2024 was a competitive season for baseball in the Metro League with O’Dea finishing the regular season atop the Metro League followed by Ballard, West Seattle, Eastside Catholic, and Lakeside. These five teams have made a name for themselves in the Metro League and are looking to continue their dominance in the 2025 season.
O’Dea Fighting Irish (2024 record: 17-5)
O’Dea missed the playoffs last year with an overall record of 17-5 and a district record of 13-5. Although they missed the playoffs, they have a lot to look forward to in 2025. They led Metro in ERA with a 1.08. Their pitching staff is spearheaded by Patrick Galvin (0.47 ERA), Basil Hendrix (0.58 ERA), and UCSB commit Quincey Brown. The Fighting Irish were also second in Metro for team batting average with a healthy 0.295. While their bullpen one of the league’s best, their batting lineup will need to fill the shoes of 2024 graduates Isaiah Nolan (0.419 AVG, 0.581 SLG), Davis Downer (0.361 AVG, 0.541 SLG), and J. Strange-Treager (0.360 AVG, 0.540 SLG).
Ballard Beavers (2024 Record: 17-8)
Ballard lost to Edmonds-Woodway in the second round of the playoffs. This year they are looking to make a deeper playoff run. In 2024 they were 6th in Metro for team ERA with a 2.42. They had no pitchers in the top ten in Metro for innings pitched and no players made the top ten for individual ERA. Additionally, they lacked a specific ace. On the offensive side, they were 3rd in Metro for team batting average with a collective 0.275. Their offensive leader Truitt Madonna is returning for his senior season, who lead Metro in slugging with a 0.818 last season, and was second in Metro for batting average with a 0.436. Still, the Beavers will have a tough time replacing seniors Chase Edwards and Adam Tripp; Edwards was 4th in batting average (0.403), and, and Tripp was 7th in batting average (0.373) and 3rd in slugging (0.678).
West Seattle Wildcats (2024 Record: 24-5)
In 2024 West Seattle won the state championship, a victory they are looking to repeat in 2025. A large obstacle for the Wildcats this season will be replacing their ace Miles Chandler, who graduated in 2024. Chandler was vital part of the team and ranked 2nd in Metro for innings pitched with 54, and 6th in Metro for ERA 0.9. As a team, the Wildcats were 3rd in Metro for ERA with a 1.82. Last season they lead Metro in team batting average with a 0.310. It may be difficult for them to keep the bats rolling in 2025, with the loss of three seniors, in addition to Chandler, who were all top ten in Metro for at least one major offensive statistic. Caden Fahy who was 5th in batting average (0.383), and 5th in slugging (0.617), TJ Buehring who was 6th in batting average (0.375), Bobby Trigg who was 8th in slugging with (0.559).
Eastside Catholic Crusaders (2024 Record: 20-11)
Eastside Catholic’s 2024 season ended with a loss to West Seattle in the semi-finals. In 2024 they were 4th in team ERA with a 2.34 and 5th in team batting average with a 0.243. Will Crain, class of 2025, threw for 4th most innings in Metro with 47&1/3, and was 7th in slugging with 0.565. No Crusaders making the top ten solo batting average list but the team average remained strong throughout the whole season, indicating that the Crusaders were a well-rounded bunch. In 2025 they will be without their best reliever, Rowan O’Connor, who was 7th in ERA with 1.28. They don’t have very many individual players with outstanding stats, on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, leaving them with a balanced team looking into the 2025 season.
Lakeside Lions (2024 Record: 15-9)
The Lakeside Lions missed the playoffs in 2024 with a 15-9 overall record and a 13-7 district record. In 2024 they were 8th in team ERA with 2.98 and 8th in team batting average 0.231. They had no players in top ten innings pitched nor batting average. Teddy Tokheim, returning for senior season, was 4th in slugging 0.632 and Lincoln Oelschlager, returning for Junior season, 10th in ERA with 1.38. In 2025 they are looking to make a playoff run but will need a few players to step up and play majors roles if that is going to happen.
