Naselle baseball swings for the finals this year

In the past three seasons, no school in Washington's 1B Class has had more success on the baseball field than Naselle High School. The Comets were back-to-back champions in '22 and '23 and, after a third-place finish last season, Head Coach Randy Lindstrom and his team have their sights set on the finals this year.

Last season, the Comets' streak of state titles came to an end in the semifinals at the hands of Almira Coulee Hartline. The loss was Naselle's first in the state tournament since the pandemic. After talking with his team at the beginning of this year, Lindstrom said one of the team's goals is to get back to the biggest stage. Luckily, there's plenty of veteran leadership to rely on, as Naselle is returning eight of its nine starters from last season. While bringing much of the same team back, these aren't the same players who finished the season in May.

"All of them are proving to be bigger, faster, stronger and a better feel mentally for the game," Lindstrom said. "We have some really good young talent this year."

In Naselle's 12-2 win against rival Wahkikaum on March 25, the Comets were on fire at the plate. Naselle had 13 hits with only four batters striking out. Seniors Jack Strange and Jacob Lindstrom led the way for the Comets. Strange recorded three hits, a base on balls, three RBI, and scored two runs, while Lindstrom had a team-high four hits and four RBI.

In addition to the potent senior duo, junior second baseman Trajen Ford was also working the plate with three hits. Excited about some of the younger players making an impact so far, Lindstrom said freshman Eli Gardner and sophomores Kyle Pakenen and Garett Boggs will be "a big help this year."

In the season's early stages, the weather can be as disruptive as any opponent, and it's not uncommon for games to be rescheduled. Still, it's also a time to not forget about how the conditions can affect the players. "We really focus on keeping everyone healthy and maintaining arm health through the early part of the season," Lindstrom said. "[It's] so important with this wet, cold weather."

On the field, the focus is on playing as a team. Like in any sport, Lindstrom said it's important to "keep toeing the line and being unselfish." One aspect that he and his staff try to help the players handle is the mental aspect. The lessons taught in baseball are things that the players will need when they walk away from the baseball diamond.

"Baseball is definitely the toughest mental sport you could ever play," said Lindstrom. "To be able to stay positive when failing the majority of the time is very difficult to wrap your head around. It definitely teaches a good work ethic and a positive mental approach to life even when things get rough. Those tools with stick with you forever."

Another thing that sticks with Lindstrom and his players is the undying support of the Naselle community for their high school sports teams. When the school and baseball program had some funding issues this year, the community stepped up and "poured in with the donations."

Without the help of the folks around town, Lindstrom said there would not have been a baseball season this year. "We have great community support here in Naselle in all sports," he said. "This small town sure loves their athletics and really loves their kids."

As the team battles to make it back to the pinnacle of 1B baseball this season, they do so not just for the school, but for the town and community they represent as well.