New faces, new hopes for Royals: Villegas joins K-M’s pitch for a turnaround

Kent-Meridian High School sophomore RJ Villegas is adjusting to a new school and a new baseball team this year.

Villegas and his family moved to Kent from Anchorage, Alaska, in the fall for his father’s job.

It was difficult to leave his team in Alaska, Villegas said

“This year was going to be the year we probably had the best chance at state,” he said.

But he looks forward to playing with his new team.

“I think we can do pretty good this season,” he said.

The right fielder and occasional pitcher has played baseball for about 10 years.

“I was watching one of his (his dad’s) softball games and got really into that ever since,” Villegas said of his start in the sport.

Villegas, a Yankees fan, said he was sad to see Derek Jeter retire. Villegas said he hopes to attend some professional baseball games this year, something he wasn’t able to do living in Alaska, and would like to see the Mariners take on the Yankees.

As far as his own game goes, Villegas has high hopes.

“I am just trying to be as best as I can and bat over .500 hopefully,” he said.

His season is off to a good start. Villegas had to two triples in the first week of games, bringing in six runs for the Royals.

Coach Mike Greene said it is nice to have an experience player like Villegas among the ranks.

“It was really nice to see RJ,” he said. “You can tell if people can play. He plays a good outfield.”

Greene, who is in his first year coaching at Kent-Meridian, has 10 year’s experience coaching high school baseball and another 10 at colleges throughout the country.

Last year, the Royals were 0-20, but Greene said he hopes to change that.

“We are trying to teach baseball,” Greene said of his approach coaching his new team. “We are going back to the fundamental, playing the right way and not expecting to lose, expecting to compete. I think they have really bought into ‘let’s complete.’”

Greene’s philosophy seems to be working. Kent-Meridian won its first game 12-8 against Bethel on March 16.

“We told them not to jump up and down like we won the World Series but enjoy it,” Green said of celebrating the victory. “On the bus, they were in a good mood.”

The team has a core group of players including Villegas, catcher Ben Woods, pitcher and first baseman Eric Engman, pitcher and third baseman Juan Alonzo and pitcher and shortstop Cesar Saldivar, Greene said.

“We are just trying to change the whole mentality, compete with everybody,” he said. “They know they are not the best team around, but there is no reason we can’t compete with people if we play our best game and they give us an opening we can take it.”

Elsewhere

Kentridge

• Coach: John Flanigan; 16th year

• Last year’s record: 6-6 South Puget Sound League 4A North; 11-12 overall

• Key players: Returners – Matt Fleming, senior; Ajay Bhat, sr.; Austin Gormley, sr.; Kody Darcy, sophomore.; Isaac Barrera, junior; Newcomers – Jeremy Davila, jr.; Cody Tompkins, soph.; Ted Dominquez, jr.; Thomas Pardey, jr.; CJ Davies, jr.; Garrett Wong, freshman; Trent Jackson, fresh.; Justin Simanek, sr.; Jake Anderson, jr.; Corey Ng, sr.

• Outlook: Kentridge is strong defensively and able to put the ball in play, but lacks experience on the mound, Flanigan said. “We should be competitive in our league, which year in and year out is one of, if not the best league in the state,” he said.

Kentlake

• Coach: Brett Jaime, third year

• Last year’s record: 6-7 SPSL 4A North, 12-12 overall

• Key players: Dylan Mackie, soph.; Jordon Wright, soph.; Alan Vasquez, sr.; Caleb Jaime, jr.; captains Matt Mollenberg and Luke Wilson

• Outlook: “We lost several all-leaguers (from last season) but return a wealth of talent as well,” Jaime said. “We expect to play hard and enjoy the process of being a high school athlete. Fans should expect to see a team on the field that enjoys each other, enjoys the game and enjoys the process of competition.”

Kentwood

• Coach: Mark Zender, fifth year

• Last year’s record: 12-0 South Puget Sound League 4A North (first place); 22-5 overall (lost in the state quarterfinals)

• Key players: Returners – Jordan Jones, sr., right handed pitcher; Isaac Hegamin, senior, sr., shortstop; Ben Wadowski, sr., left handed pitcher/infield; Shane McGuire, jr., catcher; Newcomers – Jacob McCord, sr., outfield/infield; Trenton Harris, sr., first base/pitcher; Garrett Stewart, sr., outfield; Daniel Tanaka, sr., outfield

• Outlook: After losing eight seniors from last season, “we are relying on plenty of new guys who have paid their dues in our program waiting their turn, plus some key returners,” Zender said. “We always have high expectations. We play in a very competitive league, which makes us better.”