Intermountain League Baseball Preview

In predicted order of finish:

Lakeland Hawks

1996 record: 21-2 overall, 10-2 IML (first), state champ

Coach: Ken Busch, 7th year

Top returners: Ryan Banks, sr., right-handed pitcher/infield; Kurt Reese, junior, rhp/inf; Scott Rothrock, sr., shortstop; Brian Holt, sr., 2b; Brady White, sr., inf/of; Shane Baldwin, sr., of.

Newcomers: Taylor Skidmore, sophomore, left-handed pitcher/inf; Jeremy Miller, soph., catcher; Derek Felton, jr., rhp/catcher; Dusty Durshem, jr., inf; Bryan Phelps, soph., of.

Coach’s comment: “Our pitching should be fairly strong. That will probably have to be our strength.”

Outlook: Lakeland graduated a ton of talent but the Hawks are still the defending state champs. Reese and Banks will be two of the top pitchers in the league. They will carry Lakeland far. Busch has the athletes to fill holes created by graduation.

Moscow Bears

1996 record: 13-10, 7-4 (tied second)

Coach: Kevin Winterrowd, 2nd year

Top returners: Rob Sumner, sr., c; Evan Stewart, sr., 1b; Tony Rinaldi, jr., ss; Josh Yarno, jr., of/rhp; Travis Pool, sr., of/rhp; Blake Jenson, rhp/3b.

Newcomers: Robbie Richards, jr., 1b/rhp; Jeff Carr, jr., 2b; Jeremy Spencer, jr., inf/rhp; Jake Reisenauer, jr., of/rhp.

Coach’s comment: “We’ve got some real good starting pitching, but it needs to be consistent. The key for us is we’ve got to develop some mental toughness and consistency.”

Outlook: The Bears could unseat Lakeland as league and district champs. Moscow has a deep talent pool and returns three of its top pitchers. If Lakeland stumbles, the Bears can take over.

St. Maries Lumberjacks

1996 record: 20-8, 7-4 (tied second), state consolation champ

Coach: Jeff Andersen, 7th year

Top returners: D.J. Eberlin, jr., c/rhp; Ty Konkright, sr., shortstop; Skyler Willard, jr., 2b/rhp; Brian Lounsbury, jr., 1b; Lane Watkins, sr., 3b; Jared Peterson, sr., cf.

Newcomers: Jason Bierman, jr., of; Matt Hanson, jr., rhp/of.

Coach’s comment: “We have a real solid nucleus. Offensively and defensively they’re as solid as I’ve ever had. But pitching is the big question. We don’t have one true dominating pitcher.”

Outlook: Eberlin is a fireballer, but Andersen may be limited in using him on the mound because he’s not sure if he has anyone to catch him. Moving Eberlin from behind the plate creates problems. If either Lakeland or Moscow slips, St. Maries could be poised to challenge.

Priest River Spartans

1996 record: 5-14, 4-8 (fourth)

Coach: Lou Musso, 1st year

Top returners: Larry Johnson, sr., rhp/3b; Will Mason, sr., ss/rhp; Reggie Ivie, sr., rhp/1b; Keith Connolly, sr., 2b; Casey Scott, sr., 1b/of; Scott Bell, sr., 3b.

Newcomers: Zach Wood, jr., of; John Nelson, jr., catcher; Clark Kawamoto, jr., rhp/of; Justin Kershaw, soph., ss; Adam Hester, jr., rhp/ss.

Coach’s comment: “I like their attitude. They’re as good a group of kids to be around and as hard a working group as I’ve had. They want to improve.”

Outlook: Musso, 63, is a retired principal and head baseball coach from Newport. His Newport teams won 12 league titles in 14 years. He hopes he still has the energy to impact kids as a coach. His presence should be felt immediately, but the Spartans aren’t ready to challenge upper-division teams.

Bonners Ferry Badgers

1996 record: 1-12, 0-10 (fifth)

Coach: Kenton Clairmont, 1st year

Top returners: Tyler Hurst, sr., rhp/1b; Jeremy Baker, jr., rhp/1b; Matt Clark, jr., ss; Jacob Wages, sr., of; Jacob Johnson, sr., catcher; Derek Barnhart, jr., 2b.

Newcomers: Rama Scarlett, soph., cf; Todd Bateman, soph., 2b; Collin Gause, soph., ss.

Coach’s comment: “These guys are good fundamentally. They’re real eager to learn. They’re coming along faster than I expected.”

Outlook: Clairmont, a Bonners Ferry graduate before the school offered baseball, isn’t being paid as head coach, but he says that doesn’t matter because he wants to keep the sport alive in his hometown. The Badgers have already posted more wins (two) than last year. But they have a long way to go before challenging.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH Kurt Reese, junior, right-handed pitcher/ infielder, Lakeland Tony Rinaldi, junior, shortstop, Moscow Ryan Banks, senior, right-handed pitcher/infielder, Lakeland D.J. Eberlin, junior, catcher/right-handed pitcher, St. Maries Josh Yarno, junior, right-handed pitcher/outfielder, Moscow Ty Konkright, senior, shortstop, St. Maries Will Mason, senior, shortstop/righthanded pitcher, Priest River Tyler Hurst, senior, right-handed pitcher/first baseman, Bonners Ferry