Staying hot

Matt Baide | Mar 24, 20220

Justin Johnson count

Shelton High School's Wyatt Wagner slides safely across home plate during the Highclimbers' 9-0 win over North Thurston High School in a non-conference baseball game Friday at Highclimber Field in Shelton. Shelton entered the week 3-0 after defeating the Rams and Port Angeles Roughriders last week.

The Highclimbers have started off hot, earning wins against North Thurston and Port Angeles last week.

Shelton defeated North Thurston 9-0 on March 18 at home. The Highclimbers hosted and beat Port Angeles 6-2 on March 19 and opened the season with an 8-2 win against Capital on March 11.

Head coach Trevor Cahoon said the strength of the team is pitching, which has only given up four runs in the first three games. He mentioned Cannon Hutson, Kyle Gerchak and Tobyn Dudley being at their best so far this season.

"They always lead us off the mound and they did it as juniors and Tobyn was a sophomore last year so they're all returning and doing a great job," Cahoon said. "They set the pace for us and then recently, we've upgraded our batting cages and it seems like early this season, it's really paying off."

He bought the team dinner because they had more than 10 hits in a game, recording 11 hits in the opening win against Capital.

"I've been a part of the program almost 15 years now and there's not many days where we have more than 10 hits in a game," Cahoon said. "We celebrated that night."

He said Hutson is the vocal leader of the team, Cole Schlender brings the fun to the team and Brendan Wagner is the professional - they are three of the eight seniors on the team. This is his second year as head coach, and he said he feels the team and seniors are gelling with his coaching style much better this year.

It helps that he has a full season to work with as opposed to the COVID-shortened season last year.

"It's just amazing, getting through pandemic was always something, you're out here playing ball but you always had to make sure that you were following protocols and so this is the first time we're just really thinking baseball and playing baseball as much as possible," Cahoon said. "The boys are just loving it."

The Highclimbers began Evergreen Conference play on Tuesday against W.F. West at home and traveled to Chehalis to face the Bearcats on Wednesday. Shelton hosts Timberline on Friday in a non-league game.