THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Be patient for finished product

If nothing else, construction is necessary. 

Sometimes, it’s to fix something broken or to improve on something that’s long overdue.

Living in North Idaho, you learn quickly that if it’s under construction, wherever it might be, it’s going to take a while. 

Sure, it’s going to be inconvenient at times. 

It’s going to make you want to pull your hair out. 

But the finished project, when it gets there, you hope will be worth it. 

NOW THAT the World Series is over, did you think the Seattle Mariners had a chance against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Yankees?

Forget the massive payroll gap between the Mariners and the other two teams, but in all honesty, could this have been the year for the Mariners. 

Probably not. 

Will next fall bring the team any closer? We’ll soon see. 

The Mariners only have two pending free agents that could hit the market come Monday afternoon in Yimi Garcia and Justin Turner. 

Both were acquired at the trade deadline and Turner had the biggest impact of the two, coming up with some big hits when the team needed him the most. 

Garcia seemed to be injured more than available, so your guess is as good as mine when it comes to his future in Seattle. 

Back to Turner though, my hope is that he hangs around another year or so. 

Seattle needed that veteran guy in the clubhouse, the guy with postseason experience who players could turn to and ask questions on what it really takes to win. 

Sure, had Seattle made the playoffs, its starting pitching could have kept the M's in more games and given whatever thump the offense had — and it clearly wasn’t enough — a chance.  

The Mariners already declined a player option with Jorge Polanco, meaning that they’ll have a new second baseman next year. 

Seattle is already rumored to have a trade for an All-Star third baseman in the works as well, so at least they’re trying to fix something. 

WHILE THE return to the NJCAA fell a little short of its goals in its first season and advancing to nationals, the folks in the athletic department at North Idaho College seem to be well ahead of schedule. 

Men’s and women’s soccer reaching the semifinals of the Region 18 Tournament, and the volleyball team in a win-and-in match to get to the Region 18 Tournament, what else can you ask for? 

“The scholarships we had were a huge difference for us,” said second-year NIC men's soccer coach Brad Williams, who went 2-8-4 in his first season as coach in 2023 and was 13-4-3 this year. “We were able to get players here that we wouldn’t have gotten any other way. We need a few more years of guys being here to build the program to where it’s unstoppable.” 

NIC had five sophomores on the roster from last year, with 24 freshmen who can return next season.  

“We had some great scholarships, but really need two years of doing things on that same model to be able to win the league,” Williams said. “And I think we could win the national title. If we’re not given that, and we’ve got to go backwards a little bit, I think it will be tough to make any real progress.” 

Due to injuries, NIC's women's soccer team played its semifinal with three sophomores, starting one and having two as reserves. 

“At one point, I looked out there and we had 11 freshmen on the field,” said NIC women’s soccer coach Kellsi Parson, in her fifth year. “Next year looks promising, but we’ve got to build on some of the depth we’ve got coming back.” 

The Cardinal volleyball team fell in four sets against Southern Idaho in Twin Falls on Thursday. 

Unlike NIC’s previous stint in the conference, only the top four teams in the conference advance to the Region 18 Tournament. 

“Tonight was tough, because we know what we are capable of,” first-year NIC coach Drew Pascua said Thursday. “These girls faced a lot of adversity all year, and to be in a game this meaningful, we are really proud of making it this far.” 

NIC has nine freshmen on the roster who could return next year. 

Building on what has been a good step in the right direction. 

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.