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

Freeman baseball team’s lofty goal within reach

Having had a taste of state greatness from a 2013 football title and a 2015 wrestling title, the Freeman baseball team wants to put its own stamp on history with its first championship on the diamond.

The Scotties (16-3, 12-1 Northeast A League) have clinched another league title and hope to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish in the state playoffs.

“This would be ultraspecial, as well, if we could complete the trifecta,” coach Chad Ripke said. “We feel like the pieces are in place to hopefully make a deep run in the playoffs.”

After losing four starting seniors from last year’s team, the current Scotties roster is loaded with juniors and sophomores.

“But when you have McKabe Cottrell, that’s a good start,” Ripke said of the reigning league MVP. The 17-year-old junior entered the week with a 6-1 record, two saves, 78 strikeouts and a 0.36 ERA , Ripke said.

Cottrell, who is joined by his younger brother Keegan, said the team has really bonded.

“We have really strong team chemistry,” he said. “Everybody picks each other up. We have no outcasts.”

The team’s only major-contributing senior is Jack Paukert, who has moved to center field with the emergence of Konner Freudenthal at catcher. Paukert, an all-league football and basketball player, is hitting .382.

Desmond Parisotto has overcome a football injury and has taken his place as the No. 2 starter behind the elder Cottrell.

“He’s still not 100 percent,” Ripke said of the sophomore Parisotto. “But his 80- or 90-percent is better than most kids.”

That injury allowed others to contribute from the mound. Keegan Cottrell is 3-0 and is hitting .396; Koby Kent has pitched relief and is hitting .457; Simon Rooney was 3-1 and was batting .395. JT Neely is leading off and hitting .333, with an on-base percentage of .530.

“It’s hard for me to take some of these guys out of the lineup,” Ripke said.

But the strength of the team is pitching. When any team meets Freeman in the playoffs, they will face two starting left-handers.

“It’s a blessing in having the mainstays in Cottrell and Parisotto on the mound,” Ripke said. “But … Rooney and Kent and even Keegan (Cottrell) all give us a chance to win.”

In fact, Freeman’s team ERA is a 1.75.

“These guys have taken their game to the next level,” said Ripke, who also coached the wrestlers to the 2015 title. “They don’t feel overmatched or overwhelmed by any situation.”

“I don’t know if we are blessed out here or if we’ve worked at it,” he continued. “But, our guys have played a lot of baseball.”

Cottrell said the team, which has split with Medical Lake for its only league loss entering the week, said he’s happy to play with his younger brother on the team.

“He’s stepped up huge for us this year,” he said of Keegan.

With the way the team has been playing, Cottrell said he doesn’t fear a letdown.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “There is nothing I’d like to see more than to bring home a state championship trophy.”

GSL heavyweights

Both Gonzaga Prep and Central Valley continue to pile up wins and appear to be steamrolling their way to a head-on clash to end the season.

The Bullpups (16-2, 15-1 GSL) play Friday at Central Valley. The Bears (13-3, 13-3) then finish their season May 2 at Gonzaga-Prep. Both teams have players littered among the league leaders in statistics.

The Bullpups appear to have an edge in hitting (Jack Machtolf .551 BA, two HR, six doubles, two triples, 17 RBIs ; Carsten Schmidt, .421, two HR, 19 RBIs, two triples), but the Bears are loaded with arms.

Conner DeGeest (1.25 ERA) leads the league with six wins. Fellow pitchers Jeremy Yellend (3-0, 1.77 ERA) and Connor Grytdal (4-1, 1.73 ERA) give the Bears three of the league’s top five strikeout pitchers.

“It’s going to be a great matchup,” G-Prep coach Brian Munhall said. “I just hope we don’t tie.”