High-School Baseball / Metro League Preview -- Slow Start No Cause For Concern -- Ballard Aiming To Be Contender In Metro League

The coach wears a gun to work, but don't be alarmed - he's a policeman.

Eric Chartrand, Ballard High School Class of 1989, also is the reigning Metro League coach of the year after guiding the Beavers into the state round-of-16 baseball playoffs the past two years.

The slow-starting Beavers appear to have the ammunition to be headed there again.

"I think we're farther along than the past two years," said Chartrand, whose team (1-2) absorbed a 10-2, five-inning loss at Lake Stevens yesterday.

The Beavers open Metro League play tomorrow against Lakeside with ace Mike Turinski on the mound.

"I expect us to be contenders at state," Turinski said at the Beavers' workout Saturday at their windy home field at Whitman Middle School. "I think we have a lot better team than the past two years. . . . We have four guys who have been on the varsity since they were freshmen. Once this team gets rolling, it's going to be hard to stop."

The Beavers expect to get their offensive power from the 3-4-5 spots in the batting order - upperclassmen Nick Erdahl, Adam Seumae and Dan Cuenca.

Erdahl and the graduated Chris Sabella hit seventh-inning home runs last year with one out as the Beavers came from behind to beat West Seattle in a loser-out game during the playoffs.

Erdahl had a grand slam in the brawl-marred Metro title game against Blanchet, won by the Braves 14-7.

A bright Ballard newcomer is freshman Steven Klick, who has nailed down the No. 2 spot in the rotation, although there are three more experienced pitchers on the staff.

One of Chartrand's concerns is a recent rash of injuries, none of them season-ending.

"I've got a whole bunch of guys who are walking wounded," he said. "One of our strengths was depth, but it isn't now."

Chartrand also wasn't exactly thrilled with his team's defense yesterday.

The Metro League looks strong this season.

The league's baseball divisions are: Mountain - Eastside Catholic, Seattle Prep, West Seattle, Rainier Beach, Ingraham and Cleveland (games don't count because 2A); Sound - Blanchet, Ballard, Hale, O'Dea, Lakeside and Chief Sealth.

The top three teams in each division will qualify for the league playoffs. ------------------------------- Metro League baseball players to watch

Corey Caple, 2B-P, Sr., West Seattle Hit .347 last season

Ryan Caple, P-1B, Sr., West Seattle Dangerous player back from injury

Billy Condon, SS, Sr., Blanchet Quality three-sport athlete

Deryck Christiansen, P-OF, Sr., Eastside Catholic Might be best in league

Dan Cuenca, C, Sr., Ballard Part of Ballard power package

Nick Erdahl, 2B, Jr., Ballard Hit .450 and was All-Metro as soph

Blake Fisher, 2B, Sr., Blanchet All-Metro returnee who hit .371

Chris Frazier, OF-IF-P, Sr., Rainier Beach Hit .520 and was All-Metro

Brian Gattis, P, Sr., Seattle Prep Headed for Dartmouth

Bryan Hale, OF, Jr., Lakeside Second team All-Metro last year

Sean Ingalls, 3B-P, Sr., Eastside Catholic Solid performer at two positions

Pat Kelly, P-3B, Sr., Cleveland Getting looks from colleges

Josh Lurie, C-INF, Sr., Hale Hit .521 last season

Tyler McLean, OF-P, Sr., Eastside Catholic All-Metro last year

Charlie Meyer, RF-P, Sr., Seattle Prep Second-team All-Metro last year

Mike Pontius, C, Sr., Seattle Prep Good anchor on contending team

Adam Seumae, 1B, Sr., Ballard Two-time second-team All-Metro

Dale Sherrow, INF, Sr., Lakeside Second-team All-Metro last year

Nick Solaro, 3B-P, O'Dea Hit .375 last season; second-team All-Metro

Matt Sotebeer, P-Inf., Jr., Hale Had 1.93 ERA, averaged 1 K per inning

Jake Tomaselli, OF, Sr., West Seattle Hit .379 and was All-Metro

Mike Turinski, P, Sr., Ballard 7-3 record; threw perfect game as soph