iNGLEMOOR
Inglemoor’s strength is its defense up the middle. Clockwise from top left: Mitch Gunsolus, Marc Dickerson, Craig Jacobson and Ethan Yeo. Photo by Don Mann.
Inglemoor Vikings: Third-year coach Bryan McNaghten is a loosey-goosey guy whose straight-up communication skills with his players is a thing of beauty and his players feed off that. In the Viking dugout, all kids get to express themselves yet there’s no doubt that the Kirkland police sergeant runs the show.

                            

On a dreary, rain-soaked Thursday, he was asked about the upcoming season, and we began with the pitching.

"We’ve got two proven guys back from last year, Obie Taylor and Spencer Trautman — who’s a three-year starter — and they’re both battlers," McNaghten said. "Combined they went 10-4 last year, so life is good bringing those guys back and we’ve got a couple new guys that could be legit," he said.

Those guys are Dustin Doucette and Shay Orestad. "And we’ve got a couple lefties who can be tough. So we’ll be OK on the bump, I think. We feel pretty good about our staff. The new guys are not KingCo tested, but I’m liking what I’m seeing."

What he likes a whole lot is senior catcher Ethan Yeo. "Ethan is a stud," he said. "Defensively, offensively, and he’s a team captain. He was our DH as a sophomore, he’s a big boy — 215, maybe 220 pounds with a good arm, and he’s a great kid."

McNaghten said he was being recruited by Arizona State.

In the Viking infield, he said, Taylor will play some first base when he does not pitch.

"We obviously have to take care of his arm, but he’s a pretty good bat."

The middle infield, he said, will be patrolled by senior Craig Jacobson and junior Mitch Gonsolus — though he does not know who will play where at this point.

"They’re battling it out in both spots," he said, "and they may end up just splitting it up. Either way, those two are really tough — Jacobson’s super savvy and Mitch is a complete player who will probably play at the next level. I’m not sure I’ve ever coached players that had as much field presence as those two."

And then he talked about senior center-fielder Marc Dickerson, who is a teen-age freak show with the glove.

"He’s really, really good and just now starting to hit his stride, figuring out just how good he is," McNaghten said.

"He played a lot of ball last summer and got a lot of at-bats, and he’s legit in center. It’s tough to find a gap with him out there — when the ball’s in the air he gets faster, which can’t be taught. He’s just a pleasure to watch, he’s hitting real well and he’ll steal some bases for us."

And then there’s Scott Meyers in right. "He led the team in hitting last year, and he’s swinging it even better," the coach said. "He’s got some pop." McNaghten said juniors Peter Mieusi, Connor Savage and Gerrett Vandiver are all fighting for the right field spot.

What does he like best about his team? McNaghten paused for emphasis.

"We’ve got some really good ballplayers but there’s not one attitude on this team," he said. "They’re all team guys and that’s the big difference this year."

And what has to happen for Viking baseball dreams to come true?

"Besides staying healthy," McNaghten said, "we gotta pitch it. That’s the bottom line. Our defense will be as solid as anybody’s — we’re really solid up the middle — but we gotta pitch it."

He also said what he liked about his team was that they are not cocky. "We know that we’re still underdogs and have to play with that little chip on our shoulders every time out," he said. "This team knows they still have to prove themselves, and it’s actually easy to coach a team like that."

The Vikings host defending Class 3A champion O’Dea in its opener Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and have a home date with Mariner on Friday at 3:45 p.m.