Top Stories of 2017: Parrish, Doering depart with titles

Colfax Bulldog sports marked a year of change with the departure of two long-time coaches. Both capped their careers by winning state championships.

Coach Mike Parrish headed up a baseball team which finished with the 2B title trophy after stopping an undefeated Tri-Cities Prep team at Wheeler Field in Centralia. Coach Parrish told his players in the last week of the campaign that he planned to step down after heading Colfax baseball for 21 years.

The 2017 state win was the third for Parrish after taking titles in 2003 and 2004.

The Bulldogs, who committed just one error at the state finals, finished with a 23-1 record. Their lone loss was to Colton in the season opener.

The 2017 baseball team was honored in the December Winterfest parade.

Coach Parrish during his career also had a big role in the group of volunteers who developed the McDonald Park complex.

Volleyball Coach Sue Doering finished out her 30-year career on top of a celebration pile of players in Yakima’s SunDome after the Bulldogs defeated Mossyrock in a tense five-set title match.

This year’s title win marked the 14th state championship win for Doering in her career.

Doering retired from teaching last year, but opted to commute from Lewiston to coach the volleyball team for one last season.

Colfax, which had not missed an appearance at a state 2B or A state tourney since 1993, took the title this year after being stopped in a bid for a fourth straight state title by Mossyrock in the quarter-final round at Yakima last year.