Wahluke baseball team starts second year of rebuild

MATTAWA - The Wahluke High School baseball program is beginning the second season of its rebuilding program, and coach Dan Oppelt is optimistic about the prospects.

The Warriors will once again be playing a junior varsity schedule. And there will be schools with a similar situation as Wahluke on the schedule.

Participation in baseball dropped among the students over several years. Eventually the program was ended entirely.

Last year, Oppelt was asked to start a new program with a JV schedule. He started with about 18 boys and finished with fewer.

Some boys had baseball skills but most didn't. The result was one victory, and it was celebrated like a World Series win. Practices were loose, some times the play was zany, but the players had fun.

The good news is that eight of the players who played last year are among the 30 candidates this year. They will be starting the season with baseball skills.

The tough news is that 10 of the newcomers are freshman. They aren't likely to have many baseball skills.

The nucleus of the team will be solid. It will include veterans Felix Jimenez, Oliver Arrieta, Alex Chiprez, Jose Madrigal, Christian Garcia, Jesse Heredia, David Ponce and Aaron Martinez.

"We are definitely encouraged by the turnout," Oppelt said. "Now it's time to work on our skill level so that we can compete at the varsity level next season."