MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College head baseball coach Chase Tunstall said he is excited for the season and is working with an even mix of fresh faces and returning players.

“I would say probably the best thing so far is the work that we've gotten out of our starting pitchers. We've played 12 games so far this season and we've had starters in every single game go at least five innings, and go into the sixth, seventh and eighth innings multiple times. So I would say the starting pitching has been pretty strong so far throughout the season,” said Tunstall.

He added that they have four starting pitchers, three freshmen and one sophomore. The sophomore, Dylan Gardner, was pitching balls up to 96 miles an hour at the game against Pierce College on March 19, said Tunstall.

He also said that some of his other returning players have high marks.

Brandham Ponce and Austin Bunn are All-Americans and Bunn was also the Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year last year. Both have intentions to continue their baseball careers after Big Bend, Bunn having already signed to the Division 1 school, the University of Northern Colorado.

“I think the biggest challenges we have right now is just putting together all aspects of the game, whether it's pitching, hitting, fielding, putting them all together for a full nine innings,” said Tunstall.

He said this is expected at the beginning of a new season and with such a mix of new and experienced players as well as some injuries. His roster shows athletes from all over the Western U.S. as well as Hawaii.

“Ultimately though it is preseason, so putting guys in situations that they haven't been put in in a while and seeing what they can do. And I think it's good because a lot of people are learning very quickly what it takes to compete at this level,” said Tunstall.

Tunstall said their biggest goal as a team is to try to be the most competitive team on the field.

“… What that means is being the team that takes extra bases when it's given to us and having the best attitude and effort out of both teams on the field,” said Tunstall. “I would say the biggest thing, though, is just being able to get to a point where we can rely on each other, even on our worst days.”

This season is Tunstall’s first year as head coach and he has big aspirations for Big Bend baseball. Those goals include building a nationally-known baseball team and aiding players in furthering their baseball careers.

Tunstall said Moses Lake is home and BBCC baseball is a team he wants to build upon, not use as a pit stop in his career as a coach.

“I have an amazing coaching staff around me. I have everything I could ask for and it's a wonderful opportunity. Like I said, with being here, it's personal. If we’re not doing things the right way then I take it to heart and so we try to do the right things on and off the field and in the community, which we've done so far a pretty good job of doing.” said Tunstall.

Rebecca Pettingill may be reached at [email protected].