By John Leggett
Staff Writer
Things are looking up at Bonney Lake High and “the guys are excited to get the season rolling,” baseball coach Mike Olsen said following practice on a picturesque Plateau evening.
Olson’s disposition is unabashedly sunny because his predominantly senior team is made up a dozen upperclassmen, including seven returning lettermen.
Olson, just two seasons removed from having skippered a squad to the state tournament at Safeco Field, notes that while Panther pitching is deep there isn’t a ton of varsity experience.
Joey Gamache, a 6-foot, 6-inch sophomore left-hander, will see a lot of work, Olson said.
“We haven’t put a (radar) gun on him yet, so I don’t know exactly what his velocity is, but he throws heat,” Olson said. “He is like a bigger, stronger version of Dillon Brown and I can promise you, he has great potential and is going to be getting a lot of innings out on the mound for us this season.”
Senior right-handers include returning Panther pitcher Jared Charbonneau and Sumner High senior transfer Brian Davis, who already has committed to pitch for South Dakota State next year. Charbonneau changes speeds well and creates a lot of ground-out opportunities for the infield.
Olson calls Davis an all-around good pitcher who also will play first base and bat third in the lineup.
Starting at second base will be senior Colton Nash, who also has performed well as a relief pitcher. In 10 performances last season, he recorded a sterling earned-run average of 0.95.
Shortstop is set with Chad Marquez, but Olson has a decision to make at third base. Candidates are senior Jacob Sogolow and sophomore Nate Potterf, who may be sharing catching duties as well. Another senior, Nate Theriault may be part of the scene at third.
The outfield cast includes Cody Hefford, Gus Bammel and Sam O’Leary, with Derek Fugere likely to get the nod in left field, where he was first-team all-league last year.
Fugere could be leading off in the batting order as he hit .408 in 2009 and compiled an impressive on-base-percentage.
