The Olympian

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Sports

The 2008 Olympic College baseball team is gearing up for spring, and is eager to show the North Division how much things have changed since last year.
The Rangers have a lot to prove after a dismal 2007 season, in which they finished 2-45-1. With a longer and better-orchestrated recruiting period going into this season, and an almost entirely new cast of characters, the men like their chances.
"We're young, but we've got experience in the right places," said head coach Ryan Parker. "That's going to allow us to be pretty successful this year."
Only six of last year's players are back for the 2008 season, including star pitcher Mike Miller and top outfielder Derek Baer. After a full year of recruiting, rather than the two short months afforded prior to last season, the field of newcomers is wide and deep, boasting freshman talent such as shortstop Nick Mareno, catcher Sam Evanovich, pitcher Steven Gallagher and utility player Danny Hennigs.
After a losing start in 2007, Parker saw his team slip into a funk from which they would ultimately never recover.
"There was just no fight in the guys," said Parker. "About six games in, I felt like they just kind of hung it up for the year."
The 2008 squad, by contrast, needs little more than the memory of last season to get them fired up.
"We were a two-win team last year," Parker said, "That says it all right there. These guys - the sophomores especially - don't want to go through that again."
With morale looking good, the coaches and players have been focusing recently on developing their skills on the field. They have been able to take their practices outdoors since late January, as weather conditions continue to improve. The bats may still need some work, but Parker says his hitters' timing has been getting better in recent weeks. He is optimistic too, regarding pitching and defense.
"Our pitching was our strength last year," said Parker. "We just didn't have the defense to go with it. Now, our defense is much improved this year. So if our pitching can at least do what they did last year …and our defense is solid, we're going to be good."
Parker hopes that his organization can continue on an upward swing this season and in years to come, as the team wins and builds on its present situation.
Their first test will be Saturday, March 1, at 1 p.m. at Legion Field, against the always-talented Green River Community College.

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