats (4-0) have settled into their newly-built home comfortably.
“We’ve been waiting for three years, so it is nice to finally be able to have it,” catcher Deacon Meller said. “It is great to have a home field advantage again.”
It capped a whirlwind timeframe of multiple years to get the field ready. Timelines were pushed back from when the project between the Chehalis Foundation and the Chehalis School District was first announced in March of 2022.
So when the weather, for the first time this spring, looked promising, W.F. West made sure to soak in the moment.
In total, 13 players took the field in the victory.
“It is good not to drive over (to Centralia College) all the time,” junior Connor Coleman said.
Coleman made his second start of the season and pitched two innings with three strikeouts. He used his fastball-slider combo to stymie the Monarchs (2-1). His only jam was two on, no outs and the southpaw retired the side on two strikeouts and a groundout.
He’s less than eight months removed from a knee injury suffered in a football tackle drill prior to Week 1.
“I worked my butt off, that was my main priority,” Coleman said. “Had a lot of opportunities provided to me. It was a mental thing, but I’m not going to let a serious injury stop me from playing this year.”
Elam is just thrilled one of his best players is available. Coleman will aim to resume full baseball activities in April.
“He sent me a text in January saying he'll be back in March and I just about fainted,” Elam said. “For him to be where he’s at is nothing short of incredible. Trying to ease him back into it.”
The first five batters reached base for W.F. West in a seven-run first inning. It batted around behind RBI knocks from Meller, Carlos Vallejo and Hudson McCallum. Vallejo ripped an RBI single in the second as the only player with two hits.
The multi-sport star for the Bearcats is already making an early impact in the heart of their lineup.
“That has been a very pleasant surprise,” Elam said. “He’s super athletic at first base and I was not expecting his bat to come out as hot as it is so far. His swing is right on time and he looks really good right now.”
Leadoff hitter Hiro Smaciarz registered three stolen bases. Coleman, Grady Westlund and Miles Martin combined to allow just one hit and six Mark Morris baserunners.
“Our goal is to bury every team we play,” Meller said. “We’ve been very aggressive the last week and it has paid off.”
Tougher games will be on the horizon for W.F. West – including Bainbridge in the non-league plus three EvCo meetings with Tumwater – yet the Bearcats aren’t shying away from their internal belief.
“I don’t think we have a ceiling; I think we’re the best team in 2A,” Coleman stated. “We’re going to prove it.”
