Wildcats aim to discard bad luck

Although an upper-tier Greater Spokane League program for the last several years, the baseball gods have been unkind to Mt. Spokane during postseason.

The Wildcats have reached the playoffs four of the last five seasons and won two league championships. But they have yet to advance past the district tournament.

“It’s been frustrating and I can’t put my finger on it,” said Wildcats coach Alex Schuerman. “I felt like we’ve been well prepared.”

The first year, Mt. Spokane had overachieved and it caught up with them during playoffs, he said. The next year, they had misfortune when Mark Purser was injured, he added. Last year, the team coughed up a lead and lost to upstart Gonzaga Prep.

“There have been different reasons and I don’t have a feel for why,” Schuerman said.

This year could be different. Last summer in American Legion Junior ball, the bulk of this year’s team placed fourth in the state tournament.

Purser has been cleared to pitch after undergoing surgery for an injured arm that kept him off the mound last spring.

Schuerman said he will be one of three pitchers who could be a staff ace, a luxury for most high school programs.

“Mark is essentially 100 percent with no limitations,” said Schuerman. “The pitching is strong. Paul Smith throws the hardest and I could see Mark catching him. Nic (Fowler) is so much stronger.”

A team that has hung its hat on defense might have its best, with the middle infield combination of Jarek Cunningham and Brian Raynor, Purser in center and Niko Sotolongo behind the plate all returning.

The Wildcats figure they can win any game in which they score five runs, said Schuerman. That happened in 5-0 and 5-1 wins over Rogers to open the Greater Spokane League season.

If the target is on Mt. Spokane’s back, there will be no shortage of teams willing to take a run.

Schuerman figures the league will be balanced. An early start, 20-game league schedule and many back-to-back games with league rivals will help even things. The race to place between second and eighth will be interesting.

For instance, Ferris is a perennial contender, even if it is young; Mead has one of the best pitchers in league and solid returnees; and North Central has the bulk of its state-qualifying 3A team back. Gonzaga Prep has a veteran team back, despite two losses to rebuilding Central Valley.