Pioneer Baseball: New faces, high expectations
by Corey Long
It's a good time to be a part of the Lewis & Clark College Baseball Program, according to Head Coach Gerry Gatto.
"For the first time we have a full roster, and this is the best freshman class I have seen since the early nineties," said Gatto. "The team is very cohesive and has a good attitude."
After seven pre-season games, the Baseball team is 3-4-1 and is well on the way to being ready for its season opener March 10th against Puget Sound. The roster includes many new faces and, as it is with every team, the pre-season is a time for everyone to get comfortable playing with one another.
Among these new faces are two players who are sure to add to an already stellar Pioneer defense while also offering some punch to different parts of the batting order. Sophomore Chris Webb, from Perth, Australia, brings some slick infield skills and will likely be a fixture at third base. He also adds a solid bat to the middle of the batting order. The addition of Webb allows last year's third baseman, junior Jason Echternach to move to shortstop. This shift moves last yearís shortstop sophomore Matt Peligrino to second base; as he is also one of the teams top two pitchers, the luxury of him not having to make the long throw from the shortstop position cannot be understated. Webb's arrival has made this improvement possible.
The other newcomer to step into a starting role is speedy centerfielder and freshman Keala-Joe Fujimori. As well as being a gifted outfielder, Fujimori gives the Pioneers their first legitimate leadoff hitter in years. His speed and increasing ability to lay down good bunts is a valuable asset to a team that is infamous for having difficulties in both areas.
As was mentioned, both Webb and Fujimori contribute to what is undoubtedly the Pioneersí strongest facet: defense. Along with Webb, Echternach and Peligrino, the Pioneer infield is solid with established veterans like senior Chris Masagatani at second base and juniors Bill Allen and Aaron Howard at first. The outfield, which is entirely re-invented from last year, consists of Fujimori in center, the Pioneerís most dangerous hitter senior Rob Broberg in left and the much-improved junior Jake Blasquez in right. Gatto has nothing but praise for both.
"Jake is dramatically improved defensively and has a great arm," said Gatto. "Rob is our MVP and has adjusted to the outfield with no problems."
A monkey wrench may have been thrown into this outfield configuration, however. During the rain-drenched game against St. Martin's last Sunday, Broberg injured his arm in his first stint as a starting pitcher. He had seen pitching action last year as a reliever, and he was slated to be the Pioneersí closer this season. A bad arm would limit his roles both in the outfield and out of the bullpen.
In fact, the injury bug seems to be rearing its ugly head early and often for the Pioneers. Along with Broberg, both of the teamís catchers, seniors Drew Moore and Brian Tull are walking wounded. Tull has a bad throwing arm and Moore badly cut his thumb blocking a ball in the dirt last Sunday. Gatto stressed the importance of this position, and how one or both of his guys behind the plate will have to step up and lead the club in a defensive role.
As for the pitching staff, it will be the wild card that will make or break the Pioneers this season. It is clear they will have great defense and a decent offense, but how well their pitching staff will do is still a mystery. Peligrino and Allen compose the nucleus of the staff, but the number three starterís job is still open according to Gatto. Senior Dan Floyd made a successful bid to fill the job with his first start of the season two weeks ago against Concordia.
Floyd, seniors Doug Reed and Jeff Armour-Rodgers bring great experience to the staff and a good lefty-righty combination out of the bullpen. All three, along with transfer Adam Patenaude, will have to take the reins and pitch to their full potential for the squad to flourish this season. These upperclassmen are joined by freshmen Justin McCloskey, Korey Johnson and, who Gatto calls "the season's biggest surprise," Justice Poling.
Gatto expressed his admiration of all the freshmen on this yearís team. Their hard work and positive attitudes they have brought have been a real bright spot for the program. Along with Poling, he mentioned the impression that infielder/outfielder Andrew Meade and catcher Dan Barth have made on him.
"Barth is a hard worker and Meade is a line drive, gap hitter that jumps out at you," he says.
The new faces on the club also include that of assistant coach Scott Anderson, who joins Gatto and his pitching coach of five seasons Mick Ellet.
"Scott spent seven years in the pros and he brings confidence, a great attitude and he works well with the players on an individual basis," says Gatto.
All these new faces, combined with the experience the team already possess gives promise for a competitive season for the Pioneers. The beauty of this squad is that all but seven are likely to return next season. The present and the future do, indeed, look good.
The Pioneerís next home games will be Saturday March 17 against George Fox. They travel to Puget Sound to start the regular season this weekend. First pitch on the 17th is at Noon at the Huston Sports Complex.
Pios skins Cats, join sweet 16
by Corey Long
A person attending her first basketball game turned to me minutes before the tip-off of Saturdayís NCAA Division III Tournament game between Lewis & Clark and Linfield and said: "This is like war!"
Was she ever right.
The atmosphere in Pamplin was, indeed, war-like as these heated rivals squared off to determine who would earn the right to travel to Chicago as part of the ìsweet sixteenî colleges left to battle for the NCAA Division III Menís Basketball Championship. As introductions took place, and tension built within every one of the 1,600 people in attendance, the only question left was which participant in this war would flourish under such pressure-filled conditions.
It took less than five minutes to find the answer.
The Pioneers went on a 8-0 run and, after five minutes of play had built a 12-5 lead. By half-time their lead was up to 19 and they never looked back, going on to beat the Wildcats 101-89.
Scoring came from everywhere for the Pioneers, as each of their starting five were in double digits for points. Junior Jeff Auxier lead the way with 30 and sophomore Kristofer Speier added 20, along with 18 rebounds. Sophomore Colin Oriard had 17, while sophomore John Mietus and junior Scott Davis added 15 each. Both Speier and Mietus were dominant under the baskets and, at certain points, Auxier and Oriard took matters into their own hands with court-long rushes and key field goals. As a team, Lewis & Clark had a .544 shooting percentage compared to Linfiedís .368. This was a big factor in the first half, as Linfield could not seem to sink anything, including easy lay-ups. As a team they shot only .200 from the floor. The Pioneers took full advantage, building a comfortable lead to take with them into the second half.
ìIt was a complete team effort,î said Head Coach Bob Gaillard. ìIt is hard to play a team as good as Linfield four times. We went with our most experienced guys and they stepped up.î
Stepped up, indeed. The Pioneers just did everything better than Linfield on this night.
That included cheerleading. Tastefully adorned in a shiny blonde wig and appealing orange body paint, LC's All-American football star Jason Hill lead the squad with an aerial display of flips and poses that made the Linfield cheerleaders look like a collection of rejects from the Martha Stewart School of Cheerleading. These girls were dumb, too. Even after their team fell behind by twenty points they kept doing their pathetic little chants and primitive dance routines trying to stir up a section of fans that knew better than to cheer.
In all seriousness, school spirit was a big factor in this contest and the LC community stepped up to provide the Basketball Team with the support it needed in such a crucial contest.
"The crowd offered great support," said Gaillard. "That was the most energy I have ever seen in Pamplin."
The team will travel to Chicago to take on Chicago College today. Ranked number one in the nation, Chicago College has one 47 of their last 48 at home. The Pioneers' work will certainly be cut out for them. If they win, they will play again Saturday. Regardless of the outcome of this weekendís games, the Menís Basketball Program should be proud of its outstanding accomplishments, as well as the excitement it generated on campus last weekend and throughout this past season. Well done guys. The College is proud!
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Space limitations lessen hope for any varsity soccer at LC
by Rob Sholars & Sierra Santoyo
Varsity soccer is visibly missing from Lewis & Clarkís sports roster. Insufficient playing fields, a lack of lights and administrative concerns are some of the major complications that must be addressed before a soccer program could be instated. School officials are hopeful of a resolution in the near future but current students may graduate before varsity soccer becomes a reality at LC.
A fundamental problem is that there are not enough fields to support a soccer program. Athletic Director Steve Wallo says that two additional fields would be needed.
Possible locations include property near the cemetery and property the College owns next to the Houston Sports Complex. Lewis & Clark officials are currently negotiating the purchase of the cemetery property. Land use and zoning issues complicate this process.
Wallo said the space next to the Houston Sports Complex could be turned into a field as early as next fall.
In conjunction with the two new fields, lights would become necessary at Griswold Stadium.
ìLights would extend the practice hours beyond sunset on Griswold Field, which comes early most of the year,î said Jane Atkinson Lewis & Clarkís vice president and provost.
Lights also come with their own set of problems. Besides costing approximately $400,000, the neighboring community has expressed concern with light pollution.
Once field and light and concerns have been addressed the next step is players. To be competitive in the Northwestern League one full recruiting year would be needed according to Wallo.
ìA JV team would be a stepping stone for the varsity program,î he said.
Due to Title IX concerns, a womenís program would be added first to balance participation numbers. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funds.
Not to be forgotten is club soccer. While it does receive funding from Associated Students of Lewis & Clark and the Physical Education Department, it cannot be put to use because the team has nowhere to play or practice.
"We don't have any facilities. There are two soccer goals but we donít have access to the field at any time," said LC junior Graham Gilbert.
Club participation is low due to these problems. Last yearís club team disbanded after daylight savings time because it could no longer practice.
President Michael Mooney, Steve Wallo, and Jane Atkinson are working towards a resolution. The wheels are turning but adding a varsity program takes time and careful planning. Current students may not see the fruits of this labor.
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