Indians Have Ingredients For Success Salem-Keizer To Help Spokane Launch Nwl Season Tonight At Seafirst

Each Northwest League baseball season offers a variety of possibilities.

Consider it more than a possibility that the Spokane Indians will play as well as - or better than - they have since 1990.

Cynics might say, “But of course. Spokane hasn’t finished better than third place in its four-team division since its string of four consecutive NWL titles ended in 1990.”

Yet despite the vagaries of a 76-game schedule, there’s a feeling of reserved confidence among the Indians as they start their 15th consecutive season in the eight-team NWL.

The storyline will begin to take shape at 7:05 tonight, when Spokane opens a five-game homestand at Seafirst Stadium against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.

Much of the optimism centers around the type of players the Kansas City Royals sent to Spokane this summer.

During the past few seasons, the common theme was for Spokane to receive a sprinkling of third- or fourth-round draft selections.

This year, there are two No. 1 choices, a No. 3, a No. 4, two No. 5s, and four others selected in the first 10 rounds. Also, Indians pitching coach Steve Crawford said the Royals’ No. 1 choice in the June 3-5 draft, right-hander Dan Reichert of Pacific, will come here if he signs.

“We’ll have the true evaluation after we’ve finished the first two weeks,” Spokane manager Jeff Garber said Monday as the Tribe completed a four-day minicamp at Seafirst.

“But all I hope, from what I’ve seen, is that you’re going to have an Indians team with good work habits.”

Spokane will carry 15 pitchers, four catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders on its opening-day roster. Left-handed pitcher Jamie Burton is nursing a sore shoulder. Burton is a returner from last year’s team that finished 37-39, third place in the North Division.

Garber’s main concern heading into the opener is at third base. Joe Dillon, a seventh-rounder from Texas Tech, was penciled in at third but arrived at camp with a sore shoulder. Dave Willis, a 10th-rounder from Santa Barbara, who ordinarily catches or plays first base, will start tonight at third.

The rest of the starting infield is Doug Blosser, first base; Joe Caruso, second base; and Merrell Ligons, shortstop. Blosser hit .255 in 16 games at Spokane last year. Earlier this month, Caruso had 14 hits for Alabama to set a College World Series record. Ligons is one of two switch hitters on the roster.

Tonight’s outfield will be Dermal Brown in left, Goefrey Tomlinson in center and Juan LeBron in right. Brown was Kansas City’s top draft choice in ‘96, LeBron was No. 1 in ‘95. Tomlinson, drafted No. 4 this year, hit .427 with 16 homers for the University of Houston.

“I think we have prototype players at each position,” said batting coach Greg Smith, a Cheney resident. “In the outfield we have guys who can swing and have power. In the infield we have guys who can hit and run.”

The opening-day battery is Jeremy Hill and left-hander Jordy Alexander. Hill was a fifth-round selection last year. Alexander, one of two Canadian pitchers on the squad, pitched last year for the Tri-City Posse of the independent Western League.

Todd Meady, a righty, is scheduled to start Wednesday. Crawford said pitchers from extended spring training will draw early starting assignments because guys just drafted haven’t thrown in game situations lately.

“What I’ve seen so far is we have some good little arms here,” Crawford said. “It looks to me like the Royals may have done a good job of drafting.”

Players drafted in early rounds will have day-to-day priority in the lineup because the Royals paid more to sign them.

“Certain guys are going to play everyday, obviously, but everyone is going to get a chance,” Garber said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: Two sidebars appeared with the story: 1. 1997 SPOKANE INDIANS Tonight’s game: 7:05 vs. Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at Seafirst Stadium. Congressional Medal of Honor winner Vernon Baker of St. Maries will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Tickets available: Reserved bench seats - $3.50 for adults; $2.50 for children younger than 12, seniors and military. Spokane’s June schedule: Today-Saturday vs. Salem-Keizer, 7:05; Sunday-June 26 at Portland; June 27-29 vs. Everett; June 30 at Everett.

2. TONIGHT’S STARTERS The projected lineup for tonight’s Spokane Indians opener: Goefrey Tomlinson/CF/Univ. of Houston Joe Caruso/2B/Alabama Joe Dillon/DH/Texas Tech Doug Blosser/1B/Spokane-Lansing Dave Willis/3B/Santa Barbara Dermal Brown/LF/Gulf Coast Royals Juan LeBron/RF/Gulf Coast Royals Jeremy Hill/C/Gulf Coast Royals Merrell Ligons/SS/Gulf Coast Royals Jordy Alexander/P/Olympic CC