SHORELINE — It’s usually called a rebuilding process, but that doesn’t quite capture what the Shoreline Community College baseball team is really up to.
The Dolphins are in the midst of an extreme image makeover.
The process started last year with the arrival of an all-new coaching staff that set some strict ground rules for a program that had been lacking drive and discipline as of late.
“The big thing was changing the reputation of what the program is,” assistant coach Ryan Patrick said. “It’s not a joke and people don’t just come here to screw around. They come here for college baseball.
“The kids are happy with what’s going on. They’re learning a lot, they’re growing. We treat it like a Division I program. We don’t coach it like anything less.”
Embracing the idea of a fresh start, Shoreline more than doubled the previous year’s win total in 2003 and finished fourth in the ultra competitive NWAACC North Division.
With eight returners and the addition of some promising recruits, the Dolphins intend to maintain their climb this spring.
“The big difference this year is our pitching staff’s a lot better,” Patrick said. “We’ve got more depth. We’ve got a lot of guys and a lot more talent.”
Pitching turned out to be Shoreline’s main problem area last year. The Dolphins ranked near the bottom of the conference with their 5.52 team earned-run average.
Sophomore Jeff Potts anchors an improved staff. The durable left-hander went 3-4 with a 4.50 ERA that ranked second on the team last season.
“He’s a younger guy but he’s got great mound presence,” Patrick said. “He’s not going to blow the ball by you, but he’ll find a way to get you out.”
Shorewood High School graduate Neil Junkin also returns to the starting rotation and freshmen Adam Nutley and Dustin Gilmore bring depth to the bullpen.
The newcomer making the biggest impact is first baseman Ben Hillman. Patrick coached the Lynnwood alum in high school and expects him to shore up some of Shoreline’s defensive issues and provide a spark at the plate.
“He’s a huge addition,” Patrick said. “Last year first base was a cancer for us. We couldn’t find a guy to catch the ball. Ben is lights out at first base and offensively.”
Shoreline returns Charley Karthas at third base and Sean McDonald at second. Sam Burns takes over at shortstop and catchers A.J. Jorg and Skyler Mantz are splitting time.
The outfield isn’t as settled at this point, but the Dolphins have three returners in Junkin, Evan McRae and Spencer Smith.
“Outfield is one of the areas we’re struggling with right now,” Patrick said. “Two of our outfielders are pitchers as well (Junkin and Smith), so trying to make that situation work is kind of a headache.”
While pitching continues to be a work-in-progress, the opposite is true offensively. Five of Shoreline’s top six hitters are back.
McDonald led the Dolphins with a .343 batting average, 49 hits, 17 RBI and eight stolen bases. Junkin and Smith both hit over .330, helping Shoreline post a .277 team average that ranked third in the North Division.
So far this spring, Shoreline’s offense has been inconsistent.
“We hit well, but it’s kind of sporadic,” Junkin said. “We’ll start off the first inning and put a few runs on the board and then we’ll shut down for a few innings. We need to be more consistent.”
“We’ve lost some heartbreakers,” added Patrick. “We’ll come out and score six runs in the first inning and get beat. That’s tough.”
Shoreline (2-2 league, 7-10 overall) opened league play last weekend by sweeping two games from North Division upstart Douglas, then dropping a doubleheader to Edmonds.
Regardless of to what degree it’s reflected by their win-loss record, Junkin feels the Dolphins have changed the perception of Shoreline Community College baseball and established a solid foundation for the future.
“We’re just taking it up another level,” he said. “Last year we raised the bar and this year we have even more so. I think the program will continue to grow and get more of a reputation over time.
“A lot of guys I know just came here to have fun and didn’t have a whole lot of expectations. Now as we build the program, people have more expectations and will use this as a stepping stone in their career.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
