When talking about this year’s Redmond High School baseball team, one word you won’t hear fifth-year head coach Dan Pudwill use is “rebuilding.”
“That implies that we don’t have lofty aspirations, which we do,” Pudwill said. “Certainly we graduated a lot of talented seniors and a lot of varsity experience, and we’re not bringing many of those back, but I don’t think talent-wise we’re going to be not too bad off.”
The Mustangs graduated nearly their entire starting lineup from last year’s 18-2 4A Kingco championship team. The outgoing players included four first-team All-Kingco members: second baseman Tim Wilson, pitcher Matt Burrows, utilityman Scott Herman and shortstop Marcus Flynn, the Reporter’s 2007-08 Male Athlete of the Year who hit .424 last spring.
ONE-TWO PUNCH
A great deal of Redmond’s returning senior experience will be at the starting pitcher and catcher positions, namely with upperclassmen left-handed hurler Mac Acker and catcher Drew Fosnes.
“Mac’s a left-handed pitcher, and one that we will lean heavily on,” Pudwill said. “He’s got the ability to be a dominant, top-tier Kingco pitcher, it’s just a matter of him being consistent and trusting what he can do.”
Fosnes was limited to just 13 at-bats last year coming off the bench, but he was part of last year’s state-tournament team and that experience will prove to be invaluable.
“He’s going to be a senior leader behind the plate for us,” said Pudwill of his catcher, who batted .231 last season, mainly as a pinch-hitter. “We’re going to look for a lot of field leadership from him and to consistently hit in the middle of the order.”
Other seniors that will make an impact are Brian Grina at shortstop and Nolan Thomas, state-caliber wrestler who will provide speed and athleticism in center field.
SOPHOMORE STANDOUTS
Pudwill had a number of sophomores try out for the team this year and is pleased with the deep talent pool the youngsters have produced.
The Mustangs will start the season with four sophomores on the varsity squad in Michael Conforto, T.J. Widby, Zach Abbruzza and Dylan Davis.
“They’re talented, no doubt, Pudwill said. “We’ll see if they’re ready for high school varsity baseball. It will be a steep learning curve, but they all have the ability to make it happen and start contributing at this level.”
A big part of the sophomores’ success will undoubtedly hinge on the amount of leadership shown by the team’s upperclassmen.
“All of us seniors are going to have to be leading,” noted Fosnes on the influence they will have over the younger Mustangs. “I pretty much think however I do, and Brian, and Mac, that will relay to the other kids. I just want to play my best and get the other kids to play well.”
One of those kids — Conforto — already has big-game experience as a running back for the Mustangs’ football team.
“It’s cool just having older kids to look up to,” Conforto said. “I think we’ll be pretty good this year. I just want to come in, be energetic, and make stuff happen.”
TEAM BONDING
Just like the Seattle Mariners, the Mustangs will be looking to build team camaraderie early in the year.
The Mustangs will hit the road and play exhibition games against Eisenhower of Yakima March 20 at 3 p.m. on March 20 before taking on Wenatchee in a 1 p.m. matchup Saturday at the Apple Bowl Facility.
“We’re going to work on team-building and team defense, (situational) hitting, and fulfilling the role that you have,” said Pudwill, adding that his sluggers will need to learn how to go the other way and lay down a bunt if needed. “We’d like to win our conference, and repeat as Kingco champions… play at Safeco Field and win a state title.”
Added Acker, “I want to make it to state. That’s a reasonable goal, I think that’s not too far-fetched.”
