Baseball Preview | Close-knit Seattle Prep has eyes on state prize

There's a lot of reassuring feelings going on with the Seattle Prep baseball team this spring.

The Panthers' longtime coach, Ed Paulter, is back on the field coaching after having quintuple bypass heart surgery Feb. 20.

Paulter's comforted by how he feels and by the experience of seven returning starters, including ace pitcher Anthony Drobnick and top fielder Andy Bethel.

Together, the Prep team hopes to get beyond its 5-0 first-round loss to Meadowdale of Lynnwood in the Class 3A state playoffs last season.

"It says everything that [coach Paulter] is back so early," said Drobnick, a right-handed pitcher who led the Panthers with an 8-1 record and 1.86 earned-run average in 2007. "It shows his dedication to us and to Prep. He's one of the best coaches I've ever had.

"From the first time I met him when I was thinking about coming to Prep, I knew he was a good person. It really does inspire us to have him back out there."

Paulter surprised his team with an unannounced appearance at last Wednesday's practice at Redmond's Marymoor Park. The 57-year-old Paulter, now in his 23rd season as head coach at Prep and 24th season overall, led the Blue-and-White intrasquad game Saturday.

"When we first found out about his [heart] surgery, it was a shock," said Drobnick of his coach. "He didn't want us to dedicate anything to him, because he knew he'd be back. But it made us work a little harder. I know he'd rather be out there with us than almost anything, so that helps.

"We're glad to have him back for sure. Prep needs him."

There's a mutual respect between players and coach that could carry a theme throughout the spring.

"It was great just stepping onto the field on Saturday," said Paulter, an avid mountain climber who hopes to resume that this summer with a trip to Tibet. "Wednesday it was nice as an observer, but on Saturday it was great to run practice. It felt good to get back out with the kids and I had zero pain."

Prep won the Metro League's Mountain Division at 14-2 last spring, but lost to Eastside Catholic 4-1 in the Metro title game and then ended its season with the loss to Meadowdale.

Assistant coach Max Engel took care of the preparation for this season and the start of practices while Paulter, who also doubles as Prep's athletic director, recovered from surgery.

Knowing the talent returning made Paulter eager for his return. He asked doctors if he could put off his surgery until after the season in June.

"I just had an episode on Monday, Feb. 10, where I felt out of sorts, and I never had what you'd call a heart attack," said Paulter, who has climbed Mount Rainier 25 times. "Then, on Tuesday [Feb. 11), it was more pronounced and I called the doctor and they told me to call 911."

They found one artery totally blocked and four others substantially blocked.

Doctors assured Paulter that if he had surgery in February he would be back coaching by the March 14 opener against Cleveland at Rainier Beach.

Drobnick is headed to pitch for Washington State and Bethel will play next spring for UW.

"He's probably one of the best infielders I've seen in 24 years at Prep," Paulter said of Bethel, who hit a team-best. 458 and drove in 20 runs in 2007.

Center fielder and leadoff hitter Paul Twining will choose between Gonzaga and Santa Clara, according to Paulter. First baseman Will Mentor has committed to the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma and catcher Joe Gannett will play for Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va.

"We pretty much have the whole team back, and that definitely helps out with maturity and knowing each other's tendencies," Drobnick said. "I've never been on a team where the bond's been so close."