Merkel Hasn’t Lost His Spirit

It seemed safe to assume Paul Merkel would beat triple-bypass surgery when the former Whitworth College baseball coach and athletic director called Saturday night from his hospital bed at Sacred Heart.

“Do you have the Whitworth score?” Merkel inquired, as if the previous week’s heart surgery never happened.

Merkel, 73, was released from Sacred Heart on Tuesday. Determined to get his strength back, he’s sticking to an exercise plan prescribed by doctors.

“By the second or third month, the goal is to be able to walk three miles in 45 minutes,” Merkel said. “I don’t know if my car can do that.”

Although Merkel “retired” from Whitworth in 1990, he has remained active, maintaining an office in Graves Gym and keeping statistics for the various sports teams.

“I’d sure like to get out this weekend,” Merkel said, sounding as if he were plotting a pitching change. “They’ve got a tough doubleheader. The thing is, if I could talk them into letting me park right behind the left-field fence …”

But wouldn’t he have to watch out for the long ball?

“As long as Whitworth wins,” Merkel said, “they can make all the dents they want.”