WARM WEATHER WASPS

Wasatch baseball team taking advantage

of early signs of spring

BY KENNY BRISTOW

Wave Sports Writer

It’s Monday afternoon and Wasatch head baseball coach, Mike Shoell is hitting infield to his team.  The boys are energetic and the coach is in good spirits, chirping out instructions to the sounds of popping leather.

This may look and sound like any other early season practice except for one thing – its March 11!

“Never.  Never in my time here have we been on the field this early,” answered Shoell when asked about the nice weather.  “After being in the gym for two months and in the parking lot at the Events Center, this is a great thing for us,” he added.  “Its great for the boys to get out here on their home diamond.”

Head baseball coach, Mike Shoell, barks out instructions to his players as he hits infield.

The Wasps are preparing for Tuesday night’s game at Timpview and Thursday night’s contest against Juab in Nephi.  The team seems pretty excited about the season ahead even after a long weekend in St. George where they played in the Pizza Hut Classic.

Shoell likes to take his teams to St. George every spring to open up their season and get in some good weather baseball.  This year they may have done better staying in Heber.  One of their games was cancelled and the schedule for the entire tournament was shifted around due to rain.

Coach Shoell is confident in his defense as two Wasps work at turning a double play in practice.

Saturday night, however, after rains cancelled their afternoon match, they were blanked by Dixie 7-0 closing out their tournament with a third place overall finish.  “We did some good things, but have many things to work on too,” said Shoell.  “It’s good to get the first ones out of the way.  I know the guys are looking forward to getting the season rolling.”

Casey Peterson, shown here taking ground balls at 3rd base, will also pitch for the Wasps .

Wasatch will rely heavily this season on a deep pitching staff.  According to Shoell, who is entering his 11^th season with Wasatch, this year’s squad has five or six guys who can start on the hill.  In addition to Kelley, Mason Holmes, Casey Peterson, Tagg Baxter, Jackson Hermanson along with a few others will be counted on to pitch.  Colton Post made a strong bid for a closer’s role as he finished both games down in St. George.

“We’ve got some good athletes on this team,” Shoell pointed out.  “We’ll be really good in the field and hopefully make some big plays on the bases,” he added.  “Our hitting wasn’t quite there in St. George, but it’ll come.  Once we get guys like Todd Ogilvie healthy and producing big with the bats, we’ll be in good shape.”

Todd Ogilvie, who catches and plays right field will be counted on to swing a big bat this season for Wasatch.

Wasatch opens its home schedule on March 19^th against Orem and on the 20^th against Payson in a tournament that will earn them at least one game at Brent Brown Park at UVU on the 23^rd.