Large turnout bodes well for Colfax baseball

Colfax baseball Coach Mike Parrish reports the Bulldogs have a record 32 players out for the team this year with a lot of veterans back. The Bulldogs will start their season at the Asotin tournament Saturday with a game against Potlatch at 2 p.m. and a game against the Colton Wildcats at 4:30.

Colfax last year posted an overall 18-5 record and advanced to the state’s final eight playoff round before they were stopped by the DeSales Irish.

The Bulldogs topped Northwest Christian in both NE rounds and then were tripped by the Crusaders in the playoff, but made it to the state run through the consolation bracket.

Pitcher Brady Ellis graduated off last year’s squad along with regulars John Mellor and Christopher Appel.

The Bulldogs will have back lefty senior Patrick Jacobs, who has signed to play for Clark College. Other pitchers on the mound are expected to be Garret Burke, Dillan Heiser and Jeff Davies, juniors, and Keith Gfeller, sophomore.

Juniors Andrew and Brent Becker are expected to be the catchers.

Dustin Hall, a sophomore, and Jacobs will play stints at first along with Davies.

At second, Mark Webber, also a junior, will be back.

Burke and Danny Robinson, a freshman, will be at shortstop.

At third, Robinson, Davies and Kenton Lyman are expected to get assignments.

Outfielders are expected to include Heiser, Gfeller, Hall, Roy Cochran, a senior, and Toby Warwick at sophomore.

Webber, an all conference batter last year, is expected to be in form again this year. Jacobs and the Beckers are expected to move into the power roles of offense, Coach Parrish said.

The Bulldogs expect another showdown with Northwest Christian in the league race. Parrish said he’s not sure who else will surface as contenders as the league season advances.