North Central Second Baseman Hopes This Is His Winning Season

If it weren’t for all the one-run baseball games, North Central’s Ryan Corigliano would be enjoying his senior season even more.

The third-year varsity player is batting .470 for a team that has been involved in eight single-digit games in 11 Greater Spokane League outings.

“He’s just a nails kid, possibly the best athlete in school,” said his coach, Scott Harmon.

Unfortunately, five of those one-run games have been losses.

But there’s no quit in Corigliano, who had three hits last week during two of the one-run setbacks.

This is, after all, a student who hasn’t missed a day of high school.

“Both my parents (Bill and Dixie Corigliano) are teachers in the East Valley school district and impressed upon me the importance of attendance,” he said. “Whenever I get home the first thing mom says is, ‘What do you have for homework?”’

If it seems like Corigliano has been playing baseball in high school forever, there’s an explanation.

His cousin Brett was a three-year player at Shadle Park, graduating in 1995, and Ryan has been in the NC lineup ever since.

Both were middle infielders, Brett an all-GSL shortstop, Ryan playing both short and second base, his current position.

The two played whiffle ball together at the family’s lake cabin, but have always played against each other in organized ball.

Each has a distinctly different style in the way they bat and throw.

“It’s weird that we’re related,” said Ryan.

Shadle had the upper hand when the two teams met, including one game when Brett, “smacked the ball by me for the winning runs,” Ryan says.

But Ryan had the satisfaction of being the first to hit a home run.

“He never hit one in high school,” said Corigliano. “I hit one my sophomore year and called him up to tell him. He didn’t talk to me much after that.”

Brett is finishing up his sophomore year at Wenatchee Valley Community College and has remedied the home-run situation. Ryan could follow his footsteps.

After batting around .230 for the Indians as a junior, he’s been getting the job done this year.

“He had a horrible spring, but a tremendous summer,” said Harmon. “His confidence carried over and he’s swinging it like he can.”

None of Corigliano’s North Central teams have had great success, a fact he’d like to remedy his senior season in baseball.

“The last three years have been kind of a slump for us,” said Corigliano. “It’s our time to come out with a winning record.”

The 4-7 Indians have five games remaining to accomplish the goal after suffering through a series of gut-wrenching outings.

“Just one or two plays could have turned the games around,” he said.

Losses resulted from errors or a lack of timely hitting. One came in extra innings. Three were decided in the seventh, including last week’s five-run rally by Mead.

There were also two come-from-behind wins and a third in which the team held off Ferris after leading 7-3 in the seventh inning.

“Hopefully we can have a good season yet,” said Corigliano, “and make the playoffs.”

If Corigliano’s intensity rubs off on the team, said Harmon, they will.

“Ryan’s never been on a winning team,” Harmon said. “That’s all he desires.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo