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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Big Turnout Brightens Prospects For Freeman

Ward Sanderson Correspondent

Valley Voice, March 30, 1995: CORRECTION: Garen Friberg is Freeman High School’s No. 1 pitcher, and Nick Shuerman catches for the team. An article in the March 23 Valley Voice stated otherwise.

Northeast A baseball

If strength is truly found in numbers, Freeman High School’s baseball team should be downright buff.

“We had 38 kids turn out for both our (JV and varsity) teams,” Freeman coach Jim Straw said. “We’re carrying 17 varsity members instead of 14, and the quality is still higher than its ever been.”

Last year, Freeman tied with Lakeside for fourth place in the Northeast A League. Straw looks to advance, but acknowledges taking out the likes of Newport and Riverside will be a challenge.

“It’s going to be a dogfight, and it’ll all come down to who can pitch,” he said.

Pitchers, for Freeman, aren’t a weakness.

“We have 12 returning letterman and seven returning starters,” he said.

Returning seniors are second baseman Mike Amend, utility player Chris Beeler, and Nick Dixon and Nathan Ramsey, who will fight it out for the starting job at first base.

Shortstop Kelly Lynch, who led the league in hits and runs batted in last year, also returns.

Steve Stromberger is the team’s No. 2 pitcher. and Justin Miller will act as starting left fielder and number-four pitcher.

Tony Byrne, who hit .400 his sophomore year, will be starting at third base.

Freeman has some mean juniors, too. Nick Shuerman will be the team’s No. 1 pitcher. He also batted .440 last year. “He’s has a great throwing arm. He’s a total package,” Straw said.

In center field is speedy Jeremy VanVooris, who runs 60 meters in 6.6 seconds. “He stole 27 bases, and has only been thrown out once,” Straw said.

Other returning juniors are right fielder Ben Brune, part-time second baseman Aaron Martinez and pitcher Garen Friberg.

Straw said things look good - providing his pitching squad remains uninjured.

“If we stay healthy, we’ll be in the top two,” he said. “Even if we’re unhealthy, we’ll be in the top four.”