Baseball team hopes to start season strong

If the Blaine High School varsity baseball team can successfully fill a few holes, its well-rounded squad should be poised for another playoff run.

Though some key players are missing from last year’s team, which had an 11–9 regular season record (8–5 in conference games), eight seniors with a lot of varsity experience are back. Senior pitcher Colby Knutzen and outfielder/third baseman Chase Abshere have played on varsity since they were freshman and will likely lead the team.

“There’s a lot of seniors and a lot of leadership so we have high expectations,” said head coach Tanner Olson.

The Borderites won their March 12 season-opener 5–4 against Squalicum at Joe Martin Stadium in Bellingham.

Olson expects pitching to be a strength for the team. Knutzen, who signed a letter of intent to pitch at Centralia College, will lead the team on the mound. He was injured for much of last season but has focused on pitching and grown stronger and quicker in the off-season, Olson said.

Ben Wallen, an accurate pitcher with a good curve ball and a 2–0 record last year, will start the season as the number two pitcher. Those two senior righties will share time with three junior lefties – Tobin Akre, Tyler Haggith and Griffin King.

At-bat, Olson doesn’t see any holes in his lineup. “Pretty much everyone in our lineup has had varsity experience and has seen varsity pitching,” he said.

Speedy Knutzen will leadoff, followed by King, Abshere, and Hayden Dohner.

Justin Saunders has taken over as catcher. He’s a sophomore with no varsity experience, but Olson calls him “a quiet leader” and the right guy for the job.

The team has a few moving parts to work out on the field before conference play starts; who will take over the pitchers’ second positions when they’re on the mound is a puzzle.

“We have guys who are really good athletically and we can fill all those roles, it’s just a matter of figuring it out in the beginning of the season,” Olson said. “If we can get off to a good start and keep that confidence going through the playoffs I think we could be really successful this year.”

Blaine’s next game starts at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, at Pipeline Fields against Mariner High School from Mukilteo.