Montesano softball coach Pat Pace voted SBLive’s Washington High School Coach of the Week (May 22-27)

Montesano softball coach Pat Pace has been voted SBLive's Washington High School Coach of the Week (May22-27.)

The Bulldogs earned their 11th WIAA state championship and first since 2019 last weekend, taking down Royal in the Class 1A title game.

Pace received 59.78% of the vote with North Kitsap softball coach Clay Blackwood coming in second with 39.87%.

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 22-27:

Ray Atkinson and Noble Hendrix, Lincoln of Seattle baseball and boys soccer

With new-generation Lynx with first Class 3A titles an hour apart, these coaches deserved school co-coach honors. A three-sport athlete at Lincoln nearly four decades ago, Atkinson guided baseball squad past West Seattle and Lake Washington for title. And Hendrix's soccer squad beat Ballard for WIAA title in Puyallup.

Clay Blackwood, North Kitsap softball

When your softball teams caps one of the state's two unbeaten seasons (25-0) by outscoring four opponents, 35-2, over four games, including an 8-1 victory over Ridgefield in the Class 2A title game, for the school's first softball crown - you deserve a big mention. Also coached softball at Olympic College.

Bob Frey, Emerald Ridge girls track and field and Joe Kreider, Kelso girls track and field

Neither school had ever won a WIAA title - until Saturday. Led by sophomore JaiCieonna Gero-Holt's three event wins, the Jaguars won the 4A title with a Tacoma-best 67 points. And Josie Settle won both hurdles events (as well as Ruby Sereday in the javelin) for the Hilanders, who held off Bellevue (53-46) for the 3A title.

Lyle Overbay, Tumwater baseball

When your team has the late-inning touch - it can do great things. And the former MLB first baseman's team recorded a pair of seventh-inning walkoff 2-1 wins over W.F. West (semifinals) and Lynden (finals) to repeat as Class 2A champion. Thunderbirds are 41-10 in past two seasons (and 55-11 if you count 2021 COVID-19 spring season).: