FERNDALE

GOLDEN EAGLES

Coach: Donny Hennigs

Last year: Finished tied for third in the NWC (9-4). Won three games in the 3A Northwest District Tournament, but finished 16-8 overall.

Players to watch: Austyn Sprague (sr. IF/P), Pete Pennylegion (jr. IF/P), Brady Bauthues (jr. OF/P)

Outlook: Nine-year assistant Hennigs slides up to lead the Golden Eagles after longtime friend and colleague Sean Linville moved up Interstate 5 to Blaine. Though Ferndale graduated a strong senior core after getting one win away from advancing to the 3A State Tournament for the fourth time in program history, Hennigs is excited about the return of Sprague, who has already committed to Everett Community College, Pennylegion and Bauthues. "All three of those guys got a lot of at-bats for us last year, and we'll look to them for leadership," Hennigs said in a phone interview. All three also will be key on the mound and in the field this spring. Senior outfielder Zach Cuttsforth should contribute a lot offensively, and sophomore Brady Shearer will slide in to replace a four-year starter behind the plate. Hennigs said the team is also expecting big things from junior Joey Akers. "Some guys haven't pitched a lot of varsity innings, so it will be fun to watch them compete and see who accepts the challenge to be an every-week starter," Hennigs said.

2013 ROSTER

No. Player Yr. Pos.

1 Pete Pennylegion Jr. IF/P

2 Marshall Weston Sr. IF/P

3 Kyler Brudwick So. OF

4 Austyn Sprague Sr. IF/P

5 Kyle Baker Jr. P

6 Chase Olson Jr. P

7 Brady Bauthues Jr. OF/P

8 Joey Akers Jr. OF/P

9 Brady Shearer So. C

10 Zach Cuttsforth Sr. OF

11 Corbin Puhan So. IF

15 Nate Carlson So. OF

19 Colin Wagner Jr. 1B

20 Anthony Pace Sr. 1B/C

21 Marcus Nightengale So. OF

2013 SCHEDULE

March 11 at Stanwood 4 p.m.

March 12 Sehome 4 p.m.

March 14 at Lynden 4 p.m.

March 18 at Blaine 4:30 p.m.

March 19 at Mount Baker 4:30 p.m.

March 20 Bellingham 4 p.m.

March 23 at Squalicum Noon

March 25 Burlington-Edison 4 p.m.

March 27 at Anacortes* 4 p.m.

March 29 Mount Baker* 4 p.m.

April 1 at Burlington-Edison* 4 p.m.

April 8 Sedro-Woolley* 4 p.m.

April 10 at Sehome*+ 3:30 p.m.

April 12 Blaine* 4 p.m.

April 15 at Nooksack Valley* 4:30 p.m.

April 17 Lynden Christian* 4 p.m.

April 19 at Meridian* 4 p.m.

April 22 Squalicum* 4 p.m.

April 26 Lynden* 4 p.m.

April 29 at Bellingham* 3:30 p.m.

*NWC game; Game at Joe Martin Field

Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.