POULSBO — Twenty-seven years ago, Jeff Weible and the North Kitsap Vikings were state baseball champions. Now, as head coach, Weible hopes to bring that same accomplishment to the young men who make up the 2015 team.

“We had a special team that year,” Weible said. “Nine out of 10 went on to play college ball. Aaron Sele had a great Major League Baseball career. We had this closeness, this team camaraderie that was our strongest attribute. We were all buddies.

“This team is like that. They all grew up playing together, going to school and hanging out outside of it. It’s a special team.”

The 2015 roster for the Vikings consists mostly of juniors and seniors, providing the team with the kind of experience needed to make it to Yakima.

“We’re split pretty evenly and the seniors have been good about making sure everyone is on the same track,” senior pitcher Andrew Hecker said. “We all lead in different ways.”

“We know what to expect out of each other,” fellow senior pitcher Charles DeWilde said. “We hold each other accountable so we’re all on the same page.”

Hecker, DeWilde and the rest of the pitching staff have combined for 139 strikeouts as of May 8. That record has helped North Kitsap clinch a bid to the state tournament after securing first place in conference.

“We have great pitching,” said senior Brady Brann, first baseman for the Vikings. “We have three strong starters and great guys to come in. If they continue to play smart and we execute as a team, I don’t see why we won’t make it to Yakima and make a good run.”

The state playoffs take place at County Stadium in Yakima at the end of the month. Their first steps to that coveted stadium start with Sequim on May 16, for seeding, at the  Kitsap County Fairgrounds.

Game time is 10 a.m.

“We’ve set us up good and we have the ability to go as far as we let ourselves,” said senior outfielder TJ Jensen.

Hecker added, “Sequim is good. We’ve got the best of them the last two times and I’m hoping we can a third time. I think we are in a good position to go far as long as we keep playing together.”

Seeing this group’s closeness is evident, even after watching practice for a mere 40 minutes. The boys throw their gloves at each other, play games among themselves or even take turns trying to ride a small dirt bike that one player brought. Then, all the goofing around comes to a quick halt when it is time to compete in inner-squad games.

“Weible is a big guy and looks really scary,” DeWilde said. “But he really is a nice guy and a great, supportive coach. As long as you are doing what you know you need to be doing, he’s a teddy bear.”

You can see Weible watching intently, keeping track of player positioning and those running the bases. He corrects what needs to be strengthened to make sure this team goes far — in baseball and in life. As well as preparing physically for this weekend, the team is volunteering with the community to help set up Poulsbo’s annual Viking Fest.

“Weible is trying to help us have successful lives, not just baseball wise,” Brann said. “He compares baseball to our life goals and how what we’re learning will transfer to our future. He and Dave Green and Taylor, who’s been here forever, all of the coaches are unbelievable.”

“They’re a great group of hard-working kids,” Weible said. “We expected to win [the conference title]. We want to be a state team, keep winning games and get to Yakima and have a good chance to win there. We have high expectations.”

As a member of the 1988 championship team, Weible has seen that big stage and wants to prepare his team as best he can to make it there.

“He talks about how that team came together to win it all,” DeWilde said. “How they may not have been the most skilled team but they got hot at the right time and did what they needed to.”

“He doesn’t talk about it a lot,” Jensen said. “He just keeps telling us it’s about time we make another run for the title.”

Twenty-seven years later, the Vikings continue that run on May 16 against Sequim.

North Kitsap Herald pitcher Kole Milyard checks a runner before hurling a pitch during practice. Photo: Sara N. Miller / Herald

North Kitsap Vikings baseball coach Jeff Weible leads his team in fielding practice. ‘They’re a great group of hard-working kids … We have high expectations.’ Photo: Sara N. Miller / Herald