Rogers Changes Direction West Helps Steer Pirates Into Region Iv Playoffs

The four years of waiting were worth it, Taylor West has decided.

That’s four years for West, but 21 years for Rogers baseball.

In a span of five days, Rogers turned another mediocre baseball season into something special.

West, a four-year player on Rogers’ varsity, said he knew something was in the air as the Greater Spokane League regular season wound down.

Rogers, a 9-10 team just 10 days ago, reeled off five consecutive wins to qualify for the Region IV 4A playoffs for the first time since 1978.

The capping moments were last Saturday, with District 8 wins over Shadle Park and Mead. The two had a combined record of 4-0 against Rogers during the regular season.

“As soon as every (late-season) game started I could tell if we were going to win or lose,” said West, the winning pitcher against Mead. “I’ve played a lot, so I’ve seen how teams respond when they start winning.”

Rogers (14-11) opens regional play at 11 a.m. Saturday against host Richland (19-3). The winner plays either Ferris (17-4) or Kamiakin (20-3) for a berth to the state final four.

West expects to play center field, his usual position, and serve as closer at region. West said Rogers will start its ace, Cameron Bowers (8-2), against Richland. The Bombers will reportedly save their ace for a potential second game.

West said he likes Rogers’ chances against the hard-hitting Bombers. The Pirates’ running game and fundamentals could tilt the scales, he said.

West, a Spokane native, started in right field as a freshman, displacing a senior who later quit. He added time as a third baseman and pitcher as a sophomore, and led the team with an average near .440. He also hit near .440 as a junior, when he became full-time third baseman when not pitching.

West asked Pirates coach Jim Wasem for less time on the mound this season. He also wanted to move from third base because his defense wasn’t as sharp as he wanted.

“I’ve always had a really strong arm, and when I pitch it seems as the year goes by my (strength) started to deteriorate,” West said.

West played two years for the Spokane Heat select team, then switched for two seasons to Senior American Legion ball with the North Stars. He said he’ll play for the Heat this summer if he can play outfield instead of pitch.

Community Colleges of Spokane and North Idaho College have contacted West about playing. His ultimate desire, now that he’s put aside his boyhood dream of big-league ball, is to play for a four-year school.

West, who lives with his grandfather, said he learned much about baseball from his stepfather, Bob Conrad.

Rogers’ other senior starters are Bowers, pitcher/utility player Thomas Chadderdon, second baseman Danny Crowley, third baseman Edgar Muniz and outfielder Jon Tibbetts.

“As soon as we got into the playoffs, we had everybody talking,” West said. “Nobody was bickering … we seemed to rise to the occasion.”

West said the run of success at district brought out a bunch of new fans. Dozens of rah-rah signs popped up at school as the bandwagon rolled.