Freshman becomes face of Boxer baseball

posted in: Sports, Spring | 0

He whiffed at the first pitch. The second was an inside fastball and it left Linfield’s ball park in a hurry after he crushed it in a match-up against Corban University. Although quiet on and off the diamond, he has a dynamite-packed BB-COR bat.

This was his first of five home runs this season.

Freshmen right fielder from Burlington, Wash., Walker Olis, leads the Boxers baseball team in home runs, batting average, runs scored and runs batted in. He has become the face of the Boxers’ offense, and poses a menacing threat to opposing pitching in every aspect of hitting.

Olis had a two home run game against Whitman, in which he went two for three. When asked how a game like that made him feel he just smiled and said, “It was pretty nice.”

In regards to the season, Olis said, “It’s been a frustrating year. Things started off slow after losing our first 11 games, but we’ve bounced back now.”

Head Coach Greg Bradley said, “He had a good fall, which indicated he could be a factor in the spring.”

He turned out to be more than a factor and exceeded all expectations.

“He’s done a great job for us, and has great hustle,” said Bradley. “He hits with power and for average. He’s got a very bright future here.”

Most would expect such a standout player to be a loud and rowdy leader. Olis couldn’t be any more different. “He is not vocal, he leads by example, and has been one guy we can obviously count on,” said Bradley.

The Boxers are facing a new challenge going into this offseason. They will be a very young team without a lot of experience and will be relying on the abilities of the underclassmen mentored by this year’s outgoing seniors.

And without doubt, Olis will be among players the Boxers coaching staff will be looking to for big results for years to come.

As the summer approaches, Olis said he has plans to play for an independent team up in Washington so he can be close to home.

The Skagit Sox baseball team will play mostly in tournaments. The experience will give the young freshmen a chance to keep his hands wet with the game while still resting up for next fall’s preparations.

Bradley recommends that all his players play summer ball.

He said he believes it is a key part of progression in players’ abilities.

Olis said he chose Pacific for the campus and the opportunity the school gave him to play baseball.

He is an undecided major but said he is leaning toward physics with a minor in math. After college Olis said he would like to become an engineer.

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