Proud Indians Underclassman-Strong North Central Team Playing First-Class Baseball, Leads Gsl

Thu., May 4, 2000

By Janie McCauley janiem@spokesman.com

When North Central baseball coach Scott Harmon returned a preseason questionnaire to the newspaper, he said the Indians were going to need some luck to finish in the league’s top four.

Harmon didn’t want to be overly optimistic because nine of his 13 varsity players are underclassmen.

There are no seniors in the infield.

“We’re inexperienced,” the fifth-year coach said.

But the Indians began the season 11-0. They were 14-2 overall and in first place in the Greater Spokane League at 10-2 heading into a home game Wednesday against third-place Central Valley. They have a key game at Ferris today for first place.

“The seniors are having senior-type years,” Harmon said. “They’re the ones who should show up physically, mentally and emotionally. And the supporting cast of juniors and sophomores is fighting hard and performing.”

Pride has been the program’s theme this spring, Harmon said. Last season NC started 6-3, then lost six of its last nine to finish 9-9 and in a tie for fifth place in the GSL.

“They’ve shown pride working on the field. The field is in the best shape it’s been in in years,” Harmon said. “There are a lot of pride things going on in the program that kids can feel and certainly relate to.”

This spring NC has learned to put teams away, Harmon said.

“It’s better in the fact that we’ve been able to come back in adverse situations,” he said. “It’s not characteristic of teams I’ve had before to be able to put teams away.”

This is Harmon’s best season at NC. His teams went 4-12 in his first two seasons and 8-8 in his third year, losing in the opening round of districts.

This year’s seniors had a rough first two years, Harmon said.

“It’s kind of a special senior class,” the coach said. “Their freshman year they were very unsuccessful, but these four kids love baseball. They’re committed to baseball.”

The seniors are outfielders B.J. Moffitt and Matt Von Steuben, catcher Jim McCollum and pitcher Jason Hanson.

Harmon said he is emphasizing baseball at the lower levels.

“The program at this point certainly is going in the right direction,” he said.

Harmon credits third-year assistant Troy Heuett and fifth-year pitching coach Bill Shepherd for the team’s success.

“A huge standout is our pitching,” he said. “(Shepherd) is wonderful. He knows how to work with kids and does a great job getting kids prepared. He has stressed conditioning.”

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