For Issaquah head baseball coach Rob Reese, there was nothing typical about the 2011 season.

A program usually brimming with seniors had only three, the Eagles started the season with four straight losses and little seemed to go according to plan throughout as the team posted the first losing record in Reese’s 17 seasons at the helm.

“We were just too young,” Reese said, adding that he played several freshman. “We had guys that just weren’t ready for varsity.”

While half of this season still remains, including a crucial three game stretch of division games later this month, it appears Reese’s crew is now all grown up. And it has started and ended on the mound.

After losing three straight one-run games to begin the season, the Eagles have won six of eight, allowing only eight runs combined in the six victories (Issaquah will face defending 4A state champion Bothell tonight).

Ethan Kalin, Brandon Mahovlich and Andrew Kemmerer have returned with improved consistency and Scott Boydston, Ryan Guiberson and Las Vegas transplant Justin Vernia have added depth to a staff that allowed nearly five runs per game last season.

Kemmerer and Guiberson both boast perfect ERAs and Mahovlich has only allowed nine base hits against 29 strikeouts in 20 innings. Kalin has been just as good and opposing hitters have only managed a .164 batting average in 17 innings and a third against him.

“All of those guys are bigger, stronger and more experienced,” Reese said, adding that each has posted “dominating” performances on the mound this year.

Mahovlich said he has been focused on hitting his spots with the improved velocity Reese talked about rather than overthrowing, which often caused his control to suffer. Kalin has also reduced the number of walks allowed and has given only seven free passes after averaging over one walk per inning last year.

“Pitchers really worked on mechanics and hitting our spots in the spring,” Kalin said. “It’s nice to have the whole staff back from last year.”

Each of the three talked about leaving their mark on a program that is fraught with tradition, capturing seven KingCo titles and three state championships since 2000. Perhaps no one on this year’s team knows that better than Kemmerer, who watched as his brother Jacob helped Reese and the Eagles to the 2007 3A title.

The younger Kemmerer said the element of that team that sticks out most in his mind now is their willingness to accept whatever role the team required in order to be part of a winning baseball team and live up to the program’s lofty legacy.

“Those guys had each other’s backs and it’s the same way with this team,” Kemmerer said. “I want a ring of my own.”

Sammamish’s Top Guns

While Issaquah boasts the deepest pitching staff, Skyline, Eastlake and Eastside Catholic also have their share of top-flight pitchers.

Skyline – Matt Lunde has struck out 37 batters in 27 innings and Nick Kassuba has a 1.43 ERA in 14 and two-thirds innings of work.

Eastlake – Andrew Stull leads the Wolves with a 2.21 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 12 and two-thirds innings on the mound.

Eastside Catholic – Blake Gillespie, Alex Foley and Austin Soukup each have 14 or more innings this season with a combined ERA of 1.52 to go with 48 strikeouts against only 15 walks to lead the Crusaders to the top of the Metro League and an 8-2 overall record.