GSL Preview Baseball
Pitching
Always the defining position in baseball, and though several of last year’s best graduated, this might be a GSL strength. … Ferris returns its front line of Bud Kittridge, Andy Greenslit and Caleb Rath. …WV is deep, including aces Greg Bradley and Alex Stanley. …U-Hi has a committee led by Adam Smith. …Others to watch – Central Valley’s Jake Swantko, Lewis and Clark’s Eric Barge, Mt. Spokane’s Paul Smith, Mead’s Matt Walsh.
Defense
Strength up the middle for Ferris in infielders Pat Burke and Scott Ward and center fielder Ryan Murphy; and U-Hi, beginning with catcher Ken VanSickle and ending with Mike Conrad in center. … Healthy Jye Lanphere moves back to shortstop for EV. … WV returns its entire team, including infielder Michael Hauschild. … Others to watch – Kevin Schneider, Mead, and outfielder Jacob Acey, Clarkston.
Offense
Hard hit with 12 of last year’s top 16 hitters for average departed, but still some productive veterans. … Hauschild, the league leader at .440 with 10 doubles, and Matt Peterson, .412 top a WV team that has a couple of four-year and six third-year veterans. … Lanphere (.404, four home runs) and Mike Stewart (six triples) of EV, Mead’s Andy Mattingly, Ferris’ Kyle Krustangel and teammate Murphy, and Clarkston’s Acey were all were among varying statistical category leaders last year.
Experience
Some teams have it, some are searching, which makes this year interesting. The Saxons have all but three starters back, and WV graduated nobody. U-Hi is deep and experienced. Everyone else has pieces and is fitting others into place, including Mt. Spokane, whose Mark Purser, an outfielder/pitcher until injured last year, has been relegated to designated hitter for now.
Questions
Will Mt. Spokane and Shadle Park repeat? The defending league champions and district titlists, respectively, have pitching holes to fill if they are to challenge for the top again. Mt. Spokane started well on Tuesday, while youthful Shadle struggled. … Who, then, are the favorites? Ferris, a State 4A qualifier last year with an experienced returning crew, has to be one of them. But there is one less available state berth in the 4A ranks than last year, so the district competition will be tough. … How far can WV go in State 3A? The Eagles last year lost to rival and state qualifier EV, two-hit by the Knights’ strong-armed Bret Riggin in regional. With an experienced team, deep pitching staff and extra state berth, WV coach Don O’Neal wants to challenge for it all. … Speaking of EV, what will it do without Riggin? The graduated pitcher’s 22 career wins were nearly triple any other Knights pitcher and he pitched double the innings and had double the strikeouts of any in school history.
Mike Vlahovich