Siuslaw graduate Dan Rankin has been named junior varsity baseball coach for the Vikings.

"(Dan) has been coaching youth baseball in town for many years," said first-year varsity coach Tom Shinn. "He knows the kids that are in the program and coming up from the middle school, as he was the middle school football coach."

Shinn is pleased to have someone with Rankin's local ties.

"He has a lot of knowledge about the game of baseball, and has been in the community a long time," Shinn said.

Shinn and Rankin are taking on a major rebuilding project. The Siuslaw varsity was 1-21 overall last season, while the JV was 0-11.

Shinn has been trying to get a head start on the season by opening the school's batting cages for off-season use.

"We are continuing to attract some kids in the mornings," Shinn said. "Not an overwhelming number. But as long as some are showing up, I will continue to open it."

The cages are open from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays while school is in session.

First practice is Monday, Feb. 26. The Vikings open the season Wednesday, March 14, hosting Pleasant Hill. First pitch is 4 p.m.

2018 SCHEDULE

• Monday, Feb. 26 — First practice.
• Wednesday, March 14 — Pleasant Hill, 4 p.m.
• Friday, March 16 — Sutherlin, 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 20 — at Sutherlin, 4 p.m.
• Thursday, March 22 — at Pleasant Hill, 4 p.m.
• Monday-Tuesday, March 26-27 —at Newport Tournament, to be announced
• Tuesday, April 10 — at Marshfield, 5 p.m., Far West League opener
• Friday, April 13 — Marshfield (DH), 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 17 — at Brookings-Harbor, 5 p.m.
• Friday, April 20 — Brookings-Harbor (DH), 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 24 — Douglas, 5 p.m.
• Friday, April 27 — at Douglas (DH), 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 1 — North Bend, 5 p.m.
• Friday, May 4 — at North Bend (DH), 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 7 — at South Umpqua, 5 p.m.
• Friday, May 10 — South Umpqua (DH), 3 p.m.