Saxons Facing More Competition This Year

Thu., March 23, 2000

By Chris Derrick chrisd@spokesman.com (509) 459-5515

The Greater Spokane League baseball season presents a different feel for the first time since 1997.

Unlike 1998 and ‘99, this year Ferris isn’t the overwhelming favorite to win the league championship. The Saxons may still win the title, but league coaches don’t expect the 17-1 and 16-2 seasons that Ferris has produced of late.

“It’s a little different role, but that’s OK, because it’s a little less pressure,” said Ferris coach John Thacker.

The season offers another change, with the addition of East Valley making the GSL an 11-team league. The schedule is no longer a true double round-robin.

Some key matchups, such as Ferris vs. Mead, and Ferris vs. Central Valley, will occur but once.

Ferris

Saxon coach Thacker toyed with the idea of retiring from baseball after the past two seasons. But there always have been enough quality returning players to lure him back for another spring stint.

Leading the way this season is senior Aaron Sedler, a Division I prospect who is set to move from outfield to third base.

Thacker also expects top efforts from senior pitchers/infielders Adam Oakley and Eric Everson.

The Saxons’ other varsity veterans are senior infielder Mike Darigol, junior infielder Craig King, senior pitcher/infielder Nik Pringle and junior pitcher/outfielder Connor Finnerty.

Thacker terms the season a “rebuilding year,” but Ferris has placed first or second for eight consecutive seasons.

Lewis and Clark

Second-year coach Dexter Davis is searching for the right pieces to improve upon last year’s ninth-place, 4-14 finish.

Dexter places the onus on senior returners. Outfielder Richard Schram, pitcher/infielder John Langan and pitcher/outfielders Nick Barnes and Scott Washburn head the list.

Senior infielder/outfielder Scott Leimgruber also returns for the Tigers.

“This is a group of hard-working ballplayers who hope to improve from last year’s efforts,” Davis said.

“We look to compete at a higher level in the upcoming season.”

Gonzaga Prep

It’s start-from-scratch time at Gonzaga Prep, with a new coach and 12 new players among the roster of 17.

Former G-Prep and Washington State player Greg Gores has replaced Darryl Stephens.

The Bullpups finished in last place, at 2-16, during Stephens’ third and final season. Stephens’ career record was 19-33.

“We are still looking for a mix of players who will step up and contribute at the varsity level,” said Gores, a former assistant at Gonzaga University.

Prep’s senior returners are catcher Luke Machtolf, infielders Ryan Thacker and Cascade LeSage, and outfielder Will Tombari. The other veteran is junior pitcher/outfielder Brandon Bowman.

“We are going to play some young players early and see if they can handle varsity-level pitching,” Gores said. “I look forward to watching this team learn how to play the game and compete.”

This sidebar appeared with the story: Baseball rosters

Ferris Mike Cherry, fr. C Matt Levin-Stankevich, jr.C Eric Everson, sr. P/INF Adam Oakley, sr. P/INF Connor Finnerty, jr. P/OF Nik Pringle, sr. P/INF Eric Sharr, jr. P/OF Cliff Poffenroth, jr. P/OF Shawn O’Brien, soph. INF Curtis McSpadden, jr. INF Craig King, jr. INF Aaron Sedler, sr. INF Mike Darigol, sr. INF Robert Lagerstrom, sr. OF Travis Wiles, sr. OF Paul Steinhieser, sr. OF Marcus Clift, soph. OF Jason Wedel, sr. OF

Gonzaga Prep Mac Green, soph. P Mark Dollar, soph.P/3B Derek Redding, soph. P/OF Luke Machtolf, sr. C J.J. Zacher, soph. 1B Dan Falkner, jr. SS/2B Nick Velis, jr. INF Ryan Thacker, sr. SS/2B Steven White, jr. P/OF Josh Schmidt, soph. OF Cascade LeSage, sr. INF S. O’Doherty, fr. P/OF/1B John Mantello, sr. P Will Tombari, sr. OF Joe Toney, jr. 3B/1B Josh Thorn, jr. C Brandon Bowman, jr. P/OF

Lewis and Clark Nick Barnes, sr. P/OF Chris Burke, soph.C/OF Brook Cunningham, sr. OF Gino D’Aprile, jr. INF Robert Druffel, jr. INF/P Patrick Haffey, jr. INF John Langan, sr. P/INF Scott Leimgruber, sr. INF/OF Steve Martin, soph. C/INF Oliver Pitschka, jr. INF Richard Schram, sr. OF Dayne Tanner, jr. INF Scott Washburn, sr. OF/P Travis Webb, fr. P/INF Jeremy Winter, jr. INF Cheney Landon Johnston, sr. SS Aaron Madison, sr. P/2B/SS Seth Laughlin, sr. 3B Justin Juel, sr. 2B Joel Ewen, sr. LF Steve Rassmussen, sr. C Chris Nichols, sr. LF/P Ben Woodard, jr. RF/P J.D. Larson, jr. 2B Tyler Marsh, jr. 1B Josh Calvert, jr. C/P/3B Miles Strampe, jr. P/1B Travis Hegney, jr. P/CF Matt Miller, jr. RF Adam Pegg, jr. CF

Medical Lake John Potter, jr. OF Kit Hansen, jr.INF/C/P Joe Gaines, sr. OF Charles Garmon, soph. INF Billy Gaines, jr. C Jesse Rison, jr. INF Creighton Musser, sr. P/INF Alexis Alexander, jr. INF/OF/P Matt Hodgson, sr. OF/C Matt Palmer, jr. OF Jefferson French, sr. P/INF Dustin Lemaster, soph. C Nathan Bowlen, jr. P/OF Joe Gillespie, sr. P/INF Brent Kaplan, sr. INF/P Kevin Schmidt, sr. OF/P

Liberty Eric Smith, sr. P/OF Bryan Frampton, sr.SS Chris Wojahn, sr. 1B/P Brandon McCoy, sr. P/OF Jon Farka, sr. C/P James Jydstrup, jr. P/OF/INF Derrick Conley, jr. 3B Ryan Vantine, jr. OF B.J. Deviny, jr. OF Juston McGuire, soph. OF/P Ian Wolf, soph. P/INF Kyle Wolf, soph. C Kevin Kaplan, soph. 1B/OF Matt Mullenix, soph. 1B/2B Mike Kuster, soph. OF A.J. Anderson, fr. INF

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