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Show Uiliing Baseball: Quite Optimistic By DAVE WIGHAM BOUNTIFUL - Viewmont baseball coach Wade Bender is expecting great things out of his team this season and with the type of people he has returning one can't blame the coach for his optimism. THE VIKES have seven returning starters in the lineup from last year, they also have ten players off of the American Legion team that took third in the state tournament during the past summer. Coach Bender indicates that this year's team has good depth, speed, power and more importantly good team unity. "I think our great team attitude will be a major asset to the team this season," noted Coach Bender. ASSISTING Coach Bender this year, primarily with the junior varsity program, will be Doyle Norton who takes over for Val Cullimore. Val is now the head man at Woods Cross. (See article.) About sixty players reported report-ed to tryouts, which is an indication of the type of tradition baseball has at the school, and after two weeks the coaches have settled on the team. SENIORS Mark Gam and Steve Nielsen were elected as co-captains. Mark is a hard throwing pitcher as well as a good defensive third baseman, while Steve is a great shortstop. There was some concern as to whether Steve would be able to play baseball this year following a shoulder operation but both Steve and his coach have expressed that the shoulder is improving each day. Chris Roybal and Frank Putnam were elected as co-captains co-captains of the J.V. program. VIEWMONT has always been known for the pitching staff, they always seem to come up with some great hurlers, and this year is no exception. Senior Mark Gam leads the list of experience back on the mound for the Vikes with junior Kelly Downs and sophomore Russ Cannon the tops in each of their classes. Two other seniors who are excellent pitchers are Todd Hatch and Blaine Harding, both these will be counted on heavily in the season to contribute con-tribute along with the other three. FIVE sophomores are also potential throwers for the Vikes although all of them also play other positions. Frank Putnam, Mike Bar-nett, Bar-nett, Rich Downs, Mark Hess ' and Bob Moosman could all put in some mound duty for the junior team. Catching chores for the Vikes will be handled by junior Matt Lalli, who has proven himself in summer ball and has anxiously awaited his chance in school ball. Backing up Matt will be sophomore Brian Skidmore. AT FIRST will be senior Brian Bown, a strong switch hitting first sacker who has started for the Vikes three years. The Nielsen brothers will protect the middle for Viewmont View-mont covering second and shortstop, with the shoulder problem Steve might play second. When Garn isn't throwing he'll be at third but when he takes the mound junior Chris Royball or senior Gil Hodges will plant themselves in the hotbox. THE BACKUPS in the infield in-field could probably start at some other schools but in case of injury or slump the following players would be more than happy to fill in. Rock Cook at first, Ryan Sandford at second, and Putnam Put-nam at short could all play on any given day. Six players are listed as outfielders for Viewmont although many of the others could play it. Probable starters are seniors Pat Feigleson, Todd Jones and a battle between Eric Madsen and Bill Sorenson, both juniors, for the other spot. Sophomore Bryce Trump could also be used in the varsity contest. THE Viking players are anxious to get back into, the state playoffs, something they've missed the last couple of years. The Vikes have won the state title in '69. '73 and '75 and would love to add 1978 to that list. |
