Going into the 2010 high-school baseball season, Bothell coach Paul Moody, whose Cougars graduated a slew of senior talent last year en route to a 13-9 record and a 4A Kingco playoff appearance, was cautiously optimistic.

“On paper, I think we’re going to be OK,” he said of his young squad. “It’s early, but I do have a couple of kids return that give us a chance to compete.”

At the forefront is third-year starting pitcher and staff ace Evan Hudson, as well as a couple key position players for the Cougars.

“He will probably be (our ace), our guy to go to,” Moody said of Hudson. “Michael Marriott comes back as an infielder — he started last year for us — and Gene Watson, a starting outfielder, comes back.”

Both Marriott and Watson swing solid bats and were also selected to all-league football teams playing for the Cougars — Marriott on defense and Watson on offense.

Moody also has senior leadership behind the plate this year in Jeff Watson and Jason Smith, as well as another upperclassman pitcher, Anthony Minor, who looks to make a splash this season.

Moody’s squad, however, lacks the formidable bats and scoring threats of years past, which means the Cougars’ offensive strategy will have to center around manufacturing runs and solid pitching.

“Losing so many seniors last year, we’re going to peck and pound away, and produce runs when we can,” he said. “I don’t see us as a big stand-up boppin’ team, that’s for sure.”

Inglemoor

The Vikings, on the other hand, caught some bad breaks during the regular season to finish with an 8-8 record in Kingco play, but put together an incredible postseason run to make the state tournament.

“In years before, we were innings away from going to state,” recalled Viking head coach Bryan McNaghten, adding that keys to his team’s success this year will be “our ability to stay healthy and to develop some of our untested pitchers.”

Inglemoor returns a formidable senior class at a number of positions, including speedy center fielder Marc Dickerson, the team’s defensive player of the year in 2009; outfielder Scott Meyers, who led the team in hitting as a junior; quick and agile shortstop Craig Jacobson; and team co-captain (with Jacobson) Ethan Yeo, a catcher.

Jacobson started as a sophomore, but didn’t get to play last season due to injury.

“Those two in the middle (Jacobson and Mitchell Gunsolus) are pretty good,” lauded McNaghten, “And Ethan Yeo is a stud behind the plate.”

In addition to a solid offensive lineup that should be able to put runs on the board, the Vikings also return some firepower on the mound.

Southpaw Spencer Trautman is a third-year starter that led the team in strikeouts last year (30) and junior Obadiah Taylor also returns, having led the team in wins and ERA (6-2, 2.07).

With a number of relievers in the mix new to the varsity level, McNaghten believes their ability to come through in pressure-packed game situations will be tantamount to the Vikings’ success.

“They’re ready, they’ve bided their time, and it depends on how they respond,” he said. “They’ll all settle in by April.”

McNaghten, a sergeant with the Kirkland Police Department with 25 years of service, was thrilled with the turnout of 70-plus kids and thinks his group has what it takes to do great things in a very tough league.

“They’re a great group, there isn’t a (negative) attitude in the club,” he noted. “They are a pretty mature group, and understand that they’re playing for placing. They know they need to get out of Kingco first.”