Babe Ruth All-stars selected
Team prepares for district tournament
By Ray Rodriguez
Argus Observer
Thursday, June 19, 2008 12:36 PM PDT
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| Argus Observer Sports Staff
Babe Ruth 14-year old all-star player Brennan Serrano gets set to field a ball during practice in this Argus Observer File Photo taken last June. Serrano is part of a squad that is looking to make a deep playoff run to state, regionals and beyond. |
Payette—The roster is in place, and now it is time for the 14-year-old Babe Ruth baseball team to lace up the cleats and set sights to the next level — state and beyond.
A season ago, the Babe Ruth squad, as 13-year olds, finished with a 5-0 record in districts and posted a 4-2 state record, missing out on a state berth by one game.
Head coach Alan Pollock feels his team is ready this time around.
“We were one game away from state last year. They have that taste in their mouths to take the next step,” Pollock said. “They know how hard they need to work and what they need to do to take the next step.”
Five local towns make up the roster of 12 that boasts future high school standouts, varsity athletes and most of all, pitching depth.
Eight players represent the returners led by Payette’s Spencer Pollock, Tom LaMue and Vale’s Austin Tolman.
Nyssa’s Rocky Garcia, Ontario’s Brady Baker, Tony Machuca, R.J. Gonzales and Fruitland’s Zach Rhinehart round out the rest of the returners.
Payette’s Brennan Serrano, Nyssa’s Alec Blanchard and Coby VanSickle and Fruitland’s Zac Neeley make up the fresh faces who will take the field for the veteran head coach, who is in his fifth year at the helm.
Looking at his roster, Pollock is impressed with his stable of arms, where the coach has many options available.
“Our strengths, by far, is our pitching,” Alan Pollock said. “Between Rocky Garcia, Pollock, Rhinehart and Blanchard, I think I’m sitting real well with a solid pitching staff.”
On offense, the Babe Ruth squad has plenty of speed, and Pollock said he will use small ball to spearhead the offense.
At the top of the lineup, Pollock has tabbed Garcia as the leadoff hitter, Gonzales second and Spencer Pollock, Tolman and Baker making up the first five in the order.
“Small ball is what we are going for. That’s what we worked on last night (Tuesday),” Pollock said. “We have speed in the lineup, and unless there is a catcher that can stop us, we’re going to run teams to the ground.”
Of all the players on the team, Pollock said Garcia is the one to keep an eye on.
“Rocky is on the cusp of doing something big. He has a great arm, and he’s played varsity this year, so he’s got the experience,” Pollock said. “One thing Rocky has is that ‘I’m better than you’ attitude on the mound. He has that kind of confidence on the mound. He’s a great leadoff hitter with good speed. He’s everything you want in a leadoff hitter.”
The Babe Ruth squad kicks off action this weekend at the Mountain Home Baseball Tournament. Districts are July 9 to July 11 in Baker City and the state tournament is July 17 to July 19 in La Grande.
A first-place finish in La Grande punches a ticket to the regional tournament.
