by Tom Helm
Sports Editor

Just six games into their 2007 campaign, the Shoreline Dolphin baseball team is just one win away from matching its win total from last season.

Coming off a disappointing ‘06, the Dolphins have managed to split their first six games, and have shown remarkable improvement.

The first two series of the year involved sweeps, the Dolphins doing the sweeping in the first, and then getting swept in the second.

The season started off on the right foot when the Dolphins swept a twinbill against the Pierce Raiders on March 4 at Lower Woodland Field, by scores of 3-2 and 5-2.

“We’re encouraged, but it could have been better,” Shoreline Manager Steve Seki said of his team’s record. “We gave up some late leads. If you take those two innings away, we’d have a pretty good record right now.”

Seki was referring to the second game of the doubleheader on March 10, when they traveled to Moses Lake to take on the Big Bend Vikings. The Dolphins entered the seventh inning with a 5-1 lead, only to lose it by giving up four runs in the inning. Shoreline lost the game 6-5 in the final inning, after a double and a base hit drove in the runner from second.

The Dolphins lost both games to the Vikings by scores of 6-2 and 6-5.

“These runs were after two outs,” Seki said. “It was a tough way to start the road trip. I told the guys after the game that we can’t get too comfortable with a lead, we have to put guys away, and it showed against Yakima.”

The team took their manager’s advice.

The Dolphins traveled to Yakima on March 11, and exploded for 12 runs against Yakima Valley in the first game of a doubleheader that they split with the Yaks.

Leading the offense was Shoreline right fielder Tyler Starkel, who hit a grand slam, and third baseman Tyler Fisk who added a two run shot. The grand slam was Starkel’s third home run of the young season.

“They just kept on piling on the runs, adding to the lead,” Seki said.

The Dolphins couldn’t muster the same offense in the second game of the double header, and fell 5-3 against the Yaks.

“Pitching so far has been great. Our starters have kept us in games that are easily winnable,” Seki said. “They’re doing what we ask by getting ahead of hitters.”

Last year, the offense struggled all year long. So far this year, the bats have come through by driving in a total of 32 runs in Shoreline’s first six games. Part of that production is due to leadoff hitter and first baseman Ryan Church, followed by outfielder Justin Goo in the lineup.
“They’ve been setting the table for Fisk and Starkel by getting on base,” Seki said. “Church has been great in the leadoff role.”

Morale is high on the Dolphin squad.

“We’re really optimistic. We have good pitching, timely hitting, we could easily be 5-1 right now,” Seki said. “We still have a lot of work to do, but we’re feeling good.”

The Dolphins travel to Aberdeen, Wash. for the Gray’s Harbor tournament over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, then travel to Arizona the following week for another tournament. The Dolphins return home on April 1, when they take on the Olympic Rangers at Lower Woodland field. First pitch is at 1 p.m.