Auburn Riverside Raven baseball | AT A GLANCE
Published 2:55 pm Wednesday, March 14, 2012
RAVENS AT A GLANCE
• COACH: Jon Aarstad, 1st season
• LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 15-11 overall, 5th place in SPSL North 4A with 10-6 record. Made it to Washington State 4A quarterfinals.
• TOP RETURNERS: Michael Rucker, senior, pitcher; Nick Minteer, senior, pitcher/outfielder; Kameron Boardway, senior, third baseman; Kai Uwaine, senior, outfielder; and Austin Marty, junior, shortstop.
• TOP NEWCOMERS: Chris Minteer, junior, outfielder/first baseman; and Isaiah Hatch, freshman, pitcher.
• OUTLOOK: The Ravens look to the talented Rucker and his low-90s fastball to lead the way on the mound. Last year the Gonzaga-bound senior was 8-2 overall, with a 1.17 ERA and 63 strikeouts.
“We’re going to compete, but we’re going to take it day by day, to give you the old coaches’ cliche,” Aarstad said. “I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility (to make it back to state). But if we don’t come out and get better every day, we won’t. It’s all about how I come out and prepare the kids and how they prepare themselves. If I can do my part and they can do their part, I expect that we’re going to have a solid season.”
• NOTEWORTHY: Minteer joins Rucker at Gonzaga next year. Hatch, a star pitcher with the Auburn Little League 2010 World Series team, starts his prep career.
• MARK YOUR CALENDAR: March 23 vs. Kentwood; April 18 at Auburn.
