Coach: Daniel Vander Kooi (4th Year with Lynden Christian, 32-38)
Home Field: Lynden Christian High School
Last Season: 14-10 (7-6 Conference)
Key Losses: C Ty Van Dyken (.328 AVG, .518 OBP, 10 RBI, 12 SB, 4 2B, 4 3B, 18 R), OF Shane Whittern (.453 AVG, .588 OBP, 15 RBI, 20 SB, 31 R) P/SS Payton Robertson (.367 AVG, .444 OBP, 24 RBI, 10 SB, 14 R, 7-4, 63 IP, 2.10 ERA, 70 K’s), OF Dylan VanderYacht (.349 OBP, 13 SB, 20 R), IF Cole Langstraat (.293 OBP, 18 RBI, 19 SB, 11 R), P/1B Tanner Jansen (.291 OBP, 6 RBI, 7 SB, 2-4, 35 IP, 4.24 ERA, 13 K’s), IF Jared Smit (.250 AVG, .388 OBP, 10 RBI, 5 SB. 13 R), IF/OF Simon Anker (.250 AVG, .372 OBP, 5 RBI).
Top Returnees: 3B Shale Whittern, C Damyn Dykstra, P/CF Luke Johnson, P/1B Zach Sipma, 2B/OF Brevin Zylstra, SS Cole Moorlag, P/RF Jake Terpstra.
Pitchers and Catchers: Losing your entire starting rotation is tough, but the Lyncs bring back a slew of arms that could fit into some important spots. Sophomore Luke Johnson (1-0, 5 saves, 12 K’s, 2.53 ERA) was the LC closer last season, and he will be looked upon to be a starter in 2019. Junior Jake Terpstra (2-0, 14 IP, 2.50 ERA) also got some work in last season, and he has gotten a lot stronger and will get his chance on the bump. Junior Zach Sipma (2.00 ERA, 7 IP, 13 K’s) is a big, strong kid, and has had deep playoff runs this year in football and basketball. Senior Kyden Vander Veen is a lefty that is coming back from injury, and he should be effective as well. Senior Damyn Dykstra (.344 OBP, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 8 SB) and sophomore Preston Mark are battling it out for the catcher position.
Infield: The left side of the Lynden Christian infield is good, and it should be good for a while. Sophomore Shale Whittern (.255 AVG, .379 OBP, 10 R, 9 RBI, 4 SB) is at third base, and sophomore Cole Moorlag (.214 OBP, 6 SB) is at shortstop. Both have impressed Coach Vander Kooi by staying late to take grounders and work on their game. They should also create havoc on the base paths near the top of the batting order. Junior Preston Vander Veen led the JV team in batting average last season, and hopes to bring hit hitting prowess to the next level in 2019. He will get time at second base, along with the athletic junior Brevin Zylstra (.278 AVG, .435 OBP, 4 RBI). Sipma (.320 AVG, .433 OBP, 6 RBI 5 R) and Kyden Vander Veen will each play first base when they aren’t pitching.
Outfield: Johnson (.375 AVG, .500 OBP, 5 R) will start in center field when he’s not on the mound, and another pitcher, Terpstra, will patrol right field for the Lyncs. Left field could see many different faces, depending on who’s pitching. Kyden Vander Veen and sophomore Zach Eisenberg should get a lot of playing time out there, and Zylstra will be able to fill in for Johnson, Terpstra or Vander Veen when they are pitching.
Final Analysis: The Lyncs like to be aggressive on the bases, and Coach Vander Kooi has an athletic group that can do the same this season. Defense and pitching should carry this group to begin the season, and Coach also believes that he may have a better contact-hitting group this season and hopes to not have as many strikeouts. The win-loss record has improved in each season since Vander Kooi took over, and he hopes this is the season that he can take his team further into the playoffs.
Tyler’s Predicted Lineup:
- Shale Whittern
- Cole Moorlag
- Zach Sipma
- Damyn Dykstra
- Luke Johnson
- Brevin Zylstra
- Kyden Vander Veen
- Jake Terpstra
- Preston Vander Veen
