Kittitas Baseball Preparing For Loaded EWAC

Key Players

Justin Hudson SS/P - Hudson returns as one of the top players in the EWAC this season. Last year he had an incredible season with a .418 average and 30 runs scored. He’s also going to be one of the Coyotes top pitchers.

Dawson Byers 3B/P - He’s a returning second team all EWAC performer. Last year finished with a quality .403 average and led the team with 19 RBI. Defensively he’s as good as they come, making clean throws around the diamond.

Caleb Harris 1B - Harris played his first season of baseball in over seven years last year. He didn't do too shabby, hitting a respectable .268, now the expectation is he becomes a big time bat. It’s always a plus when your first basemen is 6-foot-3.

Overview

Kittitas Baseball is normally a state contending program, so last years 12-10 record did not sit well with this group.

With 80% of their roster returning this season (including several all league talents), there’s high reason to believe the Coyotes can return to their dominant nature.

The biggest area they’re working on heading into their season is the pitching staff. The Coyotes have very little experience returning on the mound, so they are counting on Justin Hudson and Cody Fields to emerge as go to options.

Hudson has pitched sparingly the last couple years, but will now be penciled in a workhorse role. He’s not an overpowering guy, so he relies on his curveballs to make hitters miss.

Fields burst onto the scene towards the end of his sophomore year. He became the second starter during double headers. Now he’s excited for the chance to put together a full season.

A couple relief arms to look for belong to Dawson Byers and Dawson Gilson. They’ll have every chance to establish themselves as go to clutch pitchers.

Holding down catching duties is going to be a highly touted freshman named Blake Catlin. He’s a highly athletic multi-sport athlete that will prove himself quickly. Expect him to steal some bases as well.

Coming fresh off a basketball state championship, Caleb Harris is now going to be the Coyotes first baseman. It’s definitely a benefit to have a long wingspan guy like Harris that can catch anything.

Lining up the middle infield is the returning combo of Justin Hudson at SS and Wyatt Stickney at second base. Hudson is a candidate to be a batting average leader, while Stickney is all about getting on base and finding ways to score.

When Hudson is on the mound, it’s likely utility guy Dawson Gilson will take his infield spot.

Rounding out the returners in the infield is Dawson Byers at third base. You can’t ever ‘expect’ someone to hit .400, but that’s the caliber of player that Byers is. He will once again bat clean up.

An important piece to the Coyotes outfield is junior Beau Bryant. He’s an incredibly rangy centerfielder that also holds his own at the plate with a .295 average.

Rotating in the corner outfield spots will be a combination of Cody Fields, Timmy Tostenson, Austyn Johnson, and Dawson Gilson.

Projection

Last year’s 4-6 start to the season was very uncharacteristic of Kittitas. While they did still sneak into the playoffs, it ended up being a first round exit to Colfax. This year the EWAC is looking absolutely stacked, most notably Tri-Cities Prep who is returning six all league players. The question for Kittitas is how good of pitching can they roll out there? If they can’t get quality starts, it will make for some tough games. Expect this team to be in the chase for the EWAC crown all season long.

Key Opponents

Tri-Cities Prep

Desales

Liberty Christian