Mamon returns to lead new team
Parris Mamon is back in the dugout after a one-year hiatus.
Mamon, who was the head coach of the Redmond Mustangs powerhouse softball program for eight seasons, took the 2017 season off from coaching but is excited to be back in the fold with the Knights this spring.
“My kids wanted me to come to their track meets and I wanted to support them,” said Mamon, who works as a lead security officer for the Federal Way School District. “This year they were like, ‘Dad, you can go back to coaching.’ I saw the opening at Newport and thought there was no better team and no better league to jump back into coaching.”
Mamon considers himself a players coach.
“I like to think I’m an open coach where they can talk to me when something is wrong. I want to push our players to make them better,” Mamon said.
The competitive nature of the KingCo 4A Division is something Mamon is looking forward to after being away from softball field last year.
“Every single day is a playoff game in KingCo. It is hard. We just have to go out and work hard every single day. Hopefully by the end of the year we are where we want to be,” Mamon said. “Defensively we are going to be pretty good. The outfield is solid and the infield is pretty good. We are going to be decent in the (pitching) circle. It is a great group of girls. The goal doesn’t change. We want to make the playoffs and go to state (tournament),” Mamon said.
Head coach: Parris Mamon
Last year: 6-13 (Finished tied for sixth place in the KingCo 4A Division during the regular season)
Key players: Lexsi Barashkoff, SS; Elliet Bradshaw, C; Hanako Hirai, P; Lita Bankson, CF; Bridget Johnson, P; Lexsi Barashkoff, SS/P; Taylor Woodey, INF
Knights look to take the next step
Newport Knights head baseball coach Brad Files is an old school kind of guy and it shows. Files will lead the Knights baseball program for the 22nd season this spring. Files, who graduated from Newport High School in 1988, thoroughly enjoys being fully entrenched in the community he calls home.
“It is an absolute privilege to still be here and still be part of this. It meant so much to me as a kid growing up. Having success as a player and coming back to give back to the community means a lot to me. I just love giving back to the program. That is the most rewarding thing for sure,” Files told the Reporter. “I want to make sure these kids have an even better experience than I did with Newport baseball.”
Files said the Knights have 13 seniors on the 2018 roster, including centerfielder Garrett Gants, catcher Brandon Steinberg and infielder Lukas Motta, all of whom will be in their third consecutive season as starters.
“It is an amazing group of guys. The pitching staff will be lead by Eric Shinjo, Alex Holden and Michael Haynes. They are all seniors who were late bloomers. They’ve been putting their time in and are bigger and stronger. They are ready for a breakout season,” Files said.
Files is confident his team has what it takes to make some noise in the KingCo 4A Division.
“They are so unified. Over the years I have been that in the past and it is usually a formula for success. They are a really tight-knit group, great leaders and great students. It is an awesome group to work with. I think they can do really special things,” Files said.
Head coach: Brad Files
Last year: 8-14 overall (Finished in sixth place in the Class 4A KingCo Division in the regular season)
Key returners: Garrett Gants, CF; Brandon Steinberg, C; Lukas Motta, SS; Eric Shinjo, P; Alex Holden, P; Michael Haynes, P
