Will Baseball Talent Overcome Inexperience For Valley Teams?

Thu., March 16, 2000

By Mike Vlahovich mikev@spokesman.com (509) 927-2180

GSL baseball

Valley Greater Spokane League baseball teams are in the same boat.

All three - Central Valley, East Valley and University - have ample talent upon which to build a winning foundation.

All three, however, are young, so just how far the talent can take them remains to be seen.

“I don’t think there’s a clear cut favorite in league,” said Central Valley coach Ed Garcia. “Historically Ferris is tough.”

His Bears finished third last season. But this year he has 10 underclassmen, albeit successful ones during the summer, making up the core of his team.

EV, a Frontier League champion four of the past five years and qualifier to two straight regional playoffs, doesn’t have the depth of previous teams, said coach Kurt Krauth. And the Knights have eight juniors or sophomores on the roster.

Nonetheless he’s pleased to be in the Greater Spokane League. In fact, he was an early proponent of change.

“One of the few and the proud,” he said. “This will be a good experience for our kids.”

Of University’s 15-player roster, six have varsity experience and there are but five seniors. Again, coach Don Ressa isn’t concerned.

“I like our club,” said Ressa. “We are young, but I feel like they got some experience last summer against better level of kids.”

Teams play 16 league games, meaning they’ll play four of 10 foes just once. Who they do or don’t play twice, along with the progress of the youngsters, will determine on how far the Valley trio goes.

First league encounters are March 28.

Five returnees lead Bears

Four senior veterans and one junior are the experience with the bulk of the team made up of state-qualifying Junior Legion athletes.

“That’s a different time and a different league,” said Garcia. “But I’m cautiously optimistic.”

He’s not sure if the Bears have dominating pitching, although in third-year veteran Derek Wohlers and second-year junior Seth Gamer they have a good start.

Senior outfielder Kyle Boast provides backing on the mound as does senior third baseman Kevin Reed.

And there’s plenty of depth from last year’s junior varsity squad.

Another varsity veteran is centerfielder Tyson Fitterer, one of the league’s better outfielders.

Newcomers Jeremy Nichols at catcher and Chris Rodgers at shortstop have good defensive tools.

“We are strong up the middle and have pretty good power,” said Garcia. “The kids work hard and the program is solid.”

Knights like change of atmosphere

If you know Krauth, you know how droll he can be.

“I’m going to miss that trip to Clarkston,” he deadpanned.

On a more serious note, he explained why he likes the new league.

“Every game you’re playing against a really good team and facing a good pitcher,” he said. “In the Frontier, the first game of the doubleheader you know you’d face a good one, but a lot of teams only had one decent pitcher.”

EV’s pitching will benefit from the efforts of senior Adam Stultz and junior Chad Mathison who came up at mid-season last year.

Stultz also plays shortstop, although Krauth is considering moving him to second base to save his arm.

His replacement would be third-year varsity player Shae Lanphere, a junior. Lanphere spent the past two years in the outfield.

Also back are first baseman David Marlow, although he could also play third and outfielders Pat Valenzuela and Joey Binder.

Among the newcomers vying for varsity spots are five guys named Nick. Three of them are third-base candidates.

“We’ve been successful enough to know we can compete in baseball,” said Krauth. “As a team I think this is a good group.”

Young arms asked to help Titans

A lot depends upon the efforts of University’s few seniors, but young arms could be the key to whether the Titans return to the playoffs.

With only four returning regulars, two of them juniors, experience is still a problem.

Pitching depth isn’t.

“We have seven pitchers on our squad,” said Ressa. “I think we can win a few games with those guys.”

Good years by seniors John Madsen and Tyler White are important. They also play outfield, along with senior returnee Garrett Renz.

Eric Wiberg, a 6-foot-6-1/2 junior - who says there’s no size at U-Hi -, and sophomores Kenny Florence and Mike Koentopp have live pitching arms and could flourish.

Juniors Keith Christensen and Tommy Owen are back at shortstop and second base, respectively.

Jared Vlahovich moves from infield back behind the plate after a two-year hiatus.

The starting lineup will include an all sophomore or junior infield, five juniors or sophomores will pitch, and a junior or sophomore could find his way into the outfield.

“I look at the middle of the diamond from behind home plate and out to centerfield and we are obviously better than we were,” said Ressa.

“If we get pitching and if we hit, we will be pretty competitive, I think.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: Baseball rosters

Central Valley Returnees

Kevin Reed, sr. third base/pitcher

Tyson Fitterer, sr. outfield

Kyle Boast, sr.outfield/pitcher

Derek Wohlers, sr. pitcher/first base

Seth Gamer, jr. pitcher/first base Newcomers

Jeremy Nichols, jr. catcher

Andrew Bower, jr. catcher/first base

Kevin Brown, soph. second base

Bailey Wolff, sr. second base

Chris Rodgers, jr. shortstop

Will Murphy, jr. third base/pitcher

Bo Baeschlin, jr. outfield

Paul Shryack, jr. outfield

Jeff Luedtke, sr.outfield

Jay Pearson, jr. pitcher

John McFarlane, sr. outfield

East Valley Returnees

Adam Stultz, sr. pitcher/infield

Shae Lanphere, jr. infield/pitcher

David Marlow, sr. first base/third base

Joey Binder, sr. outfield

Patrick Valenzuela, sr. outfield

Chad Mathison, jr.pitcher Newcomers

Chris Moore, sr. outfield/pitcher

Nick Werner, sr. third base

Keith Wycoff, sr. catcher

Nick Furgason, jr. third base

Nick Doscher, jr. third base

Nick Steinhauer, jr. second base

Brendan Bersey, jr. catcher

Nick Covey, jr. outfield

Scott Downs, soph.outfield/pitcher

Scott Allen, soph. second base

University Returnees

John Madsen, sr. center field/pitcher

Tyler White, sr. outfield/pitcher

Jared Vlahovich, sr.catcher

Garrett Renz, sr. outfield

Tom Owen, jr. second base

Keith Christensen, jr. shortstop Newcomers

Alex Fabbianno, sr. pitcher

John Cox, jr. first base

David Morrison, jr. catcher

Chris Gross, jr. outfield

Eric Wiberg, jr. pitcher/first base

Patrick Hicks, jr. pitcher

Ken Florence, soph.pitcher/infield

Mike Koentopp, soph. pitcher/OF/IF

Brett Neste, soph. infield

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.