Edmonds Is Down To Earth -- Rock-Solid Team Has Consistency, Not Standouts

If you want to go star gazing, don't watch the Edmonds Community College baseball team.

But if you want to watch an entertaining, fundamentally sound baseball team, the Tritons are for you, Coach Blair Kubicek said.

"We have some team quickness and a solid pitching staff. We should be able to catch it and throw it and hit it," said Kubicek, who took over as head coach after serving as an assistant for the past two seasons.

"We're a fairly well-rounded team. We don't really have anybody that stands out. We're not a team that's a team full of stars. We're more of a team made up of solid baseball players."

Solid, but successful.

After all, the Tritons have qualified for the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) playoffs for the past 16 years, according to Kubicek. ECC finished second in the NWAACC tournament to Lower Columbia last season.

At least three Tritons had enough star potential to get drafted by major-league teams last June.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Jason Rooker and freshman shortstop Jon Oram were drafted by the Cleveland Indians. Freshman pitcher Ryan Reynolds was selected by the Houston Astros.

Rooker is from Everett High School. Oram and Reynolds, a right-hander, are from Tumwater High School.

Part of ECC's strength comes from a group of transfers from four-year programs. Freshman pitcher Matt Atterberry transferred from Washington State University, sophomore second baseman Joel Nations attended the University of Hawaii and sophomore first baseman Mike McCabe is from Oklahoma State.

The Tritons are 4-4 this season. They travel to Surrey, B.C., on Thursday to play the Baseball Institute of Canada. The Tritons are scheduled to host NWAACC power Walla Walla at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Joining Edmonds in the NWAACC's Northern Division are Bellevue, Skagit, Shoreline and Olympic. ECC opens league play on April 11 with a home game against Green River Community College.

"The Northern Division is stronger than it's ever been before," Kubicek said. "Anybody can beat anybody at any given time this year."

The Tritons had eight players from last year's team continue their baseball careers at four-year schools. But Kubicek expects the Tritons to make their 17th straight playoff appearance.

"We have to play as well as we can every game and not let up because it's that kind of division this year," Kubicek said. "Consistency will be the thing that'll get us there."

The Shoreline Dolphins have a job to do - make the NWAACC playoffs. The top two teams from the Northern Division qualify.

Pretty lofty goals for a team that went 10-29 last season. But Coach Doug Riggs has reason to be optimistic after bringing in a large group of freshmen who should see extensive playing time.

The Dolphins (4-5) play in Bellingham on Saturday against the Western Washington University club team. Shoreline opens league play with a home game against Centralia on April 10. Shoreline will play its home games at Edmonds Community College this season.

Shoreline returns a dominant pitcher in sophomore Danny Whitsett. Whitsett, a 6-foot-2, 195 pound right-hander from Hermiston, Ore., has a fastball that has been clocked at 87 mph and "the best slider in the NWAACC," Riggs said.

Whitsett, a potential major-league draft pick, turned down eight offers to play for a four-year school to help the Dolphins turn around their program, Riggs said.

Sophomore Ross Junkin returns at shortstop. Junkin, a Shorewood graduate, and Whitsett were all-Northern Division players last season.

Freshman outfielder Shawn Nasin will provide the offensive excitement from the leadoff spot. Nasin, an Everett High School graduate, has run the 60-yard dash in 6.38 seconds.

Among the talented freshmen for the Dolphins are catcher Josh Menashe, pitcher Aaron Bennett, closer Josh Fauske, outfielder Marc Christenson and pitcher/infielder Brendan Grutz. Up to six freshmen could start defensively for the Dolphins, Riggs said.

Edmonds is the favorite to win the divisional championship, Riggs said. But there's no favorite for second place.

"I think we're going to contend for that second playoff spot," he said. "There's great balance in the whole division. . . . I'm very optimistic. I think we're going to definitely be in a dog fight for the state playoffs."

The Tritons also have a strong local flavor. Freshman pitcher Brandon Anderson is from Cascade, McCabe and sophomore catcher Jason Hanson are Meadowdale graduates, freshman outfielder Travis Peterson is from Bothell, freshman outfielder Chris Vogt is from Monroe and Nations is from Shorewood.

EDMONDS CC -- NICKNAME - Tritons. -- COACH - Blair Kubicek, first year. -- 1992 RECORD - 32-12. -- CURRENT RECORD - 4-4. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - Ryan Reynolds, Fr., P; Jon Oram, Fr., SS; Jason Rooker, So., P; Matt Atterberry, Fr., P; Brandon Anderson, Fr., P; Mike McCabe, So., 1B; Joel Nations, So., 2B.; Sam Landback, So., 3B; Mark Trumbull, So., C; Jason Hanson, So., C; Mike Thompson, So., CF; Mike Mullen, So., OF.

SHORELINE CC -- NICKNAME - Dolphins. -- COACH - Doug Riggs, second year (14-34). -- 1992 RECORD - 10-29. -- CURRENT RECORD - 4-5. -- PLAYERS TO WATCH - Danny Whitsett, So. P; Shawn Nain, Fr., CF; Josh Menashe, Fr., C; Aaron Bennett, Fr., P; Brendan Grutz, Fr., P/2B; Ross Junkin, So., SS; Josh Fauske, Fr., RP; Marc Christenson, Fr., LF.