There's a good flow to the Mount Rainier Rams baseball team, and not just the spring high school season.

"There's summer ball and fall ball," said Bobby Odegard, the head coach of the Rams summer league program playing in the American Legion against other teams mostly made up of underclassmen high schoolers from respective schools -- Sammamish, Redmond, Liberty, Enumclaw and others.

There's a reason why the Rams' high school team has made it to the playoffs six of head coach Darren Rawie's eight seasons.

The reason why the Rams baseball program is consistently tops in the Seamount is not one reason. It's two, three, or more. One is the American Legion summer time out on the field. Forty-something games, including a tournament or two, with one a Reno one traditionally played. Plus, after the season is the postseason which is districts and then state. Last year, the Rams took second in the Legion league before injuries hurt them. They were two and out at state.

But, there was a reason for that, too. And the reason says that it's a wonder why the Rams even got that far.

"We got to state with nine guys," said Chris Badley, a captain on the Rams and senior to be at MR this Fall.

Nine guys? That's not too many considering only nine players play out on the field in a game.

"We had guys playing all the time," said Badley. "That means no one was on the bench. Yet the Rams' summer team somehow someway found a way to win in the district tournament and get to state.

"I'm surprised we got to state," said Badley. "But we played our hearts out."

Not just that, the Rams did not have many more than nine for the season either. Just 12.

So that is a tight, small ball team that figured out what it takes to win, and, maybe, that is why, again, the Rams got past districts to the quarterfinals of state in high school just last month. They lost to Seattle Prep, 2-0. If they won that game and the next, like in 2006, they would have been back at Safeco Field for the championship series semifinal and final. The Rams team took fourth in the 3A state in high school in '06.

But the Fall ball is important for the high school, too. There the kids have to do things on their own for a couple months of baseball

"That's Darren's credit, too. He started that up in 2003," said Odegaard, speaking of the Rams' high school 'Fall ball' program that cannot be coached by Rawie, and, assistant Odegaard. "We organize things and then a parent coaches the team in the Fall."

Rawie helped the Rams' integration into the American Legion summer program back in 2001.

"That's Darren's credit. He got that started," said Odegaard.

So now we are into summer, and while a lot of summer league teams can have players go off and play for a zillion different traveling teams, the Rams stay together, pretty much.

"All but two of the players on our high school team are on our summer team," said Rawie, who does not coach, but is the general manager, taking care of scheduling and other 'behind the scenes' activities.

So, that's a pretty good turnout of players.

Some of the leaders would be the one already mentioned, Badley. He will likely do for the summer team now, that goes from June to August with games, games and more games. What did he do for the high school Rams team? Hit well.

"He led the team in batting in the postseason," said Odegaard. "In six games, he batted .471."

Odegaard likes this summer ball coaching for numerous reasons.

"Nice to see players develop," said Odegaard. "Gio Bonifacio is one. Just knowing where Gio was when he first came out to now. People will know him by the time he graduates."

Bonifacio is only a junior to be at MRHS, so he has time to develop. And he has developed a lot.

"I was on the bench my freshman year," said Bonifacio.

And he is not speaking of being a benchwarmer on varsity either. He was on junior varsity.

Bonifacio didn't play much the last third of this past MRHS regular high school season because of an injury. He didn't let that get him down, missing the last third, including the playoffs, which included getting to districts and state for the Rams high school squad.

"I kept a positive attitude,' said Bonifacio.

But he is going to be a good fixture at catcher for the Rams summer league team, says Odegaard.

"He has a strong arm," said Badley. "He needs to get more accurate but that will come. He has power and is a pull hitter. He is a good catcher coming into the program."

That's a good scouting report praise from his teammate.

Bonifacio has already got a lot better from his freshman season to now. What does his credit go to?

"Summer ball. I get a lot of playing time," said Bonifacio. "

"He's probably benefited the most from the Mount Rainier summer program," said Odegaard of Bonifacio. "He will be a focal point of the Mount Rainier offense. His upside is through the roof."

His work ethic probably makes his "side" looking up, and that effort involves following the coach's advice.

"They give me tips and make me work harder," said Bonifacio of Odegaard and assistant Joe Nelson. "They make me work harder and push me. I am in the weight room trying to get bigger for next season."

Players for the Rams looked to by Odegaard in leadership and experience roles hoping to make the team good enough to get back to state include Tyler Manke, the senior to be at MR will be a pitcher this summer.

"He will be a good pitcher for us," said Odegaard.

Josh Potter, a junior to be, is going to do things in an "up" way hopefully, too.

"He's an up and comer (to the Rams high school team)," said Odegaard. "He came up the second half of the season and anchored us at third base. He is looking to get into the pitching rotation. He threw good a couple games this past season in high school. It was against some of the weaker teams but it gave us a good look."

Aaron McDermott will be a good pitcher, who had a brother, Mike, play a few years back as a Ram baseball player.

Andrew Larson-Pulver, a senior to be at MRHS, knows hitting the baseball.

"He batted .470 this past high school season, with three home runs, nine doubles, 27 RBI. Our team banquet (for the Rams high school team) is Friday and I think he will win offensive player of the year for our team."

Cal Reahard, a senior to be, was a DH for the Rams' high school team.

"He batted .350 with two home runs," said Odegaard. "He has a lot of power. He struggles on defense, but he will get better in the summer league."

So summer ball is a good thing for more than just intrinsic value of watching your players grow up to becoming college prospects. Or even pro prospects, like Brandon Mann, who pitches in the Tampa Bay organization now.Mann played on the Rams' summer league team.

"Big time," said Odegaard of summer ball's importance. "It's a huge thing."

Some other players fitting in to the Rams' scheme of things are Jeff Larabee, Colton Park, Andrew May, CJ Bandebos, Jesus Esqueda and Justin Weckhorst.