The Wenatchee High School baseball team defeated previous State champ and nationally ranked Puyallup 3-2 in its season opener on March 20. This win snapped Puyallup’s 30-game win streak, despite playing on their home field.

Many of the players credited the win to the pitching of junior Grady Miller, who had six strikeouts on the game. When asked how he prepared for the game against the powerhouse Vikings, Miller simply said, “I just treated it like every other game and trusted myself and the defense behind me.”

The trip to Puyallup ended with a 5-2 loss to Rogers High School the next day, bringing the Panthers record to an even 1-1.

“We just couldn’t get our bats on the ball. Just an off day, I’m sure we’ll rally,” senior second-baseman Izzy Garcia said. Juniors Michael Buehn and Dalton Harum were highlighted as the top batters for the Rogers game; Buehn went 2 for 3 and Harum contributed one of the only runs of the game.

After placing third in the State tournament last year, the Panthers are hungry for a State title, and the unexpected loss to Rogers doesn’t appear to phase them.

“We’re ready to win,” senior shortstop Jacob Prater said. “We have pretty much our whole team back, but we’re even better.”

Prater signed with Washington State University’s baseball team earlier this year, and plays the role of the the Panthers’ unofficial captain, according to his teammates.

The team consists of virtually all the same players as last year, but has picked up two players straight out of the Dutch minor leagues. Twin sophomores Colin and Brian Van Laar, came to the United States just this year, and now pitch for the Panthers.

“Great group of people and fantastic ballplayers,” Colin Van Laar said. “They made the transition from The Netherlands to The States a lot easier and relaxing. I’m very excited.”

The Panthers will play the Eastmont Wildcats at Dan White Field on March 27 at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. “We’re feeling really good,” Prater said. “We’re more than ready for league play to begin.”