2011 Summer Baseball Preview: Mission Valley Mariners

It's always nice to have a farm system, and the Mission Valley

Mariners are about to reap the benefits of theirs.

It's always nice to have a farm system, and the Mission Valley Mariners are about to reap the benefits of theirs.

After fielding a very successful senior-laden team last season that made it to the state tournament, the Mariners are recharging by bringing many of their younger B team players up to the A level this season.

"If they weren't involved in the Mariner system it would be like starting all over," Mariners manger Jami Hanson said. "It will be a huge difference."

In four years of existence, the B team has allowed more kids to play legion ball while exposing them to the kind of competition it takes to develop college-level baseball athletes.

The Mariners already showed what they're made of as two weeks ago they downed the Missoula Mavericks 13-0 in their season opener. Hanson loved what he got from wily pitchers Josh Rustad and Austin Von Tom and there was obviously not a whole lot to complain about with 13 runs in the first inning.

"It wasn't off of mistakes by Missoula either," Hanson said.

The Mariners should enjoy the return of Polson tennis phenom Justin Evertz, who will return to the diamond, along with Ronan quarterback Robbie Gauthier and Dalton Mahlzon.

"I like the work ethic that all these kids have shown and the dedication to be there," Hanson said. "They've decided to commit their summer to baseball."

And what a summer it will be - the Mariners will play over 60 games, host the Firecracker Tournament on Fourth of July weekend and then also host the state tournament this year just a few weeks after that.

"There's going to be a lot of baseball played," Hanson said.

While hosting the state tournament guarantees an automatic bid, that's not the attitude the Mariners are taking coming into this season.

"We're playing by the motto ‘take what is given to you and earn what isn't,'" Hanson said.

Hanson also pointed out that the Mariners were one of the first teams to win a district tournament that they hosted (in 2007), since hosting a home tournament can be particular draining on the players, coaches and parents.

"We feel we want to earn that No. 1 seed out of Western Montana," Hanson said.

Fundraisers a success for the Mariners

Hanson went on to thank all those who helped support the Mariners for the their Spring Tailgate on April 16, which saw a wonderful dinner, silient and calcutta auction and a recap of the 2010

season at the Ronan Community Center.

The initial estimates were around $7,000 for money raised at the Tailgate.