Young Spartan squad brings strong work ethic
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Junior Gavin Rodgers will be a key piece of a young Priest River baseball program this season.
PRIEST RIVER — With a host of new varsity players taking the diamond, a young and rebuilding Spartan baseball team plans to go to work and improve as the season progresses.
Veteran coach Mark Schultz, a former three-sport athlete from Newport who enters his ninth season stewarding the Spartans, knows the Intermountain League will be very competitive. His plan is to continue to work hard in practice and compete when the team steps between the chalked lines.
“Our attitudes and work ethic is great. These young men come to practice and work hard every day,” said Schultz. “We see ourselves as a team, which includes the good times as well as any bumps that may happen during the course of the season.”
Senior Cameron Reeves, junior Gavin Rogers and sophomores Justin Allbee, Caden Brenna, Jantzen Lucas, Logan Shockey, Jordon Best and Cole Thompson are the top returners, and will help set the tone on a young team.
Seniors Coal Stevens and Larry Naccarato, junior Lathe Moran and freshmen Coby Rodgers, Brendan Reeves and Konner Johnson will also be counted on to produce this year.
Schultz said the overall numbers are down this year, but will still field a JV team and build for the future.
“Getting out on a field and playing baseball, becoming more consistence at the plate and working on our team defense and pitching,” said Schultz. “Being a young team this year, we need to get out and play to get better.”
Assistant coaches are Lou Musso, Doug Naccarato, Jordon Munar, and Ashton Brooks.