Bowles Makes Most Of Comeback After Nearly Leaving Nic Behind, Pitcher Returns To Lead Cards

Jason Bowles wasn’t coming back.

He was going to leave North Idaho College baseball - and the losses - behind. Go to school in western Washington, resume his pitching career, be near girlfriend Kariann, who dabbles in modeling.

So what’s Bowles doing as the Cards’ ace with a 5-2 record?

For answers, ask his cousin. And ask catcher Evan Metz.

Bowles has been riding motorcycles since he was 4 and racing them throughout his life. He always said if his cousin beat him in a race, he’d retire. Last summer his cousin won and Bowles put down the kickstand, temporarily, on his cycle.

As for Metz, he and Bowles grew up together in Woodinville, Wash. Both endured last year’s brutal 16-23 Cardinal campaign, but Metz decided to stay at NIC.

“It’s almost like some guys accepted losing last year,” said Bowles, his soft-spokeness being challenged by a hint of rage. “I think the last losing season I was involved with was sophomore football.”

But Bowles, while attending Shoreline Community College, kept in contact with Metz, who said the Cardinals were improving. So Bowles came back, and so have the victories for NIC.

The Cardinals are 7-5 and tied for first in Region 18 North Division play with College of Southern Idaho. The clubs begin a crucial three-game set today in Twin Falls.

Earlier this season when the Cards were struggling, Bowles was ripped in a particularly dreadful loss to Blue Mountain and was pulled in the second inning.

He verbally exploded on coach Jack Bloxom, words Bowles now regrets saying.

“That was weeks and weeks of frustration building up,” said Bowles, noting that his arm wasn’t strong at the time because he had rested it after suffering elbow tenderness late last season. “But that was the turnaround of our season because we all got together afterward and said we’re too good to let that happen.”

Bloxom dismissed Bowles’ outburst as competitiveness boiling over.

“He’s a tough kid, the kind who will do what he has to do to get things done,” Bloxom said. “A lot of pitchers rationalize and try to put blame somewhere else. He’s not that way.

“At Rexburg (against Ricks College) last week, we made three errors in one inning and he didn’t give up a run. He just kept making great pitches and we finally turned a double play.”

Pitches, plural, being the key word in that last sentence. Like most high schoolers, Bowles came to NIC with a decent fastball and little else. He’s learned to throw a curve and slider.

“There’s no way you can survive with one pitch at the college level,” Bowles said.

After the numbing setback to Blue Mountain, Bowles stood at 1-2 with an earned-run average of nearly 12. At that seemingly inopportune time, he set a goal of winning all six of his North Division starts.

He’s two-thirds of the way home. And his ERA is down to 5.1.

His grade-point average is about half of his ERA, which is commendable when he looks back on his carefree high school days. Back at Woodinville High, his grades were so weak that college became an iffy proposition.

“I did just enough to get by,” he said.

The other threat to his college career was motorcycling. He was good enough to race SuperCross in the Kingdome and he believed he could make a living in regional pro events.

“But if you’ve got the chance to play baseball … ” Bowles reasoned.

So, are you a better racer or pitcher?

“I don’t like to answer that question,” grinned Bowles, who said he’ll probably return to racing when his pitching days end. “I’ve won my fair share of races and I’ve won my fair share of games.”

Bowles believes events have worked out for the best because one of the schools he was considering transferring to, Olympic, just won its first game last week while the Cards are battling for a division title.

“I feel comfortable and confident,” he said.

With Bowles on the mound, NIC feels the same way.