Bulldogs Defend NWAACC Championship With 19 Returners
Decater and Reid Bring NWAACC Title Heroics into ’08 Season
February 10, 2008

The 2007 Champion Squad

After changing nearly everything around in '07 with a new assistant coaching staff, offensive philosophy, and style of play resulting in Bellevue's first NWAACC title since 1979, the Bulldogs will add a few new twists this spring as they defend their title. "With a new influx of recruits this year, we'll have to adapt our style of play around what we have talent-wise in the field this year while still emphasizing our traditional strengths," says Coach Mark Yoshino. The Bulldogs return ace Brad Reid, a bullet-throwing right-hander who sported a 0.19 ERA in league play. A Cleveland Indians draft pick out of high school, Reid has already made advancements in his pitching since his return to Bellevue this year with an improved curve ball and even better location with his fast ball. Decater, who hit the solo shot for Bellevue's only run needed in last May's 3-0 title victory, will bring his hot bat into the talent-loaded outfield this spring. A draft pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last June, Decater is one of the top left-handed hitters in the NWAACC.

Returning left-hander Troy Burki

Pitching: Key transfers bolster an already talented pitching staff
One of Bellevue's strengths which catapulted them to the NWAACC title last year was pitching depth. Few teams, if any, had a relief core which was just as devastating as the starters such as Bellevue. With an even mix of lefties and righties, expect the same this spring. New lefties include Jeremy Zink, who is now back in top form as he was out of high school before signing with Santa Clara. The polished lefty transfer is a strike machine with the polish and feel to pitch like no other. The other lefty transfer likely to make a big splash this spring is former Chicago Cubs draft, Ryan Davis. Although only logging 9 innings last year for Columbia Basin College, Davis has transferred back to his hometown school and has shown tremendous improvement and ability to paint the corners with strikes. The righty transfers include stopper out of the pen, Brent Miller and Kaylor Hasbargen, a transfer from the University of Hawaii. Armed with a split-fingered fast ball and tremendous movement on his fastball, Miller has the stuff to get outs in the late innings for the Bulldogs after transferring in from the University of Washington. Hasbargen, the most deceptive pitcher on this year's team, bring surprising heat and the tightest curve ball on the staff. "He's not a big guy, but he comes at hitters with arm speed and a curve ball that can be devastating. Not to mention a plus change up, Hasbargen should throw a ton for us this spring," says Yoshino.

Besides the return of co-captain Reid, Bellevue also returns three more lefties, including Troy Burki, who was a starter last year and has already signed with New Mexico State. The biggest jump on the staff this spring has been from Stephen Foster. A former Baltimore Orioles draft three years ago, Foster redshirted last spring to nurse an elbow injury. Now in his third year, he's returned as an entirely different person, pitching with poise, velocity, and location. Chad Mautner, who was thrown into the fire last spring and responded with great success, is back with his sinking low 3/4 arm slot fast ball.

From the right side, Cody Goodfellow, the lone right-handed pitching recruit of '08, is a wiry pitcher with an incredibly fast arm. Topping out at 92 mph last summer, Goodfellow came to Bellevue with goals of improving his mechanics to increase his strike throwing. He's had a complete metamorphosis mechanically and is destined to be one of the top freshman arms in the NWAACC this spring. "His desire to be coached and ability to adjust is tremendous. He's the kind of guy who makes coaching so gratifying," says Yoshino. Kyle Pearson is another improved product who got outs as good as any other pitcher on the staff this fall. Coming at hitters with a steep downward angle, Pearson will be an effective pitcher this spring as his consistency with his off-speed pitches continue to develop.

Three hurlers are working out with the team this year but will not use a year of eligibility in '08. Lefty Brian Buckham, who has seen a jump in velocity into the upper 80 mph range, and right-handers Jay Taylor and Ian Post are working diligently towards returning for the '09 campaign as major contributors.

Catching: Returning veteran Connor Rankin leads group
Bellevue's catching foundation is led by returner Connor Rankin. A co-captain this year, Rankin enjoyed tremendous success last year, going from walk-on, to starter in the NWAACC Championship, to the top returning hitter from '07, to team captain. Outstanding academic success, in addition to an increase of 20 pounds of muscle has established Rankin as possibly one of the better catching prospects in the entire NWAACC. Andrew Stephenson, a returner from '07, is currently rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery in August. He will not be able to catch this spring, but may be activated as a designated hitter this spring. One of the team's top students in the classroom, Stephenson will graduate and transfer to a four-year next fall whether or not his second year of eligibility is used this spring. Gio Learned, a two-sport star out of Inglemoor HS, brings one of the best arms in the state. The Bulldogs are fortunate to have Learned's services, after he was courted by Washington State University's assistant baseball coach late last summer. Lucas Shaw is a physical bodied transfer from Lewis-Clark State. He brings a potent bat and is gradually working his way into catching shape after redshirting last year.

Infield: Tough job replacing the gold glove combo of Kyle Montgomery and Shane Hoey
The infield suffered heavy losses due to graduation, but return several noteworthy players who should make immediate impact this spring. At first base, Kentucky-signee WIll Campbell returns after sitting out last year. The cleanup hitter in '06, Campbell brings a certain element of fear when he steps up to the plate. Besides power, and the ability to win a game with one swing, he shows outstanding speed for a big man, with running ability reminiscent of a linebacker in the NFL. Riley Tompkins has emerged as an immediate contributor for this spring at first base also. The 6-6 lefty swinger has a pure swing from the left side and defends well. Still nursing several injuries sustained from the summer, returning power hitter Malcolm Lee is undergoing rehabilitation for a number of areas that were injured during a car accident in August. His health status for '08 is yet to be determined.

Co-Captain and converted outfielder Marc Schuermeyer

Co-captain Marc Schuermeyer, perhaps the greatest definition of a team player, has agreed to contribute this year as an infielder. A natural outfielder, "Schue" will return to the middle infield where he played in high school. "He was probably our best defensive outfielder last year behind Justin Lucero, but with a talent-loaded outfield and vacancies in the infield, he's been a true leader by working hard at second base; a position that doesn't come as easy to him as center field," says Yoshino. Also at second base is freshman Keegan Acker. A lefty swinger, Acker may be the team’s best contact hitter. 

Sophomore Jeff Hanna and freshmen Brett Dvorak and incoming transfer Hunter Beaty are currently rotating between shortstop and third base to find the best combination.  Hanna has already shown that he could be one of the team’s top hitters, reminiscent of his senior year when he batted at a .420 clip.  He’s also physically become one of the strongest players on the team.  Expect Hanna to have a banner season, regardless of position he plays. Dvorak has the look with a tall rangy body and smooth actions in the field.  His range and ability to hit consistently with wood will play a large role towards his impact this season.  Beaty may be physically the most balanced of all three.  A switch-hitting middle infielder transfer from Oregon State, Beaty has the defensive actions, arm, speed, and bat to be a big-time player. His ability to start off with confidence will be a major factor, as he hasn’t played in an actual game in almost two years.  Jonathan Leung is the lone corner guy at third base.  Although he struggled in the fall with the bat, Leung got hot near the end of fall ball and has always swung wood exceptionally well in his previous summer seasons.  He also showed tremendous improvement defensively, laying out for balls and displaying surprisingly good range for a corner guy.  The lone returning everyday starter from last year’s lineup, Mike Stone, will sit out the ’08 season and is expected to be a middle of the order hitter in ‘09. 

Returning outfielder Jason Moseby

Outfield: a display of athleticism and options galore
Without a doubt, the beef of Bellevue’s squad is in the outfield.  A highly athletic group, the six outfielders may be the best group of outfielders in the entire NWAACC.  The six have all shown bats, and display exceptional speed. The squad’s two fastest runners, right field candidate Michael Robertson and previous Pittsburgh Pirates draft Jason Moseby, ran 6.7 60’s in the fall and have gotten faster.  Moseby is a returning second team all-region outfielder who had the highest stolen base percentage while swiping 19 bags last spring.  He also hit a steady .320 in '07.  Moseby returns in left field along with redshirt sophomore Nick Johnson, who showed that he can hit with any of the other outfielders this fall.  After nursing a fractured vertebrae last year, Johnson will work his way into the lineup with a consistent bat.  Robertson has been tabbed as the top pro prospect on the team, along with pitcher Brad Reid.  He shows exceptional speed, strength in his swing with wood, and possesses the strongest arm of all six outfielders.  Easily a major college center fielder, his arm strength will be utilized in right field this year.  Decater is also slated to play right field and has already shown his ability to take over a ball game with perhaps the sweetest left-handed swing in the northwest community college ranks.  Returner Kyle Laukala and incoming freshman Ryan Shelton possess similar styles of play as the team’s center fielders.  Both have the savvy and instincts to pose a threat on the basepaths, and both can flat out hit.  Once the weather becomes more conducive to showcasing defensive ability in game situations, the range and consistency may be a factor that separates the two.  “The fact that all of the outfielders possess so many tools will allow them to be candidates as late in the game insertions if they’re not starting,” says Yoshino.  “I can see all six of these guys being major contributors. It’s unlikely only three are going to play all year.  And when you consider the fact that Schuermeyer is as good as any of them in the outfield, the evidence of our talent-laden outfield is even more obvious.”

The ’08 Season
As in the years past, the Bulldogs have a strong pre-season schedule with non-league games against NWAACC Championship west region entries Green River and Lower Columbia in addition to Mt. Hood (OR), a team loaded with draft-type arms.  The Bulldogs will open the season with a double-header against Wenatchee Valley, a team that placed at the ’06 NWAACC Championships and lost out on a berth last May in a playoff.  The square off against Green River and Lower Columbia may be an early sign of things to come in late May; the North region opens up the '08 NWAACC Championships against the west region entries this year.  Bellevue will also play six games in four days in Arizona before returning home for the highly anticipated league opener against NWAACC runner-up, Skagit Valley.