Bellevue Spring Sports Review

Boys Lacrosse

Bellevue boys lacrosse finished the spring as state champions. The Wolverines finished the season 13-7 and claimed the Washington 3A title, defeating Mercer Island 7-4 in the championship game. Notable victories include a hard-fought 11-10 semifinal victory over Snohomish and the championship loss of two-time defending champion Mercer Island. Outstanding juniors Rory Ritchie and Justin Lee both earned All-KingCo awards for their performance. Furthermore, Becket Ritzer, Halen Ritzer, Jake Terry and Teo Tagavilla had great years for the offense but sadly were robbed from all KingCo honors. Overall, It was a very successful season for Bellevue, bringing the trophy back to where it belongs as 3A state champions.

Girls Lacrosse

The girls lacrosse team had a successful spring, finishing with a 9-5 record and moving into the state quarterfinals. The Wolverines won their first playoff game handily before losing 11-10 in a thriller to the Issaquah School District team in the quarterfinal round. Season highlights involved a mid-

season stretch and gritty postseason push that fell just short of the state semifinals. A number of Bellevue players were all-conference players, such as attackers Savannah Anderson and Sara Kaefer on the All-KingCo list. Their attack leadership and tough defense were key factors in Bellevue's playoff run.

Baseball

Bellevue baseball exploded in the spring, finishing 13-12 and making it to the state tournament for the first time since 2009. The Wolverines finished second in KingCo 3A, advancing to the league title game after a 10-5 semifinal win over Liberty. They lost an extra-innings heart-stopper to Inglemoor in the KingCo championship but came back to win a state berth with a walk-off 3-2 victory over Liberty in a winner-to-state contest. Bellevue's playoff year came to a close in the state opening round with a 6-2 loss at Snohomish. Greyson Arnold, Dylan Leaird, Jessie Gonzales, Brody Gayte and Jack Rankin all stood out, being selected to All-KingCo teams. So, the team's rugged playoff run was brutal for all the players and fans. 

Boys Soccer

Bellevue's boys soccer team enthralled fans with a classic postseason. The Wolverines finished KingCo runners-up after a marathon league final against Mercer Island during which Bellevue led 2-0 before eventually losing on penalty kicks. They came back to make it into the state tournament, then dominated Central Valley 5-0 in the first round of the state. Bellevue moved to state quarterfinals, where the top-seeded Shorewood was pushed into a scoreless tie before falling 7-6 in a dramatic penalty shootout. Senior goalie Nick Matty paced the defense and was given the league's Golden Glove as KingCo's top keeper. With several All-KingCo selections with star players like Will Ohara, Josh DePalma, Yuta Banishky, Brayan Sanchez-Vasquez, Ryan Hutson, Masora Takashima, Stefan Puscas, Koshin Sharma and Zach Henn. It gave them a top eight finish in the state putting this spring season in the memory books.