Recent Mercer Island High School graduates Austin Cupic (left) and Marques Abulhosn are sharpening their baseball skills this summer as members of the Dickenson, North Dakota-based Badland Big Sticks. The team plays in the Independent League, which consists of eight teams located in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska and Idaho. Next season, Cupic will play for the University of San Francisco and Abulhosn will compete for Gonzaga University. Photos courtesy of Lynn Abulhosn