Season Preview

Evergreen State College baseball returns for a 4th year. In it’s short 3 year history, Evergreen has only one win under it’s belt and it came last year in the season finale against Seattle University. This season marks a new era of Geoduck baseball as only 3 players return from last year’s roster, and only 1 of whom saw considerable playing time on the field. Ex-player Kip Arney was brought back after graduating last year to take over the on field coaching duties and try and turn this program around. Evergreen has been the bottom feeders of the competitive Northern Pacific Conference West. The conference consists of 6 teams spanning both the states of Washington and Oregon. Western Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Seattle University, Evergreen State College, University of Oregon, and Central Oregon Community College. In the previous years, Western and U of O have been battling for the top spot in the conference and both entered the year ranked in the top 10 nationally with Oregon being ranked as high as 3rd. And after a surprising start from Seattle, including stealing 2 of 3 from Oregon down in Eugene last weekend, they received some national attention as their school entered the “others receiving votes” category in the polls.

Evergreen State welcomes back sophomores Zack Newman (first base) and Nat Hagood (third base/pitcher). Also returning for his final season is senior shortstop Antonio Olguin who will also see some time on the mound this year. With so few players coming back from last year’s squad, Arney looks at this team as a new beginning. “All the players from the teams of the past were the same core group of players that came in together as freshman so they left together as seniors, which means this team has a realistic chance to erase the negative atmosphere that hangs around the names Evergreen State and baseball when those two words are put together.

This team features an array of players that stretch the nation from Massachusettes to Georgia, from Montana to New Mexico, along with a few players from the home state of Washington.

A few players of note:

Pitcher/SS Trevor Kinahan out of Georgia brings a flawless glove and excellent power to the field and Kip looks for him to step up as a leader of this squad.

3B/OF Ty Elliston from Massachusettes is a solid linedrive and contact hitter and will be relied upon to wreak havoc on the basepaths.

P/OF/3B Gavin Dahl, a local kid, brings an infectious positive attitude with a strong desire to play all day everyday and a rocket for an arm, which will soon be realized by other teams and they’ll think twice about running on him when he’s roaming the outfield.

1B Zack Newman hails from California and brings with him a vacuum disguising as a first baseman’s mitt. Is quoted for having said he “likes to crowd the plate because he has no problem taking one for the team.”

SS/OF/P Antonio Olguin of New Mexico would receive a ten out of ten if points were awarded for style. A true 5 tool player with speed, power, great glove, can hit for contact, and pitch.

OF/P Ian Pereida-Perry from California is a scrappy player with a dependable bat and speed to burn in the oufield. His recent injury will definitely be felt until his return.

C Dan Visser brings smarts and a tremendous arm behind home plate. Even though up till today he was ineligible to play in the games, he still practiced with the team and his leadership is obvious and Kip will rely on him to be an on the field general.

Season Outlook

With the lack of a homefield (home games are played at Olympia High School and practices are held at neighboring parks or just on campus in a flat land of grass), the Evergreen State ball club doesn’t get the facilities it deserves but never complains. In the past Evergreen has fell victim to the 10 run slaughter rule too many times to count where if one team is leading by ten or more runs after 5 innings, the game is finished. Kip has made it very clear that he’s not expecting miracles but this year’s goal “is to play a complete 9 or 7 inning game every time out.” If the team can stay close, the stigma of losing big will fade away and the team will develop a belief in themselves that hasn’t been there in the past.