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Phoenix again wields big sticks in Skyline By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN The Phoenix Pirates produced a .401 team batting average for the 1999 high school baseball season. That was a school record and propelled them deep into the Class 3A state playoffs for the second consecutive season. The Pirates, the 1998 state champions, advanced to the semifinals last year before losing to The Dalles, the eventual champion. They finished another offensive-minded season with 289 runs in 28 games, an average of just over 10 per game, on the way to a 21-7 record. No wonder the Pirates call themselves "The Lumber Company" -- they have a poster emblazoned with the moniker. With six members back, the Pirates are expecting to produce more big offensive numbers and contend with defending Skyline Conference champion Mazama, Hidden Valley, Henley and Lakeview for the crown. "The winner of this league usually does well in the state playoffs, and that should be the case again," says Phoenix coach Joe Hagler. "We have a lineup that's good from top to bottom," says assistant coach Brent Watts. "It's good enough that I think the bottom of our lineup could become the top by the end of the season. We are that good and that deep." Leading the Pirates at the plate will be second baseman Travis Dunlap, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior, who led the team last year in batting with a .558 average, with 13 home runs and 51 RBI. Dunlap already has a monster home run, estimated at 440 feet, says Hagler, on his resume for 2000. He's batting .400 early in the season. "I have some high goals for myself," says Dunlap, who says he patterned his left-handed swing after San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds. "I like to wave my arms back and forth and hold my hands up high before I swing. It helps me get a good wrist cock, and that gives me power." Dunlap, 17, looks intimidating enough striding into the batter's box. But when he starts waving his bat back and forth -- seemingly taunting the pitcher -- it can be a sight to behold. The ball he hit against fourth-rated Glide was something to see, too, as it rocketed over the right-field fence in a 10-9 win in eight innings. "It was a low line drive that seemed like it wouldn't come down," says Hagler. "I've never seen a high school kid hit a ball that far or that hard. Travis is a natural hitter. He's a kid who has a chance to be a powerful major-college hitter." "He's not the best hitter I've had here yet, but he's close already as a junior. He was the best sophomore hitter I've ever seen at any level." Other returning starters are third baseman David Westfall, outfielder Theron Hull, shortstop-pitcher Andy Bartels, outfielder Joel Bath and pitcher-utility player Chase Tester. Westfall batted .447 last year, Hull 446, Bartels .385, Bath .321 and Tester .288. Bartels says the Pirates may have their best team since he was a freshman. "I think we're deeper, and we're going to score a lot of runs," he says. "When we get our pitching together and the younger players come along, we could be real tough." Westfall says the Pirates won't settle for less than a state championship. "I'm not saying it will be easy, but we have a lot of talent in the senior class, and we have a lot of younger talent in the junior and sophomore classes," says Westfall. "We've developed a tradition of winning now. We like it." New varsity players expected to chip in are junior catcher Brian Loper, junior outfielder Tyler McPhee and junior designated hitter Bobby Dawson. The Pirates will have pitching depth, with starters Tester, Dunlap and Bartels leading the way. Westfall, a hard-throwing right-hander, will be a spot starter and the primary bullpen closer. Mazama will again be led by the Nelson brothers. Jake Nelson is a pitcher and Jayson Nelson is a catcher for the defending champions. Another talented pitcher in the Skyline will be senior Corey Sedlacek of Lakeview. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA