Coach: Joel DeWispelaere (1st Year with Nooksack Valley)
Home Field: Nooksack Valley High School
Last Season: 3-17 (1-12 Conference)
Key Losses: CF/SS/P Evan Neitling (.304 AVG, .467 OBP, 11 R, 3 2B, 6 RBI, 12 SB, 21 IP, 26 K’s, 3.33 ERA), OF Trey Eshuis (.306 AVG, .424 OBP, 9 R, 9 RBI, 5 SB), P Jacob Roosma (.243 AVG, .317 OBP, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 37 IP, 24 K’s, 5.44 ERA), LF Devin Lackey (.328 OBP, 2 2B, 4 RBI), UTIL Collin Averill (2 W, 12 IP, 12 K’s).
Top Returnees: 3B/P Easton Zylstra, C Levi DeWeber, 1B/P Zach Johnson, INF Keldon Weidkamp, INF Dawson Kimball, CF Ryan Veening.
Pitchers and Catchers: The Pioneers return one of the most talented overall players in senior Easton Zylstra (22 IP, 19 K’s). He will be the ace of the staff, and he can definitely go seven innings if needed. Zach Johnson (16 IP, 10 K’s) has good varsity experience on the bump, and is another hard-throwing senior. Seniors Keldon Weidkamp and Ryan Veening also have plus arms that can be used when needed. Senior Levi DeWeber (.250 AVG, .377 OBP, 7 R, 8 RBI) is back at catcher, and has a plus arm, and he is a great vocal leader for his team. Sophomore Nick Dykstra is relatively new to the catching position, but Coach DeWispelaere might look at different ways of getting his bat into the lineup.
Infield: Zylstra (.265 AVG, .368 OBP, 7 R, 1 HR, 6 RBI) should lock down third base when he’s not pitching, and Johnson should do the same at first base. Weidkamp (.292 OBP) will control the infield extremely well, and sophomores Dawson Kimball (.250 OBP) and Jacob Tresselt can both handle second base. Senior Cameron Bauman can also play third, and freshman Bennett DeLange can be used all over the infield. Kimball is another player that Coach DeWispelaere sees as the ultra utility player that can fill any gap that is needed.
Outfield: It will be an entirely new outfield for the Pioneers, and leading it will be Veening in center field. The 6-foot-3 senior is back after not playing his junior year, and he has an extremely strong arm. Sophomore James “Jet” Triplett can also cover a ton of ground, and should take over in left field. Right field might be a spot reserved for whoever is swinging a hot bat at the time. Tresselt, Kimball, DeLange and Dykstra could all fill the spot.
Final Analysis: It was a rough year in 2019, but first-year head coach Joel DeWispelaere has a lot of good pieces to work with. Zylstra, DeWeber, Weidkamp and Johnson bring great experience. He also got a few very athletic seniors to turn back out, and his crop of youngsters are very promising.
Tyler’s Predicted Lineup:
- James Triplett
- Keldon Weidkamp
- Easton Zylstra
- Levi DeWebber
- Zach Johnson
- Dawson Kimball
- Nick Dykstra
- Ryan Veening
- Jacob Tresselt
