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Adam Rudnick
Sedro-Woolley pitcher Travis Serna practices his fielding last week at Janicki Fields.
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A speedy defensive unit and a handful of talented pitchers return for the Cubs’ baseball team this year, despite the loss of some talented seniors.
Sedro-Woolley’s speed starts in the middle infield, where senior second baseman Bobby Twedt and junior short stop Matt Zitkovich will take the bulk of the starts, coach Brad Conn said.
Zitkovich, a first-year varsity player, has good range and a solid throwing arm. He’ll see some playing time now that former shortstop A.J. Thompson graduated, the coach said.
“He can be a special infielder, he just hasn’t gotten the chance to do it yet,” Conn said.
Twedt, the team’s most experienced hitter, will also be counted on to spark its offense, the coach said. The team lost senior slugger and pitcher Brandon Asmundson to graduation last year, leaving a hole in the middle of the lineup. Asmundson hit .510 with eight home runs last year after an injury limited his pitching contributions.
“Offense is where our challenge will be,” Conn said. “We have to manufacture runs — put pressure on opponents rather than slug it out.”
Team speed will also run rampant in the outfield, where the Cubs return seniors Klaye Kitchen, Josh Gardner and juniors Ryan Morgan and Dusty O’Neil.
The squad’s No. 1 starter, Kurtis Armstrong, will anchor the pitching staff this year. Joining the senior will be juniors Travis Serna and Nathan Regal and seniors Mike Gribble and Davis Kramer.
“We have five guys that are pretty competitive,” Conn said. “We’re deeper than we normally have been.”
Armstrong and Regal will platoon at first base, while Serna should see most of the time at third base.
Senior Brandon Holland will handle the catching responsibilities, along with newcomer James Murillo.
“James helps give us a little bit of pop,” Conn said.
The coach said the Northwest Conference will again be a tough place to play. He said Mount Vernon, Ferndale and Squalicum will all return solid players that will make a district run difficult for the Cubs.
“There are some kids out there that are going to be fun to watch,” he said.
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