Spokane’s shot at its first winning season since 2015 could come down to how the Owls close out games. Coach Craig Foster’s team has already learned that lesson the hard way.
Last fall, Spokane endured an 8-12 season that saw the Owls go 1-4 in one-run ball games. Also, they lost six games in which they led or the score was tied going into the sixth inning.
“Late-inning pressure hurt us,” Foster said. “That was frustrating. But it also showed us how close we are. If we can handle pressure better in those late-game situations, we believe we can take a big step forward.”
All signs point to Spokane being on the verge of a breakout season, most notably the experience the Owls boast.
“This is the most experienced team we have had since I have been here, which should help us in big moments,” Foster said. “I have very high expectations. With the experience we return and the way players approached the offseason, we feel like we have the foundation to be a very solid team.”
The Owls return six starters from a year ago and also welcome back senior third baseman Timothy Rantz, after an elbow injury sidelined him all of last season.
Rantz received all-conference and all-district honors as a freshman and sophomore.
“Getting him back will be huge for us,” Foster said. “We expect him to hit in the three-hole and drive in runs. He’ll contribute both at third base and on the mound. Tim threw extremely well this past fall. He continues to lead by example with how hard he works.”
Rantz will be joined around the infield by catcher Gavin Kildea, first baseman Kash Burk, second baseman Tristan Gold and shortstop Logan Rollings.
Kildea enjoyed a breakout season individually last year, as he batted .372.
“He was our most improved player in every aspect of the game,” Foster said. "Gavin is very athletic and does a great job behind the plate. For a catcher, he moves extremely well and runs the bases at a high level. We expect him to lead off again this spring and be a big part of our offense.”
Rollings burst upon the scene as a .328-hitting freshman last year. He’s also established himself as one of Spokane’s starting pitchers.
“Logan had a very strong freshman season,” Foster said. “On the mound he is extremely composed and sticks to what works for him, consistently filling up the strike zone. Logan will play a major role in our success.”
Burk hiked his batting average from .221 last spring to .305 in the fall.
“Kash really showed what he is capable of this fall,” Foster said. “For us to be successful, we’ll need him to continue producing in the middle of the order. Defensively, having a dependable first baseman can sometimes be overlooked. Kash does an excellent job there and it makes a big difference for our infield.”
Gold enters his fourth season as a starter.
“His defense has consistently improved over the years,” Foster said. "He is probably the most athletic player on our roster. Once he gets on base, he becomes an immediate threat. While he has had some struggles at the plate at times, we believe he has the potential to take a big step forward.”
Spokane’s outfield from a year ago returns intact, with Wyatt Sportsman patrolling center field.
“Wyatt plays center field extremely well,” Foster said. “He gets great reads on the ball, covers a lot of ground, and has a strong arm.”
Kade Burk and Coy Cutbirth are the corner outfielders, with Burk also pitching.
“Kade has the most velocity on our team. His command on the mound has been something he has worked hard to improve,” Foster said. “We started to see that progress this fall. When he is locating his pitches, he is very effective.
“Coy brings a lot of pop to our lineup,” Foster added. “At around 200 pounds of muscle, he provides a strong presence in the middle of our order. He puts in countless hours working on his game and is someone who leads by example. He shows up every day looking to get one percent better, and that work is paying off.”
Newcomers are Landon Dollarhide, Jackson Rantz and Jackson Carroll. All three are pitchers.
Foster is thrilled with his players’ practice habits.
“This group brings a ton of energy every day,” he said. “They have bought into cleaning up some of the little things that have held us back in the past, and they are a very coachable group. We are very excited to get back at it. They truly enjoy this game for all of the right reasons and there is a lot of excitement in the program.”
