Coach Rawie and Coach Odegard teamed up in the spring of 2001 to start a Mt. Rainier baseball tradition. The varsity squad embraced the new coaching staff and went on to win their first league championship in 16 years.
In 2002, the varsity team was stacked with 12 returning varsity players with high expectations. The team delivered with a Division, League and District championship and a 21-3 record on the year. The Rams were also awarded with a state play-off berth.
In 2003, After graduating almost the whole varsity roster the year before, many around the league thought the Rams would struggle to compete. For the third season in a row Mt. Rainier captured the Division title and added another state play-off berth.
In 2004, expectations were once again high for the varsity team. Surviving a two-game mini playoff just to enter the District Tournament the team found a way to win and for the third straight year, advance to the State Tournament.
The year of 2005 was another one to charish. The Rams reclaimed the division crown for the 4th time in 5 years. They finished with a league record of 13-1.
The 2006 season was one that will be remembered for a long time. The season began with the Rams finding a new home at the Des Moines Field House as their school ballpark was being rebuilt. On the field the varsity squad took home Mt. Rainier's third District Championship in six years and earned their sixth straight state play-off berth. At the state play-offs, the Rams advanced to the Final Four at Safeco Field in dramatic fashion with an extra inning walk-off homerun. The team ended its season with a record of 21-6.
The tradition of winning Championships continued in 2007 with another Seamount League title. The team post a 13-1 league record which tied their best ever. The team finished 17-7 and one game short of the State tournament.
Another year and another Seamount Title and State Play-off berth for the Rams in 2008. The team again dominated the Seamount League posting a 13-1 record. The program had a lot of new elements to enjoy in 2008 with the opening of the brand new MRHS building and ballpark. The ball clubs season ended with a first round loss in the state tournament.
The 2009 Season was one that all involved will not forget. The Rams claimed another Seamount League Title with their back to back 13-1 league record. The varsity club advanced to the second round of the state play-offs only to come up one run short of the final four.
The Mt. Rainier program will continue to work towards the one title that has eluded them...STATE CHAMPS!!
Inside the Numbers (Last 9 Years)
· (3) District Championships
· (6) League titles
· (6) Division titles
· (7) State playoff appearances
· (9) Consecutive league playoff appearances
· (9) Number of seasons with 15+ wins
· (17) Longest winning streak
· (2) Highest state ranking
· (.742) Team Winning % {167 wins - 58 losses}
· (1) State Regional Championship (State Final Four)
Program Director / Varsity Head Coach
The eighth head coach in school history, Darren Rawie, a 1980 graduate of Mt. Rainier played varsity baseball and lettered in each or his three years as a catcher. After graduating from Mt. Rainier, Rawie received his AA from Green River, a BA from the University of Washington in criminal justice and teaching credentials from Central Washington University in special education. In 1990 and '91 Rawie worked as an assistant to the program and coached the Burien Junior American Legion team in 1991. As head coach at Franklin Pierce from 1992 '94, Mr. Rawie gave rebirth to Senior American Legion Baseball in that area. In their second year of existence, they won the District title and played in the Washington State Tournament in Selah, Washington. In 1999 and 2000 Rawie took hold of the Mt. Rainier High School Junior Varsity Baseball Team. In that time they posted an impressive 11-1 league record in the second year and had a 19-5 league record in two seasons, 26-11 overall. Elevated to head coach prior to the 2001 campaign Rawie guided the Rams to their first league title in 16 years and was named Seamount coach of the year taking the team from 7th to first in one year. Additionally, Rawie serves as the Athletic Director to the institution serving 1,300 students with 18 different athletic programs fielding 44 teams who play over 600 games a year. He is married and lives in Enumclaw and has three children still in the home, Kayla and Cassidy both 16 and Conner 14. In his spare time Rawie enjoys talking smack with Conner while they play NFL Street Ball on the PS2, embarrassing his daughters in front of their friends and escaping for days on his 30' Bayliner named "Sir Fix-a-Lot"
Hitting Coach / Varsity Assistant Coach
Bob Odegard is an assistant to the varsity squad and hitting coach for the program. Odegard graduated from the "Mountain" in 1997 where he played varsity baseball for Neil Hutcheson and lettered all 4 years at 2nd base. This will be his 11th season as a varsity assistant at MR and his ninth year teamed with head coach Rawie. Since joining with Rawie in 2001 they have a combined record of 146 wins and 52 losses. Coach Odegard takes the reigns in the summer, coaching the Big Horns U18 Select American Legion program. The summer program made it to the state tournament in 2007. Odegard attended Bellevue Community College and the University of Washington. He now lives in Federal Way.
Junior Varsity Head Coach
Joe Nelson will guide the JV Team again this year. This is Nelson's eighth season in the Mt. Rainier program. A 1993 graduate of Highline High School where he finished playing 13 years of amateur baseball. Nelson also coached six seasons in the Burien Blazers organization as a Colt League coach. Coach Nelson pairs with Odegard in the summer season guiding the Big Horns U18 American Legion team.
