Name: RA Long
City and State: Longview, WA
Head Coach
Ryan Littlefield
Assistant Coaches
Dave Gomez, Jake Knudsen, Tucker Gowan
Who are some key returning players for the team and what do you hope to see from each of them this year?
Junior, 1st Team All League infielder, Jared Childers. Jared will play a pivotal role as a catcher commanding the staff and controlling the run game. He will also look to build on his previous campaign where he hit .394, 22 RBI, 18 R, and only struck out only 3 times. Junior, honorable mention all league infielder Logan Bodily will look to hold down the infield at short stop and improve upon his latest season where he hit .317, 12 RBI, 24 R, and stole 10 bases. Junior, honorable mention all league pitcher Mitchell Lindsey will have a big role as well. Lindsey posted a 2.1 ERA, in a year where he pitched 23 innings and struck out 26 hitters. Other key contributors on the mound should be Logan Goldner (Senior who is returning from Tommy John surgery) and Hunter Brewer (Sophomore who threw 27.1 innings, struck out 30 hitters and had a 3.3 ERA). On the offensive side we should also get key contributions from Logan Dorland and once again Logan Goldner.
Who are some key underclassmen that are moving up in the program and can make an impact? What do you hope to see from each of them this year?
Sophomore, Hunter Brewer made varsity last year and will look to improve upon his previous campaign. Hunter has great talent and work ethic, we are eager to see him master his emotions and not get caught up in the result of every single pitch. Sophomore, Nick Niday spent some time on varsity last year. Nick has a great throwing arm and a breaking pitch with great action. He spent several hours in the weightroom this off-season and is much more physical. He could push for time on offense and defense as his confidence continues to grow. Freshman, Jeff Rooklidge will look to carry on the name in the program. He is a talented pitcher and utility player who swings from the left side. He has great work ethic and pays attention to detail, which could result in immediate playing time on varsity from day one. Freshman, Riley Young is a talented left handed swinger and left handed pitcher. Riley is knowledgeable of situations within the game and does an excellent job controlling the run game despite his age. He should see immediate innings on the mound. He is a great defender at 1st base and is still developing in the outfield.
What areas will you be focusing on early in the season?
Early in the season we will be focusing on situational hitting and defense. Our players have done a nice job putting in time by swinging the bat and throwing/building arm strength. We will continue those things, but we need to focus on defensive fundamentals and be prepared adequately given each plays situational importance as we began the season playing Tumwater, Rochester, Columbia River, Toutle, etc.
What are the expectations and goals for the team in 2023?
This year we expect to compete for a league championship. Last year we built on a very disappointing 2021 campaign that saw us only win 2 games in a shortened season. Last year we finished just below .500 and missed the district tournament by 1 game. Last years roster saw 2 freshman and 6 sophomores play consistently. With everyone a year older and a few more key contributions, we expect to be in the top three in the league and pushing hard to have a chance at the title while making the district tournament. This years success will be determined by how much each player gets caught up in the success of each teammate rather than themselves, as well as how we respond to adversity when things don’t go our way.