Scots struggle to find themselves

Will the real Shorecrest Scots please stand up?

The Shorecrest baseball team’s victims include Jackson, then ranked No. 1 in 4A, and Lake Stevens, another top 10 4A team, this season.

Yet they’ve fallen to 4-8 in the Western Conference South Division in a year where it looked like they could finish as high as third. Now as they limp toward the district playoffs, the Scots would have to win out to finish .500.

After ending Jackson’s 35-game winning streak, the Scots were swept by the top 3A team in the conference, Meadowdale. They sit in seventh place.

“They’re capable of doing great things but they’re also capable of looking lousy,” coach Alan Bruns said.

The Scots suffered a big blow when their left-handed ace, James Robbins, fractured his forearm when he banged it on a post several weeks ago.

Robbins, who was 2-1 with a 4.05 ERA when he got hurt, led the team with 11 hits, a .579 average and 12 RBI. He also was tied for the team lead in home runs with Willie Davies with three.

Robbins is expected back in time for the District 1 3A playoffs. On a more positive note, infielder Chad Morrison returned earlier this month after getting his grades up.

The Jackson game looked like it might be a turning point for the Scots. Center fielder Grady Small called it the best game he’s ever been part of during a high school career that included several thrillers in football. Senior co-captain Pierce Rankin played the game of his life against Jackson. He rapped a two-run single for the go-ahead runs off Jackson ace Geoff Brown, his future teammate and roommate at the University of Washington. Rankin, a four-year varsity player, also threw a complete game to get the win.

“He really rises to the occasion,” Bruns said. “His performance (against Jackson) was just that. He will never shy away from adversity.”

But for most of the season, Rankin, who primarily plays shortstop, has struggled at the plate. The team’s leading hitter last year, he’s batting only .171 this season through April 17.

“His defense has been awesome but at the plate he’s not been at a place he needs to be,” Bruns said. “His slow start right now has taken away his draft chances.”

Rankin was ranked 28th in the class of 2007 by Baseball Northwest.

“I felt kind of motivated from that, I think I can be higher up on that list,” he said. “I usually don’t pay too much attention to those type of things.”

Rankin likely needs a few years to develop in college if he’s to become a prospect.

“I think he has a great future because he works so hard,” Bruns said.

Bruns pitched for the University of Washington and graduated in 1995. Current head coach Ken Knutson took over his sophomore year.

He and Rankin talked the day before the Jackson game at length about the dedication and work ethic it takes to be a successful college athlete.

“You can’t be just everybody else,” Bruns said, which means staying in excellent shape, spending a lot of time in the batting cage, and working on your strength, agility and speed.

“I think the biggest thing is the time it takes,” Bruns said. “It’s a fun job, but it’s a job. It’s a huge jump from high school, just the day-in, day-out aspect.”

“You come out being a big fish in a small pond to being one of many,” Bruns said. “He’s going to be there with the studs from the other teams.”

The quality of pitching at the college level is a tough adjustment for hitters.

“Every day out you’re seeing a guy who can bring it and mix it up and with control,” Bruns said.

Rankin said he hopes to prove himself as a freshman.

“There’s going to be a lot of jobs to be won next year,” Rankin said. “I’m going to go after the spot they need. A lot of positions haven’t been solidified for next year.”

Rankin showed his versatility on defense playing catcher against Meadowdale and Mariner.

“He’s got such a tremendous arm and he’s so good at calling pitches,” Bruns said. “I absolutely trust him back there.”

Rankin is also influenced by his grandfather on his mother’s side, Bob Schloredt, who quarterbacked Washington to its first Rose Bowl victories in 1960 and 1961.

“It’s a big motivator to see him at games,” Rankin said. “He knows how to win, he knows how to win games.”

Meanwhile, Small, who played right field last year, moved to center this year and chases a lot of balls down.

“He’s all out all the time,” Bruns said. “Defensively he’s excellent. He’s been one of our most steady guys at the plate.”

Small, a running back and linebacker, hoped to play football somewhere in state, but at 5 foot, 8 inches he’s undersized in most coaches’ eyes. He’s considering playing baseball at Skagit Valley College next year.

“He could play at the next level,” Bruns said. “He works amazingly hard at his game.”

Small said he doesn’t mind being the guy, along with Rankin, that the team looks to for leadership, in fact he enjoys it. But at the same time, other players need to step up.

“I think everybody should try to be that person,” Small said.

Rankin agreed.

“We need the whole team to step up, not just one person,” Rankin said. “That’s what I’ve changed. I’ve stopped trying to do it all. In the high school season one slump can last half the year. Just working hard to get my swing turned around.”

Robbins, a sophomore, said he admires how Small and Rankin approach the game.

“They’re always going 100 percent, they always give full effort even when they’re in a slump. They still give it their all. That’s one thing I look up to,” Robbins said.

Despite the losing record, Rankin said this year’s team has worked a lot harder than last year’s team.

“A lot of times the talent we had last year would pull us out when we were having down days. This year we work harder but those times when we’re down or the emotions aren’t there we struggle,” he said. “It’s tough to lose but we’d rather take our lumps right now.”