THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Same story, just a little slower start

Honestly, it’s a little disappointing. 

This week — with March Madness tipping off on Tuesday night, with the full brunt of the games starting early Thursday morning, and going into the late hours of the night when Gonzaga finally held off 14th seeded Kennesaw State in Portland. 

Games so early on Thursday I wasn’t even through my first plate of bacon yet. 

But with limited home dates for area high school baseball teams, a sluggish start wasn’t helping anyone’s attitude this week.

THANKS TO a mild winter, that resulted in a lot less snow than normal, it appeared as if some of the teams and athletes up north might have been able to get a jump on the rest of the state. 

Getting outside on the grass, or the track, what a concept, right? 

Well, Mother Nature had other plans last week, with wind, snow and whatever else you want to call that storm; teams found themselves at home again, just waiting. 

The wait ended earlier this week, with some teams even finding a few hours locally to get some games in. 

Post Falls, which had a baseball doubleheader on the turf fields at Memorial Field in Sandpoint last Saturday called off due to weather, traveled to Gonzaga Prep on Tuesday, then hit the road to Nampa to take part in the Buck’s Bags Spring Classic. 

Post Falls opened 0-3 after losses to the Bullpups, Ridgevue of Nampa and Twin Falls. 

“We’ve allowed 33 walks in three games on the mound, and that kills us,” fourth-year Post Falls coach Kurt Reese said. “At the plate, we’ve got 63 outs and 30 by strikeout. We’re just not competing on the mound like we should be and it makes it hard to compete.” 

The Trojans were able to get some stuff done outside, even conducting tryouts on their home field, but haven’t been able to get much done outside since. 

Timberlake coach Bryce Johnson said his team had been outside until early last week. 

“It’s definitely helped us,” said Johnson, whose team opened with a game at Clarkston before traveling to Caldwell for the Buck’s Bags tournament. “We’ve been able to throw some guys off the mound. Hitting is something that takes the longest to get going, but after our first two scrimmages, our hitting started catching up.” 

“Our bats were a little slow against Gonzaga Prep,” Reese said. “The pitchers are what we’re used to seeing. But we’re letting a lot of those borderline strikes go and we’re getting punched out on the close ones. And it makes it tough to compete.” 

On the bright side, the sun will come up again this season. 

“It’s the best weather I’ve seen in Boise,” Reese said Thursday. “It’s 80 degrees and gorgeous outside. We have a lot of work to do right now. We’re just off and need to get everyone on the same page.” 

OK, WE get it. 

Maybe the World Baseball Classic isn’t quite the exhibition that many hoped it might be. 

This really, really means something to some countries. 

Watching the crowd as Venezuela rallied to get to the championship game against the United States on Tuesday, you could just tell it meant a ton to them. 

Same thing for the Dominican Republic. 

Mariner fans are quite aware just how good of a centerfielder Julio Rodriguez is. 

And sure, Mariner fans held their breath as Rodriguez was hit in the wrist by a pitch in the Dominican Republic's semifinal game against the United States on Sunday. 

No, we don’t need medical records to see if he’ll be ready for opening day on Thursday. 

Julio showed he was more than ready when he robbed Aaron Judge of a home run less than two innings later on Sunday. 

As for that beef between Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena, I’m sure it’s long since been settled. 

If not, it’s nothing to panic about. 

They’re both trying to write the same story this year. 

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter at JECdAPress.