18-year baseball drought ends

New, untested, and ready to compete.

Clark College's baseball team strides toward the first game of the regular season on April 2 against Tacoma, which is the first time since 1992 the Penguins will send out nine players to man the field.

According to head coach Don Freeman, the team now has about 40 players from the original 70 in the fall. Over winter break, 12 players dropped from practices and tryouts, which Freeman said is typical for a community college team.

"Kids just disappear," Freeman said. "All junior colleges have this problem."

Although some have given up, Freeman acknowledges that this team is full of dedicated players.

Tyler Tum is an outfielder and pitcher which Freeman said is rare to find in community college baseball. He said shortstop JJ Johnson is a great asset to the team. While he described Nick Cole as a "power-hitting" outfielder.

"They are all awesome kids," said Freeman. "They do a great job."

Freeman said, because it will be their first season, he wasn't sure how well the team would perform. He said players dropping make it difficult to judge, but expects with their outstanding pitching, the Penguins will do OK.

Clark pitcher Eric Weir said he is looking forward to the season despite not being as ready as he would like to be.

Assistant coach Rip Ramsey believes the team is very competitive and excited to start the season.

"We are not going to just show up at the games because it's our first season," Ramsey said. "We're going to compete."

Freeman expects good crowds at home games. Along with the usual family and girlfriends attending, he said people have been very excited to watch this new team.

Construction began on Clark's baseball field in early fall. Freeman enlisted the labor of his players but he said weather halted the project.

Quail Homes, the construction company working on the field pro bono, can't get a tractor on the baseball diamond, according to Freeman. He said the project probably won't be finished until mid season.

"With only four dry days to start working we can't get much done," Freeman said. "It's a good thing we don't play at home until March."

According to Clark's website, the field hasn't been played on for 18 years.

Freeman said, because the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges uses wooden bats, instead of metal, they shortened Clark's field.

Along with shortening the fences, Freeman said their focus is to get bleachers ready for the fans. But he said they also have to put in filling and draining tiles behind the concrete walls, put in mating and gravel for the bleachers, and wait for the grass seed planted in October to grow.

Ramsey said, in the mean time, the team practices in two different indoor locations in Vancouver. The first official, outside practice was held on Monday.

"A lot of kids can be dedicated if the practices are indoors," said Ramsey. "Outdoor practices are the real test, especially in this weather."

Freeman said a few former major league players will be coming to h elp coach the team. The players are Randy Myers, Tom Mcgraw, Richie Sexson and Alan Embree.

"There are a lot of local baseball players and supporters," said Freeman. "They really help."

Contact Maggie McRae at m.mcrae@students.clark.edu.