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Knight awaits shining moment Prep Notebook By GREG STILES When they called "play ball" in Monday's baseball jamboree at Anhorn Field no one was more excited than Crater High's Craig Knight. "It's the baseball itch. Every player has it this time of year," says the senior all-Southern Oregon Conference and second-team all-state shortstop. "I've been anticipating this the last six or seven months, thinking of what I could do to make myself better.'' Knight determined a couple of years ago that baseball was his sport, his passion and maybe some day his profession. The 6-foot, 185-pound infielder was named one of the top prospects in the West by Collegiate Baseball in its March 5 issue. The other two Oregonians were Marshfield shortstop Jeremy Henry and center fielder Mike Andrusco of Aloha. The switch-hitter batted .478 last season and .428 as a sophomore. He stole 13 bases in 14 attempts, had three home runs and drove in 40 runs in 25 games for Crater in 1998. Knight played shortstop and batted clean-up for the Medford Mustangs last summer. "The Mustangs were a fun experience," he says. "We got to travel quite a bit and camaraderie was great. We played tougher teams, but I felt more confident because it was like having an all-star team around me." After dabbling a bit in football, Knight decided to concentrate on baseball. "I figured baseball was my main sport," Knight says. "If it was something I wanted to give 100 percent to, there was not going to be time for other sports. It's made a big difference for me. "Knowing I'm out there year-round and practicing constantly makes me feel confident. I have the edge on the other people, who maybe athletically ready, but they're not baseball ready." Knight began attending Fred Herrmann's baseball school at Miles Field as a freshman. "That gave me a more serious attitude toward the game," Knight says. "It helped me physically as well as mentally." John White an instructor at Herrmann's school has worked with Knight for two years. "He's very strong for his size," White says. "He's very quick and has tremendous hands from both sides of the plate. Typically, you don't see a lot of switch-hitters capable of hitting the ball hard from either side. "He's spent a lot of time in the weight room. Some kids are willing to do it and some aren't. Obviously, he challenged himself in the weight room and it's paid off for him." That dedication helped Knight stand out his sophomore season. Crater coach Chuck Dominiak saw a difference, plucked Knight off the junior varsity squad and stuck him in the lineup. He's been there ever since. "Nothing seems to faze him," Dominiak says. "He wasn't nervous and a lot of kids would've been in awe. Craig wasn't, he just played whatever game he was in. "He stepped in as a sophomore and did a great job. Some kids will come up weak and develop as they get stronger. He's one of these kids with real quick wrists and a natural swing. A coach can't develop that; it's a God-given thing." While his hitting statistics have been impeccable, Knight's fielding ranges from a thing of beauty to mud in the eye. "I think he stands out as one of the best shortstops in our conference since I've been here," says Dominiak, who is entering his 17th year with the Comets. "He can make a great play, but he loses focus once in a while. When he stays focused, he's exceptional. When his mind wanders, the ball will catch up with him." Dominiak has served as a mentor to Knight both on and off the field. "He's been in my corner through everything I've done and one of the most influential people in my life," says Knight. "He's more than a coach and adviser. When I've messed up and not been there or done something at school, he's been there to help me." Dominiak marvels at Knight's talent and desire to succeed on the diamond. If the passion extended to the classroom, he says, Knight would possibly be playing major college ball next spring. "I think he has the raw natural ability to help him get to that next level," Dominiak says. "I wish he would give his schoolwork an equal effort." But a school such as Sacramento City College or Lane Community College in Eugene may well benefit. "A junior college would be a good place for him to go," Dominiak says. "He could get looked at for a couple of years and then maybe take the next step." Right now, Knight's thinking about what Crater can do and what he can do to help propel the Comets into the state playoffs. "I want to be the best motivator and team leader I can be," he says. "If I mess up, I want to show the younger kids how to bounce back and turn a negative into a positive." ACADEMIC HONORS : The Phoenix High boys swim team has been honored as one of the state's top-10 Class 3A academic performers. The Pirates turned in a cumulative 3.41 grade-point average. Ryan Gold, Jake Helfrich, Kris Kizer, Matt Platt, Peter Thornhill, Richard White, Jesse Holcomb and Tony Byrd all compiled GPAs of 3.36 or better. (Greg Stiles is a Mail Tribune sports writer. He can be reached at 776-4483.) Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.