KITTITAS Kittitas baseball coach Eric Sorensen had to think a bit when asked to describe the type of season he hopes to have in 2017. <\/p>\n
Its not a rebuilding year, he said, after contemplating the question. I think its going to be a year that we can feed off of from last year. <\/p>\n
The Coyotes came ever so close to a fifth-straight state tournament appearance. Instead, a loss to Liberty Bell in a loser-out 2B district tournament game ended their season. <\/p>\n
Story continues below video <\/p>\n
I felt like we didnt achieve what we wanted to, Sorensen said. Districts left a bad taste in everybodys mouth and I remind them from the first day of practice that we have a whole lot more to accomplish. <\/p>\n
Creating chemistry <\/p>\n
This season, the Kittitas coaching staff has made it a point to create more team chemistry early on, starting with more senior leadership. <\/p>\n
The Coyotes feature seven seniors in Travis Ledgard, Tommy Ott, Ben Weber, Jerome Lael, Jace Moen, Dylan Byers and Hunter Wallace. <\/p>\n
Sorensen said it is going to be important for them to set an example for the kind of baseball club they want to become. <\/p>\n
We have a bunch of old guys and then we have a bunch of young guys that will be our future, Sorensen said. We need to have good leadership to teach these new guys what it is about. <\/p>\n
After weeks of being forced inside and watching their baseball diamond slowly thaw out, the Coyotes have been working on team building exercises to create one cohesive unit. <\/p>\n
It can always be better, Sorensen said. If we arent a cohesive brotherhood it doesnt matter how good you are. We are nine guys working as one. <\/p>\n
Finding replacements <\/p>\n
This past Monday, Kittitas finally got its first taste of a damp field when it was able to practice on the elementary school grounds, but there were a few familiar faces missing. <\/p>\n
Over at least the last few seasons, pitcher Jaden Meador, catcher Druw Ledgard and outfielder Eli Eilers have been cornerstones in the program, but they graduated last spring. <\/p>\n
Sorensen found suitable replacements including a three-man pitching rotation made up of seniors Webber, Ott and Travis Ledgard. <\/p>\n
We are going to miss Jaden, Sorenson said. He was a guy you could trust for a Game 1, but the nice part with these three is take your pick. Over the course of a weekend we can have two good starters and a third that can come in and shut the game down. <\/p>\n
Although each could pitch on any given day, each has his own identity. <\/p>\n
I have big shoes to fill, but I think the three of us are going to make a big difference, Travis Ledgard said. <\/p>\n
Balanced lineup <\/p>\n
Kittitas also will feature a balanced lineup that will have Weber at the top to Tyson Dekoning in the middle to junior Nick Meador. <\/p>\n
Another bench player looking to contribute is freshman Justin Hudson. <\/p>\n
We just have guys who can get on base and we will have an overall better lineup, Weber said. <\/p>\n
The Coyotes start their season this afternoon against Selahs junior varsity squad, but throughout the upcoming weeks their opponents will not be as familiar. <\/p>\n
Kittitas entered the brand new Eastern Washington Athletic Conference league this year, and although DeSales has been a perennial powerhouse by winning 11 state championships since 2000, Sorensen said there is going be some great competition. <\/p>\n
We want to have the first league title for this new league, and I think if we dont make it out of districts, we wont be satisfied, Sorensen said. <\/p>\n
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See the original post: KITTITAS Kittitas baseball coach Eric Sorensen had to think a bit when asked to describe the type of season he hopes to have in 2017. Its not a rebuilding year, he said, after contemplating the question. I think its going to be a year that we can feed off of from last year Continue reading
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