WP Baseball: Trio of Experienced Pitchers Will Lead Tigers in a Highly Competitive League

PRESCOTT – Waitsburg-Prescott baseball Coach Dustin Snedigar knows that if his team is successful in its league, he'll have one of the best teams in the state.

"DeSales has won the last two state (2B) championships," Snedigar said. "Last year they lost to Asotin in the first round, and still went on to win it all."

On top of that, the coach said that Tri-Cities Prep is much improved this year, with a left-handed pitcher that's very tough.

"I think we'll be right in there," he said.

With the cancellation of Dayton's baseball season, the Southeast 2B District 9 league is down to four teams: Asotin, DeSales, TCP and WP. But they may be four of the best teams in the state.

WP brings back three pitchers with a lot of experience: senior Talen Larsen and sophomores Jacob Dunn and Kyle Gradwohl. All three are right-handers, and they all had plenty of mound time last year.

After the Tigers' season ended last spring, the three pitchers all played on "select" teams last summer, Snedigar said, playing in tournaments almost every weekend.

The Tigers return six seniors to the team. Besides Larsen, they are Chance Leroue, Devin Acevedo Michael Grant, Antonio Benito and Sergio Gonzalez.

Snedigar says his starting catcher will be Dunn, when he's not pitching. Gradwohl will likely catch Dunn. Leroue will start at first base and Grant at third. Larsen, Gradwohl, Benito and Tyler Fedderson will share middle infield duties. Acevedo and Dylan Arellano are expected to start in the outfield.

Leroue, Acevedo, Grant and Benito may also see some time on the mound in relief.

Assistant coaches for the Tigers this year are Mark Grimm, Jeff Foertsch and John Gradwohl.

WP's first scheduled game, on Saturday against Garfield/Palouse, was postponed to later in the season. Their second game, against Mac Hi Tuesday, was cancelled. So the Tigers were to hit the field for the first time Thursday, in a game added to the schedule this week, against Liberty Christian, in Richland. Game time is 4 p.m.