Sports : Wednesday, June 14, 2000

by Seattle Times staff

Here is a quick overview of where some of Snohomish and North King County's best baseball talent is playing this summer:

Chaffey Baseball Club

National affiliation - Connie Mack.

Home field - Husky Ballpark.

The skinny - The team started its 20th season with 11 consecutive wins. Six players from the team will play baseball at Washington next season. Josh Conover, John Otness and Mike Wagner are three top players, all from Eastside schools. All have Husky baseball scholarships. Stanwood's Abe Silvestri, an all-WesCo 3A pitcher and infielder, will play for Edmonds Community College.

Web site: http://www.chaffeybaseball.com/

Wilkinson Academy

National affiliation - Connie Mack.

Home field - Primarily Edmonds CC.

The skinny - Pete Wilkinson works with over 100 kids at his baseball academy, which includes six players who were drafted this year. His summer-league team's roster includes three Pac-10 players: Woodinville senior Bret Butler (USC), Kentwood senior Mike White (Cal) and South Kitsap senior Matt Einspahr (Cal).

Stilly River Rapids

National affiliation - American Legion

Home field - Marysville-Pilchuck High

The skinny - Pat Opel coaches this Legion team of mostly graduated seniors from Marysville-Pilchuck, Stanwood, Arlington and Darrington. Top players are All-State series participants Mike Moser (pitcher, M-P) and Josh Adams (Arlington, catcher). Dan Moss (second base) and Paul Bonner (shortstop) come from Stanwood. All are seniors.

U.S. Bank

National affiliation - Connie Mack

Home field - Bellevue C.C.

The skinny - U.S. Bank has in recent years been one of the top teams in the area. Coached by Howard Hagen, the team is led by WesCo 3A and 4A all-leaguers Fraser Dizard of Meadowdale, a recent major-league draft choice (P, senior), Mark Hilde of Edmonds-Woodway (3b, junior), Kyle Aure of Mountlake Terrace (C, junior), Tim Holt of Lake Stevens (2b, junior) and Joel Villalobos of Lynnwood (1b, senior).

Seattle Baseball Club

National affiliation - Connie Mack and Mickey Mantle

Home field - Various

The skinny - Coached by former Edmonds C.C. pitching coach Mark Potoshnick, there are two Club teams - one for players 18 and under (Connie Mack classification) and one for 16 and under (Mickey Mantle). Top players for the older team include senior center fielder Andy Minor of Lynnwood, sophomore shortstop Nick Froman of Lake Stevens, junior second baseman Chris Todd of Shorewood and junior pitcher vsophomore pitchers Vinny Biggs (Lynnwood) and Joe Goldfinch (Everett).

Snohomish Senior Legion

National affiliation - American Legion

Home field - Snohomish High The skinny - Predominantly made of players from Snohomish and Monroe high schools. Top players include All-WesCo 3A first team selection Ryan Oster (shortstop) and second-teamer Phil Orton, both seniors from Monroe.

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