Going Deep Baseballs Will Be Flying When Nic Steps Up To The Plate - And When Its Pitchers Take Mound

They will score more runs and field better than last year’s team.

But pitching? That’s a touchy subject with North Idaho College baseball coach Jack Bloxom.

“I don’t want to use the word ‘skeptical’, but I would have gone to the bank with our pitching staff last year,” Bloxom said.

Well, a pitching-poor Cardinals team finished 16-23 - even with University of Arizona-bound Jason Ford and Shawn Barrington - leaving Bloxom bankrupt.

When pressed, Bloxom will offer, “Potentially, we’re not as good on the mound as last year, but I think we will be better than last year. Well, I hope so.”

Bloxom, whose team entertains Pierce Community College today and Sunday for noon doubleheaders, stresses that pitching is only one-third of the game. He speaks highly of NIC’s offense and defense.

“We’re better defensively at three or four spots and as good at the others as last year,” Bloxom said.

The Cardinals opened the season by getting past Skagit Valley twice last weekend.

In the opener, leadoff hitter Mark Collins led off with a double and was singled home by Jerud Martin.

“We’ll start a lineup with all nine kids who can hit it out of here,” Bloxom said. For that reason, the Cards will be fairly passive on the bases, “because the last thing we want to do is get a kid nailed trying steal second and the next kid hits it off the wall.”

Most likely to dent the wall, and occasionally clear it, is sophomore center fielder Tristan Fike. Fike, who sat out last season because of academic deficiencies, returns as NIC’s top prospect.

“He can run, hit, hit with power and he throws well enough to play center field,” Bloxom said.

Collins and sophomore Jeff Danton are likely to share left field, with Danton probably playing there when he’s not catching. Sophomore Evan Metz should see most of the duty behind the plate.

Neither Danton nor Metz batted higher than .228 last year, but Bloxom said he, “expects both to have great years.”

Around the infield, lefty Chris McGregor will be at first with Martin, a Walla Walla transfer, and his brother, Josh, at second and short, respectively. Ryan Tarasoff and Jason Bartell are battling at third.

Jeremy Mort of Post Falls backs up all infield spots.

Sophomores Steve Schorzman, from Lind, Wash., and Jason Bowles should anchor the pitching staff. Walk-on Paul Decelle is the likely closer. Billy Ryan of Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene’s Shelby Hawkins and Sandpoint’s Trevor Neville will vie for innings.

“I’ll really be excited about this year - if our pitching staff keeps us in ballgames,” Bloxom said.