BELLINGHAM: Blackhawks slow to launch

Like all Spring high school sports teams, the Bellingham Blackhawks have had to deal with snow covered fields, a gym too small for practice and wet pavement that scuffs balls and knees. Fielders play catch on one side of the school's parking lot, while the lacrosse team runs through drills across the way. Both overlooking the ice covered fields below, hoping the warm weather will work its magic and clear the snow off the soggy soil.

For the Baseball team, they are coming off a championship season, earning a share of the Tri-Valley crown last year. With lefty Matt White and righty Kyle Martinis, they have two veteran pitchers returning to anchor the staff. Both have the look of dominant pitchers, if only in physical appearence. It is hard to judge talent a few days into practice, and worse on flat pavement rather than the slope of a mound. One can look at their performances last season as an indicator of how well they will do this year.

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Photo caption: Senior pitcher Kyle Martinis winds up to pitch during practice for Bellingham High School's baseball team Thursday.