Darrington baseball player Brevin Ross

Brevin Ross played a big part in turning the Darrington High School boys basketball program around, helping the Loggers go from a team that won just three games in 2016-17 to sharing the league title this past season.

This spring he was hoping to be part of a similar turnaround for Darrington’s baseball team. The recent graduate, who spent most of his time on the Loggers’ baseball squad playing shortstop, was set to be a key component in an improved Darrington team. That was before the coronavirus outbreak forced the cancellation of spring sports.

Ross spoke about the baseball season that could have been, how baseball compares to basketball, and the view from the Darrington baseball field in the latest edition of The Herald’s spring sports senior salutes:

You were primarily a shortstop, but I understand you were looking at a different role this season?

I just started catching. We lost a great senior who was our catcher. This year we needed to fill the hole, and we had a lot of backups for shortstop and not a lot of backups for catcher, so I decided to see if I could be flexible. I had a good throw to second.

What are you going to miss most about playing baseball for Darrington?

Being out in the sun. Being on our baseball field, which has one of the best views in the state of Washington (it looks directly at Whitehorse Mountain). Having fun at the end of the school year, chilling out and watching Mariners games, and just staying outside in the springtime.

(The view) is something the umps talk about, how we’re so lucky to be practicing under a view like that. Whenever we have timeouts or breaks it’s hard not to daze off and look at the view around you.

You were also a star on Darrington’s boys basketball team, earning league MVP honors for a Loggers team that tied for first in the Northwest 2B/1B Conference. Which sport do you prefer, baseball or basketball?

Personally, I like basketball more. I think I’m better at it, more leadership roles come in basketball, and we had a really good season this year. But I really enjoy the baseball season after it. I like that breathe-out moment, and in basketball you’re stuck inside all the time, while with baseball the weather will kick up and you get to be outside. I relax more playing baseball.

You played five years of varsity baseball, including when you were in eighth grade. What’s it like being an athlete in a smaller town like Darrington?

I grew up around the same guys who I play high school sports with. It’s not like big schools, where you can meet someone new every day. I’ve been around these guys forever, and it’s too bad we didn’t get to have that one last bus ride to put a period on the end of the sentence.

What’s next for you?

I’m going to Central Washington University in Ellensburg to further my education in construction management, or likely to become a teacher.

Why those?

When I was younger I wanted to be an architect and enjoyed the creativity in the job. But I definitely want to be a teacher. Almost everyone in my family is a teacher, so I think it’s natural, but it’s also important to pass the torch of furthering the generation. It’s special being able to help someone achieve their goal. I’ve found that in sports, too.