Medical Lake hopes year of growth pays off

MEDICAL LAKE – Last season was a lesson in growing pains for the Medical Lake baseball team as the Cardinals battled their way to a .500 finish in the Great Northern League under first-year head coach Tye “TJ” Smith.

“Last year I wish we could have bonded more as a team,” said senior catcher Tyler Owens. “Last year we could have played more as a team.”

“I felt we actually had more success than I think what was expected,” said Smith. “I wouldn’t call .500 really successful, but for the club we had last year, I thought it was really good.”

After that building process, the Cardinals welcome back starters at nearly every position this season and appear poised to make a run at the GNL title.

“I think we’re strong in the infield,” said Owens. “I think that’s our strongest point. … I think we’re going to be strong in the middle part of the order as well.”

“I think we’ll be in the top of the league in defense,” said Smith. “I honestly believe we’ll be one of the best defensive teams in the league. Offensively, only time will tell not.”

The defense will be keyed by senior shortstop Mike Constantine, who, along with seniors Owens, pitcher Zach Worl, first baseman Chris Culnane and outfielders Blake Schluter and Adam Ray, looks to help Medical Lake challenge perennial GNL powers Pullman and West Valley.

The Cardinals’ success, though, starts with Constantine. “He’s probably the best infielder I’ve ever been around,” Smith said. “He makes the routine plays, he makes the tough plays look routine, and he’s really come into a comfort zone.”

Constantine’s evolution at shortstop started with hard work. “I’ve been hitting in the off-season at the Gonzaga Warehouse,” he said. “I’ve been doing that every year during the winter and I play fall baseball in the Spokane Falls instructional league. For arm strength I just long toss every day since my freshman year on.”

The Cardinals will also lean on Owens behind the plate, who will manage hurlers Worl and junior TJ Gover.

“The catcher is the guy who runs the show,” said Smith. “He touches the ball every single pitch. He needs to be a leader. … As a junior, he was quiet, and as a catcher, you can’t do that.”

As with many teams, Medical Lake’s success will start on the mound with Worl and Gover.

“If our starting pitching gets into the fifth inning and my two returning starters pick up from last year, we’ll be good,” said Smith. “This team’s success rides on those two arms.”

This season, The Cardinals seem to have all the pieces to make it a memorable year. “I think we have a chance to do something big this year at Medical Lake,” said Owens. “State is definitely an option if everyone works hard.”

“The only thing that’s on everyone’s mind on varsity, especially the seniors, is going to state and winning,” said Constantine. “We just want to give it all we’ve got every game, and everything will fall into place.”