By Ron Newberry

Special to The Seattle Times

If only the top soccer programs in Class 4A could behave themselves like the ones in 3A, these rankings would be so much easier.

But no, things went haywire across the Cascades in the Columbia Basin Big Nine League last week, leaving Wenatchee and Walla Walla standing tallest as Pasco, Southridge, Davis and Kennewick stumbled at least once.

Wenatchee entered The Seattle Times 4A state soccer rankings for the first time this season after winning three league games, including a 2-0 victory over previously fifth-ranked Southridge, to move into a first-place tie with Walla Walla at 7-1-0 in the Big Nine.

While Wenatchee soared, league powerhouse Pasco suffered two close losses to Richland and Moses Lake to drop out of the Top 10.

No. 1-ranked Stadium won twice to remain undefeated and will now face off against No. 2 Bellarmine Prep in a monster Narrows League showdown Tuesday night.

Defending state champion South Kitsap moved up to No. 3 as the Narrows League owns the top three spots in the 4A rankings.

Gig Harbor dropped out of the Top 10 in part because of its 3-1 loss to Skyline, which entered the rankings at No. 9. Skyline also defeated a solid Issaquah team, 2-1.
In 3A, nationally-ranked Shorecrest remains perfect at 8-0-0 by picking up its sixth and seventh shutouts of the season with 4-0 victories over Mountlake Terrance and Meadowdale.

But proving to be one of the state's elite regardless of classification is Camas, No. 2 in 3A with a 7-0-1 record. The Papermakers have one the state's premier players in junior Nick Palodichuk, who has scored 17 of Camas' 52 goals this season. The Papermakers, state champions in 2006 and 2008, have outscored opponents, 52-1 this season. Their only imperfection: a 0-0 tie against Skyview of Vancouver.

While Stadium and Bellarmine is the big game in 4A this week, the top 3A this week will be No. 4 Mount Rainier hosting No. 8 Kennedy Catholic Tuesday night.

Here are The Seattle Times' Class 4A and 3A state rankings:

Class 4A

1. Stadium (6-0-0)
2. Bellarmine (6-0-1)
3. South Kitsap (5-1-1)
4. Todd Beamer (5-1-1)
5. Lake Stevens (7-1-1)
6. Snohomish (6-2-1)
7. Evergreen-Vancouver (7-1-0)
8. Walla Walla (9-1-0)
9. Skyline (6-2-1)
10. Wenatchee (8-2-0)
On the bubble: Gig Harbor, Pasco, Southridge, Marysville-Pilchuck, Mead, Puyallup, Davis.

Class 3A

1. Shorecrest (8-0-0)
2. Camas (7-0-1)
3. Bainbridge (6-0-0)
4. Mount Rainier (5-0-1)
5. Capital (8-0-0)
6. Mount Vernon (9-0-0)
7. North Kitsap (6-0-0)
8. Kennedy Catholic (6-1-0)
9. Yelm (6-1-0)
10. O'Dea (5-1-1)
On the bubble: Mercer Island, Columbia River, Glacier Peak, Franklin Pierce, Evergreen (Seattle), Auburn Mountainview.