As the days went by during his senior baseball season at Lake Stevens High School, Matt Fields began to wonder if he’d achieve his dream of playing Division I College baseball.
Despite his two-year reign on the mound, the four-year colleges weren’t calling. As he was weighing his community college options, Gonzaga University made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
Fields, who finished his senior season 8-1 with a 1.40 earned run average, signed a letter of intent earlier this month to pitch for the Bulldogs.
“I was all right with playing at a community college, but my ultimate goal was to play for a four-year school,” said Fields, who also hit over .400 and played shortstop when he didn’t pitch. “It took a lot of weight off my shoulders when I finally signed.”
According to Fields, Gonzaga coaches told him he’d be given a chance to hit, something he enjoys almost as much as pitching.
Fields increased the velocity of his fastball during the last year, hitting 90 miles per hour on the radar gun several times this season.
Though some fireballers tend to hit the backstop as much as the catcher’s mitt, Lake Stevens coach Rodger Anderson said control is Fields’ best asset. Fields can throw his fastball, splitter, curve and changeup for strikes. The splitter has often been used as his out pitch.
“When his splitter is working, it just drops right off the table,” Anderson said. “… It’s pretty unusual to see a high school pitcher who can throw four pitches for strikes.”
Edmonds hoping for better fields: Among the items in the $44 million levy the Edmonds School District hopes voters approve tonight is $8.5 million for athletic fields and playground equipment.
“Many of our outdoor facilities are in great need of drainage, irrigation and grading improvements,” reads a flyer distributed by Terri McMahan, the Edmonds District Athletic Director.
Among the improvements would be FieldTurf infields for the Edmonds-Woodway softball field and Mountlake Terrace baseball field. The E-W baseball field would receive lights and an improved drainage system. All-weather tracks would be installed at Lynnwood and Meadowdale.
According to the flyer, the tax rate would be lower than the 2003 rate and continue to decrease over the next four years if the levy is approved.
South Whidbey’s Russell signs: South Whidbey’s Bronwyn Russell has signed a letter of intent to play college softball at St. Mary’s in Moraga, Calif. Russell, who has a 4.0 grade point average, will receive a combination athletic and academic scholarship. She is a two-time all-North Cascades Conference second baseman.
Cascade coaches get double duty: Eric Smith, currently the boys swim coach at Cascade, will also coach the girls for the 2004-05 school year. Girls tennis coach Jennifer Kink will coach both the boys and girls tennis teams next year.
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