Friday Harbor High baseball ‘on-deck’ for state title | Spring sports preview

March 17, 2017 8:48 pm
Contributed photo/Emma Wickman Left to right: Top row: Marshall Clark, Corbin Williams, James Guard, Eli Cooper-West, Jaden Jones, and Gavin Flaum. Bottom Row: Yadir Plaza, Rio Black, Alen Melic, Nick Clark, Ethan Germain, Ty Anderson and Gavin Mason.
Contributed photo/Emma Wickman Left to right: Top row: Marshall Clark, Corbin Williams, James Guard, Eli Cooper-West, Jaden Jones, and Gavin Flaum. Bottom Row: Yadir Plaza, Rio Black, Alen Melic, Nick Clark, Ethan Germain, Ty Anderson and Gavin Mason.

By Emma Wickman

Journal intern

Spring sports at Friday Harbor High are underway, and so is the baseball team. Their first practice was on Feb. 28, and they have been batting in the gym and fielding balls on the field, and overall putting in work for the upcoming season.

The baseball team is again coached by Rich Warin and Steve Schramm, who have surpassed the 20-year benchmark.

When asked about the team’s first practice, coach Warin said, “It was lovely — 14 young men with weapons all around me. I feel very good about the season.”

(The coach refers to baseball bats as “weapons.”)

When asked about their coaching staff, senior Eli Cooper-West commented, “We are very happy with them. We have all the pieces to ensure that we are a successful team.”

There are four seniors on the team this year; Corbin Williams, Eli Cooper-West, James Guard and Kai Herko. The team consists of boys from all grades and all ages.

The team is coming off of a state appearance last year when they got the chance to go to the regional playoffs – the first round of state. The boys placed fifth, with one win and one loss in the 2016 season.

“We won one game and lost one game at state,” said Cooper-West. “We were down 4-0 at the top of the seventh inning, then we came back to win it in the bottom of the seventh 6-4. It was amazing.”

When asked about the goals for this season, Williams said, “…to work hard and win state.”

His coach had a similar reply when asked the same thing.

“We have a real shot at the state title — that is our main goal for the season,” said Warin.

The two seniors talked about their team’s condition as of right now.

“We’ve got a long way to go with the younger kids,” said Cooper-West. “There are lots of people competing for spots.”

“It’s all healthy competition between the team,” Williams added.

The boys will be playing at Hartman Field again this year. They won their first game on Saturday, March 11 against Mt. Baker, 11-2.

Boys Baseball Schedule

3-11 Mt. Baker 12:00

3-17 Sultan 4:30

3-18 Forks 11:30

3-22 Sedro-Wooley 4:00

3-27 @ University Prep 3:45

3-30 Darrington 4:45

4-03 @ Coupeville 4:00

4-11 Concrete 4:45

4-14 Orcas TBD

4-18 La Conner 4:45

4-21 @ Darrington 4:00

4-28 @ Concrete 5:00

5-2 @ Orcas 4:00

5-6 @ La Conner 1:30