Intermountain League baseball
In predicted order of finish:
St. Maries Lumberjacks
2005 records: 15-11 overall, 6-4 league
Coach: D.J. Eberlin
Years coaching: 1st
Returning lettermen, starters: 9, 6
Key players: Adam Benda, senior, outfielder; Logan Sheldon, jr., shortstop; Travis Christensen, sr., first baseman/right-handed pitcher; Tucker Baker, sr., catcher; Dalton Baker, sophomore, third baseman/rhp; Dustyn Thomas, soph., of; Caleb Bell, sr., of.
Coach’s comments: “We have better (pitching) arms than I thought we’d have. Everyone has picked up their velocity from last year.”
Outlook: The Lumberjacks are slight favorites in a league that could have some wild results. Pitching will be St. Maries’ strength.
Timberlake Tigers
2005 records: 7-16, 5-5
Coach: Tracy Turrell
Years coaching: 3rd
Returning lettermen, starters: 8, 6
Key players: Mike Barnhouse, sr., c; Charlie Propst, junior, left-handed pitcher/of; Noel Gonzales, jr., ss; Eric Langlitz, sr., center fielder; Jason Edwards, soph., 1b; Glen Myers, soph., lf; Chase Hart, sr., rhp/3b; Conor Yarbrough, sr., rhp.
Coach’s comments: “They’ve got to prove themselves out on the field. We want to get back to state, but that’s something we don’t talk about. We have to get better first.”
Outlook: The Tigers will be in the hunt for the league and district titles. Turrell-coached teams always play tough-nosed ball. They will have to avoid key injuries to challenge.
Bonners Ferry Badgers
2005 records: 9-15, 4-8
Coach: Tom Turpin
Years coaching: 4th
Returning lettermen, starters: 7, 6
Key players: Ben Turner, sr., c/rhp; Josh Hawks, jr., second baseman/c; Ross Patterson, jr., rhp/of.
Coach’s comments: “I feel good about this team. We’ll go out and compete.”
Outlook: The Badgers will be in the mix. Leading the way will be Turner – at the plate, on the mound and behind the plate.
Priest River Spartans
2005 records: 20-5, 12-0
Coach: Ryan Bodecker
Years coaching: 1st
Returning lettermen, starters: 4, 0
Key players: Heath Wardrop, sr., c; Zach Clow, jr., ss; Mike Ramsey, sr., 1b; Jake Christman, jr., rhp/1b.
Coach’s comments: “We’re young at the varsity level, but I think we’ll be very competitive. They like playing baseball and they like being around each other.”
Outlook: Bodecker, a PR graduate, takes over for his mentor, Lou Musso, who retired after guiding the Spartans to their first league title, district title and trip to state. Graduation hit PR hard.
Kellogg Wildcats
2005 records: 4-14, 1-11
Coach: Steve Twidt
Years coaching: 5th
Returning lettermen, starters: 5, 1
Key players: Chris Lund, sr., rhp/cf; Mike Ryan, sr., ss; Jeremiah Big Spring, soph., c/rhp.
Coach’s comments: “It’s a rebuilding year for us. Hopefully, by the end of the season we’ll compete.”
Outlook: Twidt has his work cut out for him. The Wildcats will take some lickings, but Twidt hopes to see his future by season’s end.