There wasn't a whole lot to say, nice, about the final score of the game, for Evergreen, or, for its fans, after all was said and done, versus Highline, a loss, 21-0, but, play-wise, looking past that big number, the Wolverines accounted for several nice plays, defensively, on their home diamond, Friday.

"Honestly, we had high expectations at the beginning of the season," said Wolverines head coach, AJ Mathews, who coaches with assistant, Verl Jones. "But, things didn't go like we wanted. We still held the players accountable during the season for character and work ethic."

And, no where was that more apparent than the Wolverines' team playing hard all the way through this big loss, inning by inning. With the runs, hits, for the Pirates, compounding, the Wolverines kept fighting to make plays.

The Wolverines' record, 0-12, explains they won't be making the playoffs, as, their season finishes up, first, with a game against visiting Tyee at noon, on May 1, and, then, another home game, against Kennedy Catholic, at 3:30 PM, on May 4.
But, again, the season, and, this game, and, all the games, really, the Wolverines have played this season must be looked at as a whole, with no single part of its losing season taking away from some great fun and accomplishments done this season.

Playing It, Nice
"We had a few nice plays today," said Wolverines' coach, AJ Mathews.
And, that's a microcosm of the season, this effort, the one the Wolverines' players put on the field against the Pirates despite the lopsided loss.
In this game against the Pirates, the Wolverines made, at least, one nice play, defensively, in each of the five innings of the game that, incidentally, was shortened because of a five-inning, mercy rule.
Certainly, the Pirates' offense flowed inning after innning, offensively, belting out 16 hits, while the Wolverines struggled, getting no hits, against a three-pronged, pitching, attack from the Pirates, combining for their team's shutout.

But, defensively, it can't be emphasized enough that the Wolverines made some nice plays, consecutively, by innings, all the way through.

First nice play of the game came in the top of the first inning, actually, two nice plays, as, Wallace Nino made back-to-back catches in left field. The Pirates did score a run on one of his catches, getting a sacrifice runner home, and, three runners scored on two hits before that, for a 4-0 Pirates lead after one, but, regardless, nice work with the leather by Nino, there.

"Wallace is a very good outfielder," said Mathews, whose team was down, 7-0, after two innings, 11-0, after three, 15-0, after four, and, 21-0, after five. "He improves every year. I hope, he sticks with the game. He will be dearly missed in our program."

Second nice play of the game for the Wolverines was in the Pirates' top of the second inning, at-bats, as, Wolverines' shortstop, Henk Ufkes, broke right for a zippy, bouncing, grounder. Ufkes couldn't get in front of the ball, so, he dove, sideways, somersaulting, at the ball and he, acrobatically, gloved it. The ball, hit to the hole, was too well hit by the Pirate hitter on the play for Ufkes to stand up and make a throw to first in time. But, still, Ufkes got to it. And, that effort was highlight reel material, just, for that reason alone.

"He's the guy who encourages the other guys, knows how to get guys going," said Mathews.

So, two nice plays noted so far, and, in the third innning, the Wolverines showed more good effort, defensively, as, third baseman, Richard Charfauros, watched a hotly hit ball, bounding at him. He, then, pocketed in his leather, near the ground, before running to third for a force out. Then, he made a throw to first base that was just after the runner arrived. Then, on a throw back to Charfauros, on the same play, from the first baseman, Craig Bailey, a Pirates runner was going to third and just made it before Charfauros swept his glove toward him to apply a tag.
So, almost a double play by him. And, not too far from a triple!

"I know," said Charfauros, smiling, at the reference to his good work at third.

So, then, again, in the fourth inning, with the Pirates at bat, it was the Wolverines' catcher, Josh Scovel, noticing the runner on second base took off to steal third. But,there was a runner already on third. That Pirate runner hit the breaks, seeing his teammate standing at third, and, reversed it back toward second base. But, Scovel changed that plan with a perfect throw to second baseman, Tony Dinh, who started to chase down the runner. Then, not able to get him, he threw to Charfauros, on third, and, so, the pickel was in full gear. Then, the runner, seeing Charfauros, turned, heading back for second. Charfauros threw to Ufkes, nicely, backing up Dinh, and, he ran down the runner for the out.

So, that's the first four innings, and, for the fifth inning, honestly, there's not much to say, but that Gage Early struck a batter out and Dinh did field a grounder, at second, throwing to first, nicely, so that's said.

A Reflection
Looking at this season as a whole, Mathews mentioned there were a lot of positives, not just in games, but, fun, and, learning, in the practices, too.

"Verl Jones is a great help," said Mathews. "He's been great to the kids, too. He gives them food. He, even, brought Bill North in to teach them about hitting. Bill North was on the Oakland A's in 1977 when they played in the World Series, and, won it."
Ufkes, and, Nino, the team's senior leaders spoke of this season in their own way.

"Rough season, to be honest," said Ufkes, who will attend the University of Washington next year. Ufkes is a bright beacon for the Wolverines' school, including having a 3.95 g.p.a. as well as being a strong cross country runner as well as a swimmer, so, a three-sport athlete for his school.
"We were more or less a younger team, a lot of sophomores and freshman," said Ufkes.

"A lot of first year players, too," added Mathews, standing nearby, after the game against the Pirates.

"Yeah," said Ufkes, agreeing. "That's the main thing. Experience matters as much as talent."
Mathews was not knocking his team, as, he said, "My players are great, but, we need experienced players."

And, speaking of Nino, he was helping rake the sand on the field after the game versus the Pirates. Nino is going into the US Navy after this school year, for that disciplinary career, so, another ray of light for the Wolverines.

But, anyway, Nino, and, Ufkes, were talking to Mathews in this last get-together before not playing high school baseball anymore.

Nino was watching Canyon Svetlik, bending down, meticulously, doing something to the infield sand between the second and third basepath.

"That is the guy you need, pulling out weeds," said Nino, pointing at Svetlik.

And, Ufkes was saying things, too, telling things to his coach, Mathews, kind of, maybe, looked a little disappointed after the game, which makes sense, if the case, since the season did not go with expectations hoped for, as he aforementioned.
"You got to stick with it, honestly," said Ufkes. "You're used to winning, aren't you?"

Mathews, who comes over from Bellingham for, this, his first year coaching the Wolverines, answered.
"Yeah, I am," said Mathews. "I coached at Sehome and with college teams and summer leagues in Whatcom County."

So, there are good things that happened this season for the Wolverines depite a winless season, including Nino, who was not just raking the field, afterward, but taking the time to do more than that, too.

"Look at Wallace over there," said Mathews. "He is showing a freshman how to rake the field."

So, that's nice, too. It's fair to say the Wolverines' season was not great as far as winning, but, the maturity level of these guys on Mathews' team-- along with assistant, Jones--exuded character and work ethic, just as Mathews said, earlier. And, that is really it, isn't it, what sports matters most of. So, a very successful season for Mathews, and, Jones, and, the Wolverines, in that very, real, sense.

"I want to give these guys a shot in baseball, warming up, playing the game right. We had a lot of aha moments, and, I hope these guys keep those going, because they are self-motivators."