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| Herald staff
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| Skye Schillhammer is a senior who plays for the Darrington High School baseball team. Besides being an experienced, versatile ballplayer who has played five positions this season, Schillhammer has worked to make Darrington freshmen feel more accepted. He also has a passion for the outdoors and gets a rush from free-ride/downhill mountain biking. |
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Kevin Brown, Sports Editor
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Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Time Out with Sky Schillhammer
Senior, Darrington baseball
Remember the baseball movie "Field of Dreams?" Skye Schillhammer doesn't need the movie. He has a real field of dreams.
Schillhammer's family owns about 6 acres in Darrington. The land features a baseball field with a backstop, pitching mound and bases.
Schillhammer, a team captain and three-year varsity starter, has used his versatility to help lead Darrington to the Class 2B state tournament. Through last week he had played five positions this spring: pitcher, center field, left field, third base and first base.
No matter where he plays, Schillhammer, a left-hander, said he savors every chance to contribute: "I'm glad I have that choice, that freedom to be wherever I can to help the team."
Coach's corner
As Darrington's No. 1 pitcher, Schillhammer's best skills are intelligence, accuracy and the ability to change speeds, Loggers baseball coach Gibran Smith said.
"I call him our Jamie Moyer. He keeps opposing teams off balance and he's got that sneaky fastball," Smith said of Schillhammer, who has 90 strikeouts in 66 innings.
Inside the number
Schillhammer wears No. 1 on his uniform, the same number his older brother Carl wore at Darrington. It's Skye's tribute to Carl, who helped inspire Skye to play baseball.
"He was a really big leader on every team," Skye said of Carl, who is six years older than Skye.
Getting ready
Here's how Skye Schillhammer said he prepares for a game: "While the other guys are laughing and joking I'm just really getting my mind together. That helps me keep my composure and get my mind on the game."
Showing compassion
Senior baseball teammates treated Schillhammer badly when he was a freshman, Schillhammer said. Those negative memories and hearing a speech last month by the Dalai Lama inspired Schillhammer to improve things for Darrington's current freshmen. Along with other seniors in the school's Hi-Q class, Schillhammer began mentoring freshmen by including them in teamwork activities and skits. It's gone well, he said.
"We wanted to do something that's going to ripple through the rest of our town," Schillhammer said.
Freeridin'
Schillhammer, who is headed to Gonzaga University and plans to major in engineering, has an intense hobby: freeriding, an increasingly popular form of mountain biking that combines downhill trails and jumping. Schillhammer likes to freeride at Galbraith Mountain in Bellingham.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
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