Mariners warming up to rebuild
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MISSION VALLEY — The Mission Valley Mariners are dusting off their mitts, stretching out their throwing arms and hitting the batting cage preparing to take the field in uniform for the 2015 season.
Though a building season is in order, Head Coach Jami Hanson is optimistic about the M’s future while taking the boys back a step or two to work on fundamentals and the little things that make up Mariners’ success.
“The biggest thing with these guys is that they’re so young, they don’t realize where they are stepping in to and they’re going to be kind of fun to watch,” Hanson said. “We’re just trying to mold the kids into what we need them to be.”
After graduating nine players last season, the M’s are looking toward their younger B squad to move up and fill the gap, but not without the aid of a few return starters, including two time all-conference first baseman TJ Olson, second baseman Jacob Harrod, outfielder Bransen Krebs and pitcher Derek Peel. Peel threw a no hitter last season when Libby hosted the Big Bucks tourney.
Harrod, in his fourth year of Mariners baseball, is excited for the opportunity to work with his new teammates and after last year’s State ride, will bring experience to help mentor the younger team.
“We lost a lot of talent from last year but we’ve got young talent coming up, which will help,” Harrod said. “Jami’s a good coach; he’s always got a way to get us to where we need to be. It’s going to be tough but hopefully this year we can rebuild and come back.”
Also returning is a big bat that came off of the bench last season. Nyqolas Gillingham proved he could compete with the best of them after receiving a game MVP at the State Tournament last year.
While trying to fill big shoes as the reigning District champs, the Mariners are putting in the practice time and readying themselves for a possible State run but will need to get through Districts first, which will be hosted at home. They will also prepare to host their annual Firecracker tourney over the Fourth of July weekend, with 10 teams already on board to compete.
The State tournament will be held in Kalispell. Hanson believes if they can get their foot in the door, they just may have a chance, especially when they can come home after each game and sleep in their own beds — something considered an advantage for a team that spends a good part of their season on the road in hotels.
“Its all going to come down to how far and how quickly they come around,” Hanson said about postseason hopes. “You’ve got to win it to be in it so we’ve got to win Districts to take a trip to Kalispell.”
For now bullpens will be full, batting cages will see some swinging and grounders will be practiced as the M’s work on what Hanson says are “straight fundamentals” as they creep closer to a late April opening weekend at the Eureka-hosted round robin.
“(Assistant coach) John and I are pretty optimistic with everything,” Hanson said. “A lot of these kids, especially the ones that played last year, are stepping up a little bit and we’re starting to see some baseballs getting hit pretty hard at the barn.”
For Harrod, Mariners baseball is nothing less than fun, and spending the summer on the diamond is well worth the hard work.
“We always have a good time together and Jami always has fun with us,” he said. “A lot of people I guess don’t understand the commitment, but it’s worth it. It’s just a lot of fun.”
