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Baseball is back in Boise
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The days of summer are once again upon us and that can only mean one thing: the Boise Hawks are back in action. This week the A minor league baseball team will kick-off the 2007 season with a five-game home stand against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes.
For the past five seasons, Boise has been one of the Northwest League’s hottest teams and, this season, it will embark on its quest to claim its 12th division title and eighth Northwest League Championship in team history.
“We come out to play everyday with a winning attitude,” Hawks Manager Tom Beyers said. “This season will be no different. We’re ready and we’ll come to play hard every night.”
Since becoming a farm team for the Chicago Cubs in 2001, the partnership has been nothing but beneficial for both parties. Over the past five seasons, the Hawks have won four division titles and two Northwest League Championships (2002 and 2004). As a result of that success the Cubs and Hawks have extended their player development contract through the 2008 season.
The Hawks fell just short of a league championship last season but will have a new roster this year, which should shake things up. Beyers is returning this season to manage the club and expects his team to be tested early on.
“Any time you begin a new season you’ve got to expect to be challenged,” Beyers said. “But, it’s those challenges that make us a better team day in and day out.”
Last Friday, the Chicago Cubs announced the assignment of 25 players to the Hawks. Among them is Boise native Jordan Latham. Latham played last season for the College of Southern Idaho and was formerly a pitcher for Centennial High School. He was selected by the Cubs in the 29th round of last year’s draft and signed with the club this spring.
“I’m excited to be a part of the Cubs organization and to have a chance to play right here in Boise,” Latham said. “It’s pretty awesome to be able to play in front of hometown fans and have that support.”
Meanwhile, among those returning this season for the Hawks are Steven Clevenger, Mario Mercedes and Sammy Baez. Clevenger hit .283 in 63 games last season for the Hawks and will make a switch from the infield to catcher this season.
“We felt this would be the best move for Steve,“ Beyers said.
“We felt he was better suited to this position and we’ll see how it works out.”
Mercedes hit .315 in 37 games for the Hawks in 2006 and will join Clevenger behind the plate. Baez played the least amount of games for Boise last season (19) but showcased the higher batting average (.319).
“We’re excited to have all these guys,” Beyers said. “We’ve got young guys like Jordan [Latham] who we are very optimistic about. And then we’ve got guys like Clevenger and Baez who’ve been here before and that helps.”
Last week the Chicago Cubs drafted third baseman Josh Vitters with the third pick in the first round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. At age 18, Vitters comes highly touted out of high school and is ranked as the top pure high school hitter by Baseball America. His compact swing, bat speed and athleticism are primary reasons Vitters was taken so high in the draft. The California native has committed to attend Arizona State University on a baseball scholarship, but that may change due to the draft and it remains unclear whether Vitters will wear a Hawks uniform this season.
Hawks skipper Tom Beyers, who was awarded NWL Manager of the Year in 2004, will be joined this season by pitching coach Tom Pratt and hitting coach Franklin Font.
“We’re happy with the roster we’ve ended up with at this point and from here we play to win,” Beyers said. “Boise Hawks fans can count on another exciting year of baseball and our goal is to bring the championship back here to Boise because that is where it belongs.”
Each of the Hawks games this week vs. Salem-Keizer begin at 7:15 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.
TATE CASTLETON
Assistant Sports Editor
