W.F. West gets youthful injection in preparation for title defense

Considering the future of W.F. West High School’s softball program, Kindra Davis gestured to the past.

The outfield fence at Recreation Park in Chehalis is lined with banners, listing the accolades of a program that has become a perennial power in the 2A classification.

W.F. West, the reigning Class 2A state champion, has two titles in the past four seasons (2015 and 2012), and has advanced to the state tournament — in 3A or 2A — each of the past 12 years.

“It’s nerve-wracking, but it’s so exciting,” Davis said. “Just the fact that we have three years together to build up this program even more than it already is.”

Davis is one of three sophomores — pitcher Ashlee Vadala and shortstop Olivia Dean are the other two — starting up the middle for the Bearcats this season.

The team isn’t returning its core. Three-time 2A Evergreen Conference MVP Ali Graham is pitching at Oregon Tech. Four-year catcher Caitlin Reynolds is at Pacific in California. And Jessica McKay — W.F. West’s starting shortstop who is headed to Boise State next season — went down with a season-ending knee injury in December, when the Bearcats lost to Burlington-Edison in basketball.

This isn’t last year’s team.

“I don’t think it will be easy,” said W.F. West coach Mike Keen, now in his 14th season. “Those seniors all brought leadership with them, whether they realize it or not, they did. They were the calming factor.”

“No, we have three sophomores that are just jacked up on everything. They run wherever they go.”

That type of youthful exuberance will fuel the Bearcats this season.

“We’re a little bit less experienced, but I think that probably won’t be an issue because we’ve all played at a high level,” Vadala said. “I think we’ll be fine. We’ve worked really hard this offseason.”

Vadala, who throws a fastball, cut fastball, changeup, curveball and rise ball, went 6-0 with a 1.95 ERA last season. She also broke the school single-season home run record with eight.

Vadala has known Davis — who will call every game she catches this season — since they were in kindergarten, and they’ve played together sporadically ever since.

“We’re both really nervous, but we’re getting used to it, we’re getting back into it,” Davis said. “We’re doing everything together that we should. It’s just getting used to filling those big shoes.”

Davis missed her freshman season after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. She’s been committed to Boise State since November 2014, but rode the bench during the state title run last year.

“I went to almost every home game, traveled with the team and did everything they did. I just couldn’t play,” Davis said.

Davis made the trek to Spokane for the state championship, and cheered from the bench. This season, she’s just happy to be in full gear after spending most of her rehabilitation time catching from sitting on top of a bucket.

“This is my first high school season, and I’m so excited,” Davis said.

Dean played second base during the state championship last year, but has been moved to shortstop with McKay’s injury.

“When I was playing for select (club softball), I always played shortstop,” she said. “When I got to high school, they switched me to second. But we’re getting back to it. It just feels natural, it feels good to be here.”

McKay will assist the coaching staff, and provide whatever guidance she can as the Bearcats try to keep rolling on in season that has them at 3-0.

“I think they’re ready,” McKay said. “I think it will be a good year. We have a lot of girls that are experienced beyond just high school level.”

And a few that could potentially play for four titles in a row.

“I think we need to keep the intensity up,” Vadala said. “Sometimes I feel like we expect things to happen rather than work hard to do it. At practice, we don’t mess around, we keep things serious. I think if we just keep going the way we were, we’ll be perfectly fine.”

She insists there’s no fatigue from bringing home the trophy last season.

“I still want it. Definitely still want it,” Vadala said. “The drive is still there.”

This story was originally published March 22, 2016 at 8:16 PM with the headline "W.F. West gets youthful injection in preparation for title defense."