NOOKSACK VALLEY

PIONEERS

Coach: Scott Gelwicks

Last year: Finished tied for 12th in the NWC (2-10). Won one game in the 1A Northwest District Tournament and finished 4-17 overall.

Players to watch: Brandon Gwinner (sr. P), Brandon Valnes (sr. P/1B), Tyler Cienfuegos (sr. C), Tanner Myhre (so. CF), Eben Rossmiller (Jr. C/IF/OF), Joey Scheffer (sr. SS/P)

Outlook: The Pioneers shouldn't be a pushover for anyone this year. "Our goal is to be competitive," Gelwicks said in a phone interview. "Competitive throughout the season and competitive in every game. I think that's what we'll be. If our arms hold together, I don't see any reason we can't. We have four or five guys that can throw pretty good. Now all we have to do is score some runs." Gwinner and Valnes top the list of Pioneers pitchers, and head a list of eight solid seniors on Nooksack Valley's roster. "Any time you've got that many seniors as a core of your team, you know that's going to be a strength," Gelwicks said. "Our goal is to be competitive and get better every day. So far, I've seen them doing that." Like most teams, minimizing errors and staying focused will be keys for Nooksack Valley, though Gelwicks said he expects the team to be fundamentally sound. "They key is not getting in our heads when we struggle," he said. "Last year, as soon as we made a mistake, it was like 'Here we go again,' and we'd make two or three. We can't do that."

2013 ROSTER

Player Yr. Pos.

Trevon Beck So. OF

Taylor Blake Jr. P

Tyler Cienfuegos Sr. C

Ryan Gelwicks So. OF

Brandon Gwinner Sr. P

Nathan Lubetich Sr. OF

Cole Mattice So. OF

Tanner Myhre So. CF

Tucker Pugh Sr. 1B

Noah Rawls Fr. P/IF

Eben Rossmiller Jr. C/IF/OF

Joey Scheffer Sr. SS/P

Levi Schram Sr. RF

Brandon Turnberg Sr. 2B/SS

Brandon Valnes Sr. P/1B

Ethan Vinup Sr. 3B/1B

Brady Wood So. 2B/SS

2013 SCHEDULE

March 12 at La Conner 4 p.m.

March 14 Mount Baker 4:30 p.m.

March 16 at Coupeville 1 p.m.

March 20 at Lynden Christian 4:30 p.m.

March 23 at Overlake TBD

March 27 at Sedro-Woolley* 4 p.m.

March 29 at Meridian* 4 p.m.

March 30 at Friday Harbor (DH) Noon

April 1 Blaine* 4:30 p.m.

April 10 at Mount Baker* 4:30 p.m.

April 12 at Lynden* 4 p.m.

April 15 Ferndale* 4:30 p.m.

April 17 at Squalicum* 3:30 p.m.

April 19 Burlington-Edison* 4:30 p.m.

April 22 Anacortes* 4:30 p.m.

April 24 at Sehome* 4 p.m.

April 26 Bellingham* 4:30 p.m.

April 29 Lynden Christian* 4:30 p.m.

*NWC game

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