Fruitland to battle South Fremont
By Matthew Neal
Argus Observer
Thursday, May 15, 2008 10:39 AM PDT
ONTARIO—Fruitland baseball: Do they have what it takes to win it all? Will this be the year the Grizzly can stand proud and say, “We are the best 3A baseball team in Idaho?”
This team has been on a red-hot run all season long—with the exception of two non-league losses. Fruitland will have the chance to answer any naysayer’s doubts when they play Game 4 against South Freemont at 7 p.m. during the 3A State Baseball tournament at the Elks Memorial Field at Treasure Valley Community College.
Fruitland has dominated every opponent in the Snake River Valley Conference.
The Griz were 10-0 in the SRV, and blasted its way through the District tournament finishing up the regular season with an overall record of 22-2.
South Freemont enters its championship run with a record of 17-2
“They have a couple of good sophomores and they have some good arms,” Fruitland’s head coach Russ Wright said. “And from the press I have seen they can swing the bats pretty well too.”
The Cougars also won the Mountain Rivers Conference.
Last year, Fruitland went 10-0 in the SRV as well, but garnered a third-place finish in the state tournament.
What makes 2008 team different? Perhaps it’s as simple as its depth, more weapons, more speed and strength.
“I like this club. We are playing better than last year. We struggled in state last year, but this year we have done very well,” Wright said.
Can this team carry that same intensive energy it had during the regular season and districts into today’s game? If they can hit, field, pitch and keep its errors to a minimum—if not zero—then they could succeed.
“To win a state tournament you have to play three clean games. If you screw up once it’s game over. I like our chances,” Wright said.
Chances are good indeed, with a lineup of weapons including Zack Fabricius, Fruitland’s number one weapon will start on the mound. He has a perfect 6-0 record.
Other weapons include Fruitland’s leading hitter Kaleo Nawahine who is averaging around .600. Fabricius has also been an offensive weapon with .510. Tyson Flannery and Travis Blackwell have averages in the high .400s.
“The strength of our team is that when one guy cools off another guy will step up,” Wright said. “We are really looking forward to it. It looks to be a good game and an overall good tournament.”
