Kentwood’s starting pitcher Tyler Maurer faces Liberty on March 14. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Kentwood’s starting pitcher Tyler Maurer faces Liberty on March 14. Ben Ray / The Reporter

Kent 2023 high school sports spring preview

The 2023 spring sports season is upon us. Here is a preview of what each Kent school did last season.

Baseball

Kentlake Falcons: The Falcons had a difficult season over the 2022 year. Kentlake had a strong end to the month of April, having their longest win streak of the season, getting them into the postseason. The Falcons took on Prairie in the first round and lost their opening round game.

Kent-Meridian Royals: The Royals didn’t have their best season last year, going 1-19. It has been a hard go of things for Kent-Meridian over the past 13 years — the Royals have only won three games just twice during that span, 2008 and 2018.

Kentridge Chargers: Kentridge’s season was cut short in the postseason, and after a great regular season, Kentridge finished 15-8. In the postseason, the Chargers lost to Curtis in 11 innings by a score of 3-2, then fell to Skyview in the next round, 1-0.

Kentwood Conquerors: The Conks went on a 10-game win streak from March 29 to April 20, their longest win streak since 2017, when they won eight games from April 22 to May 13 that season. In the postseason, Kentwood entered as the 11 seed. The Conks beat South Kitsap, 2-1, before falling to Tahoma in the second round.

Softball

Kentlake Falcons: Kentlake had a season to forget, only winning just a single game last year. The one win was a 26-3 victory over Kent-Meridian. The last time Falcons finished a season with a record over .500 was 2016 when Kentlake was 15-12 that season.

Kent-Meridian Royals: Kent-Meridian is approaching five years since their last softball win, which was back on April 5, 2018, over Tyee by a score of 16-6.

Kentridge Chargers: The Chargers finished fourth in the 2022 regular season with a 8-8 record. Half of those eight wins came over the first four games of the season. Kentridge advanced to the district playoffs, but lost their opening round match to Graham Kapowsin, 1-0.

Kentwood Conquerors: Of the four schools in the city of Kent, Kentwood had the best season a year ago. The Conks finished the season 21-2 and went 3-0 against their fellow Kent schools. The Conks also took home a district title, beating Skyview 6-0 in the championship game. At the state tournament, Kentwood took down Hanford 6-0, but lost in the next round to Redmond 5-1.

Soccer

Kentlake Falcons: The Falcons did not have their best season last year, going 1-11 on the pitch. The one win for Kentlake was a home victory over Auburn by a score of 5-3. In fact, 2018 was the last time the Falcons won more than a single game in a season.

Kent-Meridian Royals: The Kent-Meridian Royals have now improved their win total three seasons in a row. Over the past three seasons, the Royals have gone from six wins to eight wins, most recently in 2023. Kent-Meridian made the postseason last year as the 11 seed. The Royals caught fire in the district tournament, beating Heritage 5-0 and Silas on penalty shots 2-1 (9-8). The Royal fire was put out by Bonney Lake in Kent-Meridian’s first winner to state game, then Central Kitsap crushed the Royals’ state tournament dreams.

Kentridge Chargers: Kentridge just missed out on the postseason last year. Over their first six games, the Chargers only lost one game. But over their final eight games of the season, the Chargers went 3-5. They lost to Mount Rainier in the final game of the season, which would have moved the Chargers into the playoffs.

Kentwood Conquerors: The Conks had a brutal stretch to start the season, losing their first four games, and were outscored 12-5. But from March 28 to the end of the season, Kentwood only lost twice, tied twice and won nine games. Kentwood advanced to the district tournament in that stretch, and faced Puyallup in the opening round and lost 1-0. Following that loss, Kentwood would then lose to Tahoma to end their season.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

t
Kent-based T-Birds set win record; clinch top playoff seed

Seattle defeats Kamloops 6-3 for 53rd victory

Armani Albert runs down the sideline with a defender draped all over him.
Boys soccer: Kentwood ties Puyallup on the pitch

Conks’ record now 1-1-1 through first three games.

Kentwood center fielder Jackson Dulay up to bat. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood baseball drops home opener

Trevor Nyhusmoen goes three scoreless innings on the mound.

Kentwood’s starting pitcher Tyler Maurer faces Liberty on March 14. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kent 2023 high school sports spring preview

The 2023 spring sports season is upon us. Here is a preview… Continue reading

Kentridge junior Sydney Esperaza dribbles the ball down the floor. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls sent home with loss to Decatur

The Chargers have a bright future in front of them

Sea Dragon WR Jordan Veasy celebrates and looks at the home fans after he scored the go ahead touchdown Feb. 23. Photos by Ben Ray/Sound Publishing
XFL is back in Seattle – here’s what you need to know

Sea Dragons drop home opener to St. Louis Battlehawks.

Kentridge senior Dorian Thomas goes up for a lay up against Union in the second half. Photos by Ben Ray/The Reporter
Basketball: Kentridge boys hit with early exit at district tournament

Coach Jamison says “I’m done” and set for retirement after 25 years

Kentridge sophomore Tia Schanbeck takes a three in the fourth quarter. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls take out Kentwood on the road

The Charger girls need one win to secure a spot in the state tournament

Sarah Wright is the lone qualifier from Kentwood on the girls side. Photos by Ben Ray/The Reporter
Kent wrestlers have strong showings at regional competition

In local Kent high school wrestling action, Kent-Meridian took second place at… Continue reading