Central Washington Spuds initial season gets underway
BOB KIRKPATRICK | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 6 months AGO
MOSES LAKE - It's been some years in the making, but Ed McNamara's, vision of having a Senior American Legion baseball team in town has finally come to fruition as the AAA Central Washington Spuds open league play against the Sun Devils in Pasco today.
McNamara was the former head baseball coach at Moses Lake High School from 2005-2011.
"The team was formed about six months ago," Spuds board member Keith Tunstall said. "We are members of the Central Washington League (CWL)and will play approximately 50 games this season; 28 league and 22 nonleague and tournament games. We are sponsored by American Legion Post 209 here in Moses Lake."
The Spuds pull their talent from Moses Lake, Quincy, Ephrata, Warden, Othello and Royal City.
There are 16 players on the roster this year. Eleven are from Moses Lake, three from Ephrata and two from Warden. Jameson Lange is the skipper, Craig Carter who is the pitching coach for Big Bend Community College, and Daniel Caballero, the head coach at Warden High School, are assistant coaches for the Spuds.
"Jameson came up through the program through our developmental teams and was the hitting coach at Moses Lake High School for two years," Tunstall said. "He's also an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Pete Doumit out at Big Bend. So, it was a natural fit for Jameson to coach the surrounding six town's talent. When the Spuds are on the road, he is also looking at kids to recruit for the college team."
Eight teams comprise the CWL. The Spuds will hold their practices at BBCC and play all of their home games at Larson Field. All home games will be broadcast live on KBSN 1470 AM. Each Monday during the regular season KBSN will also air "The Coaches Show." The program will rotate between three locations in Moses Lake: The Porterhouse Restaurant, Papa's Casino and the Rock Top Grill. It will broadcast live from 5 to 6 p.m. On June 10, the show will air from the deck of the Rock Top Grill.
This Saturday is the home opener for the Spuds. Local legend and former Big League pitcher Dave Heaverlo is scheduled to throw out the first pitch of the doubleheader at 5 p.m.
"It's going to be a tribute to the local American Legion and to our local veterans," Tunstall said. "So we'd love to see a big turnout."
ARTICLES BY BOB KIRKPATRICK
Cd'A city administrator takes buyout
Park director also opts for incentive program to leave post
City Administrator Troy Tymesen and Parks and Recreation Director Bill Greenwood were among the 24 applicants the Coeur d’Alene City Council unanimously approved for the city's voluntary separation incentive program, granting them early retirement.
Key Cd'A personnel eye buyout
24 apply for separation package aimed at reducing personnel costs
Earlier this year, the Coeur d’Alene City Council directed staff to analyze the fiscal impacts of offering an incentive program that would allow employees to apply for a one-time incentive payment in exchange for a voluntary separation within the next 12 months and separating from the city’s insurance coverage.
Coeur Terre Phase 1 gets OK
Many voice objections to 438-acre development
There was nary an empty seat at the Coeur d’Alene Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Tuesday evening, as concerned citizens gathered in anticipation of the committee’s ruling on the Coeur Terre project.