Spring Preview Baseball

Greater Spokane League Bat rule change

As sure as it is spring, you can expect that rain taxes local high school baseball pitching.

In that eventuality, “Then you’re playing five days a week,” Central Valley coach Barry Poffenroth said, “and pitchers don’t get any rest at all.”

But there may be something of an antidote if bad weather backs up games and stretches pitching staffs. New bat specifications could result in more defense. Technically, the acronym BESR (Ball Exit Speed Ratio) has made way for BBCOR.

“Instead of measuring the speed of the ball after it is batted,” U-Hi coach Scott Sutherland explained in an email, “BBCOR measures the ‘bounciness’ of the ball and bat, or the ‘trampoline’ effect.”

In layman’s terms, the new measure has taken some of the “pop” out of new bats that more readily emulate wood ones.

“You will definitely have to meet up with the ball in a smaller sweet spot to make it jump off that bat,” Sutherland wrote of the new models. “I actually like them. (It) allows (players) to concentrate more on getting the fat part of the barrel on the ball. Also, it sounds like wood, for which nothing is better in my opinion.”

Even if local high school pitchers are forced by the weather to work on less rest, the new bats should mean fewer home runs and handle hits.

“Colleges home runs dropped off 50 percent,” Mt. Spokane coach Alex Schuerman said. “I would expect a lot more 5-3, 6-5, 4-2 type games.”

Returning all-league

Pitchers Kelly Fitzpatrick, Mt. Spokane and Nick Bettinson, Shadle Park; Infielders Travis Key, Ferris, and Skyler Lookabill, Mead; outfielder Seth Wolfe, North Central.

Other key players: David Machtolf, p; Matt Miller, 1b; Kane Ullrich, utility; Justin Blatner, p, Gonzaga Prep. Ben Goodwin, inf; Alex Jondal, of; Tim Yoshihara, p, Blake Bozett, inf, Ferris. Tim McBroom, p; Austin Sturgis, p, U-Hi. Nick Sagendorf, p; Dane Crater, c, Mead. Blake Phebus, of; Ben Shoemaker, utility, Shadle Park; Nate Spurbeck, of, Mt. Spokane. Matt Durant, inf, Rogers.

Outlook

Wide open. Most league coaches cite pitching as their strength. The major exception is at defending champion Ferris, where a veteran team has only one proven hurler. “If pitching comes through, we should be in the hunt,” coach Jim Sharkey said. “But after Yoshihara on the mound there are lots of unknowns.” … All eyes will be on WSU-bound Fitzpatrick, Bettinson and Sagendorf. … Numerous teams return six or more starters. Mt. Spokane and University are the least experienced … Key batted .564 and Jondal .434. Trevor Cook hit .457 for CV, Wolfe 417 at NC and Crater .423 at Mead.

Inland Empire League Returning all-league

Mitch Bevacqua, Lake City, who has given an oral commitment to the University of Washington, and Zack Reeder, Post Falls.

Outlook

A year ago Coeur d’Alene compiled a 23-2 record and finished third in state. … The IEL is young this year. … The Vikings graduated half their team, but return five starters. Coach Nick Rook favors Post Falls, but the Trojans’ new coach, Dustin Frank chooses the Vikings. … The Vikings’ strength, wrote Rook in his preseason questionnaire, is depth on the mound. … Post Falls brings back all but three starters. “We have good team chemistry,” Frank wrote in his questionnaire. “We will be strong up the middle and fundamentally sound at all aspects of the game.”

Great Northern League Returning all-league

First team – Jeremy Druffel, Pullman, inf; Mickey Smith, Clarkston, DH. Second team – Adam Paulson, Medical Lake, p; Derek Lane, West Valley, inf; J.T. Phelan, East Valley, util.

Outlook

Last year’s senior-dominated GNL was a three-way fight to the finish. Clarkston reached the State 2A semifinals and after beating state-playoff perennial and regular-season champion Pullman in the quarterfinals. Cheney tied Clarkston for second, but was upset in district. … This year? “The league is always tough, so we’ll have our work cut out for us,” said Blackhawks coach Randy Elam. “I think the usual 3-4 teams Pullman, Clarkston, Cheney will compete for the league title. West Valley will be a team look out for this year.” … Deer Park coach Bryan Schutz wrote that he has three freshman on varsity with the potential to bring up more by midseason.

GSL predicted finish	4. Shadle Park	8. North Central
1. Gonzaga Prep	5. Mt. Spokane	9. Lewis and Clark
2. Ferris	6. University	10. Rogers
3. Mead	7. Central Valley
IEL 5A predicted finish	1. Coeur d’Alene	3. Lewiston
	2. Post Falls	4. Lake City
GNL predicted finish	3. Cheney	6. Medical Lake
1. Pullman	4. West Valley	7. Deer Park
2. Clarkston	5. East Valley