Bellevue Players
If the WML had a glamour club, Bellevue would be on the short list for that designation – they spend money (mostly on over-the-hill stars), reside in an affluent city, and play in one of the nicest ballparks in the league. The problem, however, is that, while Bellevue wants, desperately, to be the glamour club of the WML, they simply do not have the baseball IQ to completely fill the role. 12 playoff appearances, 1 title – and more money spent than any other club in the league. On the Brightside – they, after the death of their previous owner, have the youngest owner in the game and he’s made it clear that the money will continue to flow as long as they manage to get it paid back in wins. To that end – they did win the Metro Division last season – they lost in the second round, in 6 games, to the eventual champions from Marysville.
Bothell Brainiacs
Unlike the Bellevue Players, the club from Bothell doesn’t spend a lot of money, wouldn’t even throw their hat into the ring to solicit the title of most glamorous club in the WML, and aren’t blessed with young ownership. Where they are similar, however, is in the results department – 13 playoff appearances, 1 title to their name, and nary an over-the-hill former superstar on their roster. Bothell isn’t the type of club that inspires a lot of hope in their fanbase…
Issaquah Pinks
The Pinks have three championships to their name spread out pretty evenly over their 12 total playoff appearances – they aren’t consistently good, I wouldn’t say they are particularly well run, instead this is one of those clubs that just sort of exists… sometimes they’re pretty good, other times they are just okay, and sometimes, every once in a blue moon, they’ll sneak up on you, surprise you with a stiff jab, and, before you realize what is happening, manage to land a haymaker on you to take home the gold. They’re fun – sure – just not a serious contender.
Redmond Scholars
In keeping with the little blurbs I’ve posted about the three clubs above, the Redmond Scholars are another ho-hum club plying its trade in the Metro Division – the BIG CITY division IF YOU WILL – and, just like the rest, they have what it takes to get started, but don’t seem to know how to use their resources to build a winning club. Sure, they’ve made it to 16 playoffs, but… once they got there, they did nothing with the opportunity. They are, depressingly, one of nine clubs that haven’t yet won a Cosmic Crisp Series.
Sammamish Lions
The Lions and the Scholars, Eastside neighbors populated by equally annoying folk, are considered one of the true rivalries in the WML – the problem, however, is that, since Sammamish arrived on the scene with their militant suburban supporters, the rivalry, as it were, has been pretty one-sided. In their ten years of plying their trade in the WML (up from AAA in 1966), the Lions have made the playoffs 4 times – and, while they haven’t managed to secure a Cosmic Crisp (yet), their “rival”, the Scholars, have only made it to the dance twice during that same stretch. Who knows… maybe one day their rivalry will mean something. Time will tell…
Up Next: South Sound Division