There’s a lot of Lind and Ashley in Broncos’ senior-laden club

There’s a lot of Lind – and Nick Ashley – in the Lind-Ritzville baseball team making its second straight State B baseball semifinals appearance.

Seven Broncos regulars, including Ashley, attend school at the first half of the hyphenated squad that opens play Friday against Pateros in Yakima County Stadium.

“Just about everybody on the team has played together since junior high and in summer ball,” said Ashley. “The seven seniors have played together for a long time.”

Ashley is completing a standout three-sport career. He was the State B football player of the year as the leading rusher on the 2004 champions and honorable mention All-State last year.

But he considers baseball his future and will continue with the sport at Wenatchee Valley next year.

“I like football a lot, but what separates the two is I can play baseball year-round and have a smile on my face,” Ashley said.

Ashley has played every position but two. This year he’s the everyday shortstop and hit more than .600 during the regular season. He’s also the Broncos’ closer with a win and four saves.

Ashley is the unquestioned Broncos leader, according to coach Jason Aldrich.

“Even more so this year,” Aldrich said. “He’s quite an athlete, and not only a great athlete, but a great kid.”

The Broncos’ first opponent is Pateros (20-4), a team that relies on steady, if unspectacular, pitching and strong hitting.

“Pateros is no slouch,” said Aldrich, “We’ll have our hands full.”

Lind-Ritzville is less experienced than last year, but loaded with seniors and strong pitching. They’d like to end their careers with another shot at DeSales, Ashley said.

“We had a bad game against them last year,” he said.