Ocosta softball coach Barb Rasmus voted SBLive Washington Coach of the Week (May 15-May 20)
Ocosta softball coach Barb Rasmus has been voted the SBLive Washington Coach of the Week (May 15-20).
Known more for her three decades in volleyball, Rasmus returned to Ocosta softball last season - and guided (along with ace pitcher Jessie Gilbert) the Wildcats on an improbable four-game district odyssey with wins over Onalaska, Toutle Lake, Pe Ell/Willapa Valley and No. 1 Adna in the title game. After that, Ocosta earned the WIAA tournament's No. 4 seed.
Rasmus received 98.2% of the vote.
If you would like to nominate a coach, tag us on Twitter or Instagram at @sblivewa.
Here are all the other coaches that were nominated for May 15-20:
Casey Adcox, Sumner baseball
If the Spartans were going to make their third final four under the 16th-year coach, they would have to get through the toughest teams in eastern Washington - 4A CBBN winner West Valley of Yakima and top 4A MCC team Richland. Sumner won two nailbiters - 2-1 over the Rams and 8-4 over the host Bombers in extra innings.
Clark Murray, Ballard boys soccer
Lowest remaining seed in the WIAA boys soccer playoffs? It is this 3A Metro program, which has posted three Class 3A state-tournament shutouts (including a play-in game). The 14th-seeded Beavers' latest conquest was a 3-0 win over Seattle Prep. Murray was an assistant under former coach Mark McAlexander before his promotion.
Thad Nelson, Adna baseball
What a rally by Nelson and his Pirates on Saturday in Spokane. As the lowest-surviving seed (No. 11), they beat Cle Elum/Roslyn in the Class 2B first round, then won in dramatic fashion over third-seeded Chewelah - a three-run, two-out home run by Sawyer Terry in a 6-4 win. It's Adna's first final-four berth since 2018.
Eric Taylor, East Valley of Yakima softball
As the No. 3 from the 2A CWAC, the Red Devils had a daunting route to make the WIAA tournament for the first time since 2019. They cleared that path with a 10-3 victory Saturday over 2A GSL winner Shadle Park in Spokane. Ninth grader Tia Ramynke allowed no earned runs pitching and hit a three-run home run
