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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend July 21, 2006 Among the strengths of the North Medford Mavericks' Zack Earle are his knowledge of the strike zone and his bat control, ideal qualities for a leadoff hitter. (Mail Tribune / Jim Craven) Zack Attack! By DON HUNT Mail Tribune The quick, soft hands. The sure glove. The fleet feet. The smooth batting stroke. The strong work ethic. North Medford Mavericks shortstop Zack Earle has parlayed those attributes into becoming perhaps the best baseball player on the best team in American Legion Area 4 A Division this summer. Earle, who completed his sophomore year at North Medford in June, is drawing comparisons to Evan McArthur, a former all-state shortstop for the Black Tornado who recently helped Cal State Fullerton into the College World Series. "I compare them a lot because Zack really is a mirror image of Evan when Evan was younger," says Brett Wolfe, the North Medford High and Mavericks coach. "They're both late bloomers physically, and as far as their skills go, they really are a lot alike." Earle is batting .421 with 14 doubles, four triples, 35 RBIs and 25 stolen bases for the Mavericks, who have posted a ??-?? Area 4 record and a 35-8-1 overall mark this summer. Advertisement The Mavs clinched the Area 4 title earlier this week for a berth in the American Legion A State Tournament next week in Grants Pass. Batting in the leadoff spot, Earle, who has an on-base percentage hovering around .550, has been a tough out all summer. "He has exceptional knowledge of the strike zone and excellent bat control," Wolfe says. "He takes a lot of pitchers deep into the count, and he draws a lot of walks, which is what you want from your leadoff hitter." Earle is probably good enough to play for the Mavericks' parent club — the Medford Mustangs — but he prefers to play full time and anchor the infield at shortstop rather than play part time and be in a different role defensively. "I would rather just play," he says. "Who wants to sit?" Earle was pressed into duty at shortstop last spring for the North Medford High team. Wolfe would have preferred to break in Earle at second base — that's the position McArthur played when he was a sophomore — but it became evident in the Tornado's early practice sessions that despite being a 15-year-old, 145-pound sophomore, Earle was the top candidate to man the team's most vital defensive position. "I remember playing South Eugene in our first game and being so nervous I could barely stand up," says Earle, who led the Tornado freshman team to a 23-2 record in 2004. "I was expecting to have every ball hit my way and to make a bunch of errors. "But once the game started, I settled down and just did my job." This past spring, Earle, who turned 16 on June 19, was likely on his way to earning no worse than honorable mention all-conference honors. But a broken right thumb suffered in a PE class threw a monkey wrench into his game. At first, Earle didn't know his thumb was fractured, but after committing six errors in a doubleheader at Klamath Union — all of the miscues came on throws — he learned the truth after visiting his doctor and getting X-rayed. "In my opinion, Zack would have been a second-team guy in the SOC, but with all those errors in that one doubleheader, we really couldn't nominate him," Wolfe says. "The good thing is, he's going to be around for the next two years." Earle has been on Wolfe's radar screen almost from the day he first put on a Little League uniform at the age of 6. That's because Wolfe's son, Hayden, has been Earle's teammate up through the ranks. Hayden Wolfe is an outfielder for the Mavericks. "I've watched Zack play shortstop since he was a little kid," Brett Wolfe says. "Even back then, you could tell he was going to be something special." Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s