By Chris Parker
Spokane baseball is poised to take a big step forward this season with an experienced lineup returning.
“Our depth and experience (will be strengths),” Spokane head coach Craig Foster said. “We have more depth this year at the varsity level than we have had since I got to Spokane. We have eight or nine guys that will compete for innings on the mound this spring. Our defense has gotten tremendously better, and I believe if you can pitch it well and play good defense, you will give yourself a chance to win. We also have more experience than we have in years past.”
The pitching rotation will feature Ethan Newell (senior), Logan Rollings (freshman), Kade Burk (junior) and Leif Calton (senior).
Foster on Newell: “Ethan became our ace last spring and led our team in nearly every pitching category. Over the summer he tore his labrum, and has been rehabbing that all offseason, however, he is back and ready to go. He does a great job locating all three of his pitches. He is someone who will give us a chance to win against anyone we play when he is at his best. He works incredibly hard for us and holds himself to a very high standard. I am very excited to see what Ethan can do for us this spring.”
Foster on Rollings: “With Ethan being out last fall season, Logan was given an opportunity to earn some varsity innings on the mound as a freshman. He did that and then some. He threw 42 innings for us and had an ERA under 3. He does an incredible job as a freshman staying poised and true to his game. He has a great mindset on the mound, and attacks the strike zone consistently.”
Foster on Burk: “Last spring, Kade had some control issues that held him back, however, he has worked very hard to figure some things out. Last fall he was good for us, and I look forward to watching him have success this spring. Kade stands 6’5 and the ball gets on hitters quick, he also has very good off-speed stuff.”
Foster on Calton: “Leif is a tall lefty with some of the best stuff on our team. Like Kade, in years past, control issues have limited his success. However, late in the fall season he got to where he was pounding the zone consistently and had a lot of success. He has worked hard this offseason, and I am confident in his ability this spring.”
Sophomore Gavin Kildea will handle the catching duties.
Kash Burk (junior first base), Tristan Gold (junior second base), David Blake (senior shortstop) and Rollings (third base) will be the lineup around the infield.
Kade Burk, Wyatt Sportsman (junior), Newell and Coy Cutbirth (sophomore) will be in the outfield depending on who is pitching.
Foster expects leadership to come from Sportsman, Blake and Gold.
Foster on Sportsman: “Wyatt is someone who brings a ton of positive energy to the field on a daily basis. He is very coachable, and is always finding ways to improve himself and our team. He does a good job in the outfield, hits second for us, and throws it well on the mound. Wyatt is always trying to find ways to not only make himself better, but his teammates better as well.”
Foster on Blake: “David holds himself to a very high standard on the field. He is someone that is a hard worker and leads by example. He shows up to work each day looking to get better, and does what is asked of him to the best of his ability.”
Foster on Gold: “Tristan has started at second since his freshman year. We are counting on him to now produce offensively at the top of our lineup. Tristan is very athletic and 175 pounds of muscle. He works very hard at everything he does and like David, leads by example.”
Blake has also been one of the most improved players.
“Last spring was David’s first year playing high school baseball and immediately became our starting shortstop,” Foster said. “He is our best “athlete”. David had some struggles early on last spring, but continued to work hard for us and has become a really good short stop. He is very quick and has a good arm. Offensively, he is becoming more and more confident as he is having more success. This fall David also started five games on the mound and got better every start. He will be someone competing for varsity innings on the mound this spring.”
Designated hitter Dakota Price has also shown improvement.
“Dakota became our designated hitter this fall season,” Foster said. “He went from being someone who was not a consistent starter going into the fall season and ended up hitting clean up and doing very well. He was a line drive machine for us this fall and led our team in a lot of offensive stats. I look for him to continue having this success and then some.”
This roster brings a relentless approach.
“This group is relentless,” Foster said. “They will not quit. We all have the same end goal and our guys have bought into their role on the team. They have great chemistry, and really just enjoy being at the field. This team truthfully is selfless and does everything for each other, not themselves.”
Spokane opens the season on Mar. 21 at Marion C. Early.
“I think if we can become more consistent offensively and do damage with runners in scoring position, our pitching and defense will do its job of keeping us in ball games and giving us a chance to come out on top,” Foster said. “We have not had a 10-win season or a winning record in a long time. I look for this to change this spring. Our guys really do care about the right things, and want to do their part in giving us the best chance to win. They will be a fun group to coach, and I have high expectations for them.”
