Look for tight races in GNL, NEA

Great Northern League and Northeast A League put a total of five baseball teams into state tournaments a year ago.

Pullman, in 2A, and Freeman, in 1A, both reached the state semifinals before losing to eventual state champions.

Will the leagues repeat such success? Perhaps not, but coaches believe there will be excitement in both their leagues due to increased parity.

“Everybody lost everybody last year,” said West Valley coach Don O’Neal. “I think everyone is well-matched this year and from what I know we could split with each other.”

As for this year’s Northeast A League, Lakeside coach Matt Sullivan said, “I think it could really, really be balanced. There are four potentially good teams, or at least evenly matched teams.”

Chad Ripke, coach of last year’s third-place-state- finishing Scotties concurred.

“We’ve come down to earth a bit and there are four compatible teams,” he said.

Certainly, the 2A won’t have the same state numbers, because this year’s allocation is two team qualifiers. Just which two advance is the subject of conjecture.

In 1A, if District’s 6 and 7 can reach détente after last year’s flap over where the all-District 7 regional final was to be played, the NEA and Caribou Trail leagues could again play in a regional for four state berths.

Great Northern League

Gone are some heavy hitters and most pitching from last year’s three state qualifiers.

The Greyhounds reached the state semifinals and finished fourth. WV and Clarkston, lost in the first round, the Eagles to an eventual finalist.

“I don’t know a darn thing about the league,” said coach Lance Lincoln, who has had inordinate success in Pullman. “We just show up and play and hope for the best.”

The Greyhounds bring back eight players, including virtually its entire infield, keyed by three four-year starters: shortstop Travis Cooper, second baseman Cody Weber and first baseman Jaime Fertakis. Also back is catcher Alac Scourey.

“We graduated most of the guys who threw for us last year,” said Lincoln. “It’s where we’re kind of looking right now to find people who can throw a bit.”

But he said, this team can hit and defend.

“We really think one ingredient for success is that – score some runs, rely on an experience on defense, minimize mistakes and have enough pitching to get us by.”

WV, last year’s league champions, graduated its pitching staff and big sticks. But it does have a couple All-GSL performers back in infielder David Hauschild, although he’s still rehabbing a leg injury from last winter, and second-team pitcher Anthony Salazar. Behind him it’s pitch by committee.

Two other injuries, to Drew Clausen and Kyle Wagner have put the Eagles in a bind.

“We’re not that good (right now),” said O’Neal, “but we’re getting a lot better.”

The team to watch, coaches say, is Cheney, thanks to veteran pitching, including All-GNL Rick Heuschkel. And Clarkston brings a traditionally strong program to the table.

“Since the league realigned,” said Lincoln, “it seems like it’s always the four of us battling. And Deer Park has (players) back who can beat you.”

Northeast A League

Like the GNL, coaches in the NEA don’t see much separation among teams.

Freeman graduated four starters, three of them pitchers who powered the team to a state third-place trophy. Lakeside is a state perennial and both Chewelah and Newport have enough ingredients to factor.

“We could see a lot of splits,” said Scotties coach Ripke, echoing WV’s O’Neal.

The Scotties have only lost one game so far this year, whipping Kettle Falls in a league doubleheader on Tuesday.

Ripke said they are not as deep on the mound, but not far off at the other positions. The outfield is manned by All-NEA players. Two of them, Beau Barnes and Chris Miller, inherit the pitching duties as well. They, along with catcher Jake Sullivan have been torrid at the bat.

“I like our team,” he said. “The record may not be quite as good, but it’s your end goal to get back to Yakima. The kids got a taste of (state) last year and would love the opportunity to get back.”

Lakeside graduated five starters, but brings back three All-GNL players. Second-team choice Mike Dunn has moved to catcher. Brenden Herzer is back at shortstop and Zach Templin in center field.

Sullivan isn’t sure if his team will hit like it has in the past. But the Eagles manufactured a 4-2 win over Newport behind sophomore Tyler Moore-Long, despite only one hit. He was impressed with Grizzlies hurler Spenser Douglas.

“He’s a nice little freshman,” Sullivan said. “It was nice to win a tight one. We’re going to have to keep the score down.”

Chewelah swept Newport, winning the first game by a run, and has shown an ability to swing the bat. Kettle Falls, said Sullivan, “has some work to do. We always compete and our goal is the same, to get better as the year goes on.”