Gsl Baseball Season Outlook Up In The Air

Mead and North Central are among the Greater Spokane League baseball teams returning the most players.

Shadle Park and Rogers are among the least experienced teams.

Both the second-place Highlanders and sixth-place Pirates were playoff teams last year. Neither the Panthers nor Indians were.

As such, inexperience that might normally be a concern isn’t so disconcerting.

The cyclical nature of the lineups means only that the league will be as unpredictable as ever.

“We may be allowed to begin slowly,” said Highlander coach Ron Brooks. “We want to play best at the end.”

Shadle opens the season Tuesday at North Central. Scott Harmon, who played for and assisted Brooks at Shadle Park, is the new NC coach.

“I’m hoping that fans who just love baseball will want to come out and see the game,” Harmon said of a rivalry made more interesting by their relationship.

Back to basics for Highlanders

It’s back to basics for Shadle, which was 11-5 last year and a regional qualifier.

“What we’re trying to do is a lot more teaching and fundamentals,” said Brooks.

Five three-year letter winners were among 10 seniors graduated last spring, leaving the Highlanders with positions to fill.

“The biggest concern is pitching,” said Brooks.

Senior Matt Liezen is the only mound veteran. He’s joined by juniors Eric Hayden, Sean Hughes, Robert Townsend, Marty Lund and Jeff Lafferty.

They also can play, respectively, third base, outfield, second base, first base and third base.

All-GSL hitting star Gerritt Wideman is at first base. Joe Baune moves from third to shortstop.

Senior Joe Walters and Jeremy Huston are in center and right field.

Newcomers include juniors Kyle Heuett at second base, Lafferty at third, Nick Bender or senior Doug Humphreys in left field, and senior Josh Gilbert at catcher.

Pirates rebuild with youth

The future of Rogers baseball is in its sophomore and freshmen classes. Some are already varsity probables.

Third-year coach Jim Wasem Jr. has only three players back from last year’s playoff team.

“What I see is good defense, good pitching and young, inexperienced hitters,” said Wasem.

There are six seniors among 18 players on the varsity roster. Included are five sophomores and possibly a freshman.

“Whatever we do, it’s going to be a fun season,” Wasem said.

Back from last year are senior twins Jeremy and Joe Bailey. Jeremy moves from left to center field. Joe is a shortstop and second baseman.

Another returnee is junior Shawn Carlson, a pitcher and third baseman who will be the team’s ace.

Senior Mike Williams, also an infielder, will be the No. 2 hurler. Pitching depth will come from sophomores Jeff Mace, Damian Roy and Andy Bayne and possibly freshman Taylor West and California transfer James Reynolds, ajunior.

Mace will likely start at second or short. The rest are infielders.

Juniors Dan Wilson, second or third base, Brian Liberty, first base or catcher, and senior Jupiter Macginnis shortstop or second base, are the other infielders.

Senior Lloyd Gaines and juniors Chris Scott and Ryan Hill are outfielders.

Bob Kuck is the current starting catcher, although Wasem is also looking at sophomores Chris Patterson and Sean Harrington.

“We’re going to have a real young team,” said Wasem. “If we keep people off base who shouldn’t be on, we’ll be fine.”

Mead approaches year with purpose

Favored to win league last year, Mead finished seventh.

Six veterans understand why they failed and don’t want to repeat. Last summer’s state-qualifying American Legion effort was a start.

“It was a real disappointment,” Coach Dave Vaughn said of the GSL season. “We have 10 seniors who are very focused and determined.

“They have an angry type of seriousness about getting better and winning.”

Pitchers Damian Long and Steve Fish, catcher Nick Gonnella, outfielders Adam Morris and Matt Armitage and second baseman Marcus Muzatko are senior returnees.

They are joined by four others: outfielders Jarrett Robbins and Jim Geyer, first baseman Cory Oden and shortstop John Barneson.

Barneson, who transferred to Mead from Northwest Christian, was ineligible for varsity last year but has already signed to play at Stanford.

“He got an invite to their camp and was rated the top infielder in drills,” said Vaughn.

Junior pitchers are Rob Elmer, Evan Thomas and Tony Johnston.

Elmer and Long can play outfield along with junior Jason Kostelecky.

Thomas is competing with sophomore Sam Hess at third base. Junior Adam Strate is another middle infield candidate.

“The strengths of this team are the offensive lineup and defense,” said Vaughn. “I’m cautiously optimistic.”

Same NC team greets new coach

North Central’s coach may be new, but much of the baseball team remains the same.

Eight players are back from last year’s team, including pitching aces Eric Panza, a right-hander, and Nick Hughes, a lefty.

“I believe high school kids want to have fun, and we will provide as much action as possible,” Harmon said of his philosophy.

Other returnees are shortstop Ryan Corigliano, third-baseman Nic Pugliese, who could also pitch, first basemen Justin Williams and Travis Hanson, second baseman Jared Starr and catcher Matt Allen.

A pair of juniors, Nat Sampson and Andy Grigsby, will pitch.

Outfield hopefuls are seniors Jeremy Hare and Jerry Holdren, juniors J.J. Nelson and Tyson Davis, another pitcher, and Hughes and Grigsby.

Juniors Matt Bernards, a utility player, and Troy Collins, a second baseman, round out the team.

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