Houston-style baseball starts with puddles, commitment

HOUSTON - Houston Hawks baseball coach Tim Weeks admits there is a big difference between baseball in Alaska and baseball in San Diego, where he grew up.

We used to start playing ball in February, Weeks said at the puddle-covered, wind-driven Smith Field last week before practice. We had a good turnout. The challenge is to get the commitment. It seems the priority for these kids is to get a job and get to work.

Weeks thinks his players should enjoy being kids while they can. The jobs can come later.

When Weeks first came to Alaska nine years ago, he started playing baseball with Houstons athletic director, Jamie Smith.

Weeks told him that he would one day like to coach a high school team.

Eventually, he got that chance.

Last year, when Houston considered starting a baseball team, Weeks dream came true.

We got the parents together and put a booster club together to raise money, he said.

In Alaska, participation in high school sports is often a second priority behind such competitive team sports as hockey and soccer. Weeks found it difficult for his players to overcome that pervasive attitude.

But he is working on it.

I told my boys that high school (baseball) comes first, he said. Its time for them to get out of Little League. Its a big commitment. Were going to be here five or six days a week going into the season.

The Hawks season opens on the road Monday against a team still to be announced from Anchorage. Houston, Wasilla, Palmer and Colony will all be playing in Anchorage, and at the end of this week, the actual opponents hadnt been figured out.

Although Little League is a good place to start learning, Weeks encourages his players to move up in the ranks of Valley baseball competition.

Id like to see every one of my kids try out for American Legion or Junior American Legion and travel around the state a little, he said.

Weeks said his Hawks have some hidden talent.

Senior southpaw Cole Saunders, who helped the Houston basketball team to a third-place finish at state, and freshman southpaw Peter Clemens, will be bringing in the heat from the mound. The infield will be anchored by the Webb brothers Travis and Jesse will be Houstons double-play combo.

Both of them have potential to be very good ball players, Weeks said. Especially Travis, hes a big strong kid.

Weeks is counting on junior Bruce VanBuskirk to be a good leader.

He has a good attitude and is willing to learn, Weeks said. Im finding out he can play anywhere.

Add senior Randy Hunter, a hockey player who has never played organized baseball, and Billy Cannon, who is also coming off a successful basketball season, and the Hawks will field a team of conditioned athletes in Houstons inaugural baseball season.

If every one of my players have (Hunters) attitude, well probably have a winning team, he said.Photo: Senior catcher Craig Seime will lead the Houston into its inaugural season. Seime is the only Hawks player who has American Legion Baseball League experience.GENE JANSEN/Frontiersman.