SHORELINE, Wash. — If the state’s fastest high school girl had a different last name, one that didn’t trigger memories of WIAA track and field royalty, perhaps she could run her race and then go about her life in a hush.

Nathan Hale High School sprinter Kela Noji cannot do that.

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Pat Pace was a fifth grader, attending a WSU summer baseball camp. Bruce Pocklington was one of the hitting instructors as a member of the Cougars’ squad under legendary Bobo Brayton.

“I’ve reminded him of that,” Pace said. “He teaches the smarts of the game.”

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MONTESANO, Wash. — In that rare dream-like occurrence, it was WIAA softball champion versus a fellow state champion Friday.

It was top-ranked Class 1A Montesano hosting No. 1 Class 2B Adna in what’s become an annual two-step showdown of small-school powerhouse programs.

And the game lived up to its billing as Taylor Galvin’s two-run home run in the fourth inning was the difference in Montesano’s 2-1 victory at Dick Tagman Field.

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Plot a map of all the Rosenbach family’s athletics-based moving stops, you’d see it spans all corners of the Northwest, remote or populated.

Rory Rosenbach always meant for Snohomish to eventually be home base. It is where most of his teenage years were spent (1994 Snohomish High School graduate). It’s where he landed his first WIAA football head-coaching job (Glacier Peak in 2008). And it’s where he returned to for his most recent job (Glacier Peak athletic director since 2023).

Life had settled down. It was almost perfect.

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KENNEWICK, Wash. — At the end of an important 4A/3A Mid-Columbia Conference baseball game full of booted grounders, errant throws and missed catches, No. 1 Richland only cared what it looked like on the scoreboard.

And it was a 15-6 victory at warm LaPierre Field.

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Former Graham-Kapowsin lineman Olaivavega “Vega” Ioane was the first offensive guard drafted Thursday night in Pittsburgh, selected at No. 14 overall in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens after four college seasons at Penn State.

Then Friday night, former Emerald Ridge wide receiver Denzel Boston, who played four college seasons at Washington, was selected by the Cleveland Browns early in the second round, at No. 39 overall.

Both Ioane and Boston are the first players in their respective high schools’ histories to be selected in the NFL Draft.

Here’s a look at the two former 4A SPSL and Big Ten standouts’ football careers so far, ahead of their first NFL seasons:

OLAIVAVEGA ‘VEGA’ IOANE

Baltimore Ravens — Round 1, No. 14 overall

At Penn State: All-American and All-Big Ten offensive lineman was considered the top offensive guard prospect in this year’s draft class following impressive career at Penn State. Didn’t allow a sack the past two seasons as the Nittany Lions’ starting left guard, and played in 44 career games across the past four seasons, including 32 starts.

At Graham-Kapowsin: Anchored the offensive line for an Eagles team that won the Class 4A state title his senior season in 2021, and finished the season a perfect 15-0 with a victory in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series. Three-year starter was an all-state selection as a senior, a two-time 4A SPSL offensive lineman of the year as a junior and senior and 4A SPSL first-teamer as a sophomore.

Quote from former Graham-Kapowsin coach Eric Kurle: “I think it means a lot to him to do something he loves, and that will allow him to take care of his family.”

What Fox Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang says: “Ioane plays with the physicality Baltimore has always prioritized up front, given their run-heavy offense and need to protect Lamar Jackson.”

DENZEL BOSTON

Cleveland Browns — Round 2, No. 39 overall

At UW: Spent four seasons with the Huskies, and appeared in 43 games, hauling in 132 catches for 1,781 yards and 20 TDs. Led the program in catches (62), receiving yards (881) and receiving TDs (11) in 2025 on the way to an All-Big Ten third-team selection. Also paced the Huskies in TD catches in 2024 (nine), and had one passing, rushing and punt return TD each while at UW.

At Emerald Ridge: Played four varsity seasons for the Jaguars, and was a two-time 4A SPSL first-teamer, tallying 105 catches for 1,572 yards and 23 TDs during high school career.

Quote from former Emerald Ridge coach Adam Schakel: “He used to say, ‘Football is my thing, and I love football, and I want to play as long as I can!’ … He checks a lot of boxes in what he can do catching the football.”

What Fox Sports NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang says: “Boston’s size and catch radius make him a clean match for Cleveland, a club otherwise lacking a true split end.”

UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT SIGNEES

DB Malcom DeWalt IV, Olympic — Atlanta Falcons

RB Dontae McMillan, Chief Sealth — Baltimore Ravens

TE Quentin Moore, Inglemoor — Washington Commanders

TE D.J. Rogers, Eastside Catholic — Dallas Cowboys

TE Jack Velling, Seattle Prep — Atlanta Falcons

Last up — Class 2A champion Archbishop Murphy.

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Next up — Class 1B champion DeSales.

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Former Bainbridge High School baseball star JR Ritchie gets the call Thursday he will remember for the rest of his life.

Ritchie will make his major-league debut as the starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves when they meet NL East counterpart Washington.

Is this a one-start deal for an audition to permanently stay at the big-league level? Who knows. Ritchie, 22, has accomplished all he’s needed to in the minors in shutting down opposing batters — 3-1 record, 0.99 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings at Triple-A Gwinnett.

Which reminded me of the day he recorded his biggest shutdown moment. It came in a Class 3A regional playoff game on the road at Bonney Lake in 2022.

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Eric Kurle never considered himself a world beater at quarterback.

Even though some of the big-name coaches in Pierce County trusted him to lead an offense huddle, Kurle was realistic about his ability.

“I was always more football-smart than physically a good player,” Kurle said. “And I was never going to make the pros.”

Well, Kurle certainly bought into what he considered his calling — coaching.

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Rang called both Penn State’s Olaivavega “Vega” Ioane (Graham-Kapowsin) and Washington’s Denzel Boston (Emerald Ridge) as both “legitimate” first-round talents.

Here are Rang’s scouting reports on each player and projections on where they will potentially be selected during the upcoming three-day draft:

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Next up — Class 3A champion O’Dea.

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Based on feedback from coaches and media statewide, here are the updated 2026 VarsityWA top-10 classification high school softball rankings in Washington for week of April 21:

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Based on feedback from coaches and media statewide, here are the updated 2026 VarsityWA top-10 classification high school baseball rankings in Washington for week of April 20:

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Next up — Class 2B champion Tri-Cities Prep.

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