2016 Baseball Preview
The TRAC is stacked with St. John's, which won the league last year, and St. Francis, a regional finalist, also expected to contend for the title.
Eastwood returning infielder Grant Hirzel puts a tag oa a Lake baserunner last year. Zach Linhart, who graduated, looks on. (Press file photo by Lee Welch/FamilyPhotoGroup.com) |
"The league race is going to be a dogfight — parity is a great way to describe the league this year," said Phillips. "St. John's has won the league the last two years, St. Francis has won the district the last three years, Whitmer has a talented new coach with five starters back and Findlay has top top-end pitchers returning. On any given day in this league, if you are sleep walking, you are going to get beat."
Despite the stiff competition, Phillips knows his team can compete with the best of them.
"My expectation for this year is that we reach our potential," he said. "If we do that, the sky's the limit for this team."
Gibsonburg also looks to be among the favorites in the Toledo Area Athletic Conference, but in the Northern Buckeye Conference, all for local teams, Lake, Genoa, Eastwood and Woodmore, have their eyes on the title.
Gibsonburg coach Kyle Rase sees the TAAC as having great depth with the likes of Cardinal Stritch, Toledo Christian, Ottawa Hills and Tiffin Calvert all capable of performing at a high level.
"That's what is interesting about the TAAC," he said. "On any given night, anyone can win, that makes it competitive and fun."
Despite the fact that there are some holes Gibsonburg must fill, there is good reason to believe they'll be successful. In Rase's 11 prior years, the Bears have won a state championship and in each of the last five seasons has claimed a sectional title, highlighted by a run to the regional semifinals in 2012.
"I think we have a lot of good kids that come through our program. They are talented, but I'm referring to them as good kids in the classroom and good leaders; we've had real good senior leadership the last few years," Rase said. "When you are fortunate to have had good assistant coaches and a lot of support from a lot of different people for the program, it kind of comes together. The younger kids see the older kids doing things a certain way, and the winning obviously helps. Hopefully it keeps on going."
Cardinal Stritch coach Craig Meinzer believes defending TAAC co-champs Gibsonburg and Tiffin Calvert are two of the front-runners again this season.
Then-Northwood junior Mike Vallejo at the plate. | Then-Northwood junior Sean Whitmore in the outfield. |
(Press file photo by Don Thompson/Facebook.com/DNRsport) |
“We’ll be young and athletic,” Meinzer said. “We have some good baseball players in the program. If we can play as a team, we’ll do some good things.”
Northwood coach Jeff Hess said he has to temper his enthusiasm with this year’s group because of its youth, but he says don’t count the Rangers out.
“Expectations are always high,” he said, “but you have to keep it on that game-by-game basis with a young group. You can’t let expectations get too high. The talent level’s not too bad. It will take some time for these young kids to find their groove.
NBC overhauled
Last year was one of the most memorable for a Genoa program with a rich baseball tradition. Genoa won 24 games and a league title and advanced to the state tournament for just the third time in program history.
However, a special senior class that included seven players — Luke Rightnowar, Nick Wolfe, Cody Pickard, Jake Wojciechowski, Matt Aumiller, Kyle Edwards and Blake Traver, all of whom earned Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press honors — graduated.
But one of the constants from the past four years has been the coach, Ron Rightnowar. Rightnowar, who was the All-Press Coach of the Year in 2015, is confident that his newer group of players will look forward to competing this season and not put pressure on themselves.
"I think they know that it was a different group (last year) and it's the beginning of their time. Those guys were freshman when I took the job, they were my first crew to go all the way through," he said. "We've been working with them (since they were) younger, and I think they're really excited about picking up the mantle and seeing what they can do with it. We've been able to build it and it's a program to be part of, and it's their turn. I think they're excited about it."
In four years, Rightnowar has helped a program with a rich tradition get back to its winning ways.
"Genoa has a proud tradition. It had fallen on some difficulty for a few years. That's why they talked to me about taking the job," he said. "They wanted me to put things in order to function. That's what I've tried to do and bring some order with the kinds of things we do. I believe that leads to success and the kids have bought in. With the regional and state appearances, I think we got them to buy in pretty easily. I don't have to fight with the kids."
Lake veteran coach Greg Wilker added that he expects Lake to be “pretty competitive”, led by his seven seniors.
“It’s going to be very competitive again,” he said. “Our staff is solid, but there are a lot of really good No. 1 pitchers. There are four or five teams that have outstanding pitchers. It’s going to be tough to win day in and day out this year.”
With age comes experience, and Eastwood coach Kevin Leady expects this year’s Eagles to play a little older and a little wiser than last year’s squad. Eastwood often started five freshmen and a sophomore in 2015.
“We were just babies,” said Leady, who returns eight starters. “We could not win the close game, come up with that big pitch, big hit or big play at that moment. That goes along with experience. Some of our younger guys played timid.
“This year our guys are just older. If you could see pictures of them as freshmen to now, it’s night and day. Their mentality, they wanted to do well and tried to do well but physically they weren’t ready. It’s difficult to play varsity baseball.”
Leady said a successful performance in non-league games should help the Eagles prepare for the NBC “marathon” portion of the season. Eastwood has not won a league title in 27 years.
“Our team goals are to win the NBC,” Leady said. “Team chemistry is humongous, but we have to have the ability to play defense and have our pitchers throwing strikes. If we can continue to get the lead hitter out, work quick and throw strikes and keep hitters off balance, it will give our defense a chance to do what we do best.”
When you consider that the league appears to be pretty wide open this season, an NBC title for Woodmore is certainly not out of the question, either.
"I think that we do have high expectations for this season, but I keep preaching to the team that we need to take it one game at a time and keep working hard every day in practice. We want to compete for a league title and make a nice run in the state tournament," said Coach Jacob Huss, who advanced to the final four as a player with Genoa in 1999.
"We are in a very tough league and I think there is a case for a number of teams to win it this year. I really do not have too much of an idea of what team will finish in what order. I think all of the teams are pretty even and any team could win on any given day.”
"We already have developed good team chemistry and the players have a very good basketball I.Q. and knowledge of the game. We hope to improve in the hitting category while our pitching should be a strength and at the same time is partially unknown because we will need important contributions from probably two or three players who did not pitch at all on varsity last season. I am looking forward to a good season," Huss continued.
Rockets, Indians back on track
At Oak Harbor, Nick Lance is finally getting his shot to be a head coach.
The Fremont native, who played baseball at the University of Toledo, was Rob Schimmoeller's right-hand man for the last seven years and helped Oak Harbor accomplish some great things during their tenure together, which included an appearance in the Division II regional finals in 2011 and a Sandusky Bay Conference title the following year.
Lance is confident that he can make the transition from assistant to top dog.
"It's obviously a little more responsibility, (but the game) still needs to be coached the same way," he said. "It's obviously a step up. At the end of the day, the game doesn't change."
With his players having put forth the effort during the offseason, plus the addition of some new assistant coaches, Lance is confident that the Rockets can turn things around after two subpar seasons.
"The coaching staff that I've put together, we work just as hard as the kids," said Lance, who credits Damian McAtee, Ryan Price and Eric Dusseau, all former Rockets, for the work they've done with the players. "We have busted tail to get those kids to where they want to be, (and) the kids have busted their tails. I brought in a power-lifting guy, Tim Judge, and (the players) have busted their tails in the weight room."
Following a winless season, there’s only one direction to go but up, and coach John Segura is confident this year’s Indians will head in that direction.
“We are greatly improved from last season in baseball knowledge,” he said. “These kids worked their butts off in the offseason. Coming from an 0-25 team, we had 42 kids came out for baseball. When you go 0-25 and still have the interest of these kids, somewhere along the way we must be doing something right.”
He said Waite’s players committed themselves to turning things around in 2016.
“All my guys played summer baseball and five guys played fall baseball,” Segura said. “Our baseball IQ has greatly improved. Our defense has improved. Last year our baseball IQ was extremely low. We had four starters who never played baseball at all. Throughout summer and fall, our kids have put in a ton of work to get baseball ready. Their baseball IQ has grown.”
Junior varsity coach Anthony Rodgers worked with several players in the offseason, and Segura added one of his former players at Northwood, pitcher Cameron Juhasz, to serve as a volunteer coach this season.
“We’ve got the talent there, but our baseball knowledge was low – how to hit a ball and field a ball,” Segura said. “Anthony Rodgers comes in with any players who want any extra work, on a volunteer status. Four kids who played jayvee last year will start on varsity, and I credit Anthony with all that because he works hard with these kids.”
Juhasz was an All-Toledo Area Athletic Conference pitcher in 2010-11 and then went on to pitch at Mount Vernon Nazarene University for four years.
“He stated coming in in the fall to work with our pitchers, and he brings old-school baseball to our dugout,” Segura said. “He expects kids to do things the right way. He’ll make sure our bench is talking baseball and learning baseball.”
CLAY
Coach: Jim Phillips, third year
Career Record: 24-31
Last Season: 14-13 (3-7 TRAC)
Key Returnees: Chandler Cannon, P/OF; Zach Brown, P/IF; Christian Orr, P/SS; Jon Quinlan, P/C; Josh Mohr, P/IF; Chris Walter, P/IF; Jake Lingohr, P/OF
Outlook:
Phillips is confident in his pitching staff, one that is quite deep. Chandler Cannon, an All-Press selection as both a hitter and pitcher, went 5-2 with a 2.91 ERA and struck out 65 in 43.1 innings. The other starters are Josh Mohr (25K in 26 IP), Zach Brown (2-4, 3.27 ERA) and Jake Lingohr.
"They all have a chance to dominate the game when they toe the rubber," Phillips said.
Chris Walter (2-1, 0.81 ERA), Kyle Daly and Brock Belinski will provide depth in the bullpen and Jon Quinlan is expected to close.
At the plate, Phillips expects Cannon (.521, 14 R, 5 RBIs), Quinlan (.333), Brown, Walter and Christian Orr (.338, 12 RBIs, 18 R, 10 SBC), an Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press selection, to be the Eagles' top hitters.
"If we pitch like we are capable and have timely hitting," said Phillips, "this year can be a very successful one."
It was not that long ago Clay was a baseball powerhouse in Northwest Ohio, winning a district title in 2012 and advancing to the district final the very next season. Last year, the club improved its win total by four and in each of the last two seasons has lost a total of 12 one-run games, an indication that if the Eagles catch some breaks this time around, it has the makings for a special season.
GIBSONBURG
Coach: Kyle Rase, 12th year
Career Record: 166-125
Last Season: 21-8 (11-3 TAAC)
Key Returnees: Madison Jaso, INF/P; Preston Arriaga, P/OF; Ryan Clark, INF/P Brent Hayward, C; Bryce Mendoza, 2B
Outlook: Coach Kyle Rase has accomplished quite a bit during his time coaching at Gibsonburg, including a state championship. But last season was the first team he was able to lead the Golden Bears to a league title.
Now, he's faced with the task of trying to duplicate that success again, and will have to do so without a number of key players, namely Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press selections Derek Angelone, Jordan Kreglow, Bryce Ernsthausen and Andrew Dellinger.
"First of all, last year was a great year. The seniors provided some great leadership," said Rase, whose club advanced to the district finals and won 21 games. "We're trying to figure out ways to replace that with (new) leaders and on the field."
However, there are major contributors who are returning.
On the mound, Preston Arriaga, an All-Press selection, and Ryan Clark, are coming off impressive seasons. Arriaga went 5-1 with a 2.18 ERA and struck out 45 in 35.1 innings with Clark had a 6-3 record and a 2.92 ERA. Josh Ernsthausen and Moses Sanson will also start some games and Madison Jaso and Brent Hayward will provide depth.
"We haven't determined an order, but (Arriaga and Clark) have the most starts coming back. Both started eight games last year," said Rase. "They'll be our main starters. Josh Ernsthausen will start some games, Moses Sanson will start some games and then some of the other guys like Madison Jaso and Brent Hayward will pitch; we have a decent amount of pitchers."
Jaso, also an All-Press selection, joins Clark as two of the best hitters. Jaso hit .346, drove in 15 runs and scored 11 times. Clark, meanwhile, hit .311.
"Those guys will be our main offensive power," said Rase. "Ryan and Madison are the two best hitters. We lost a decent amount of production, so we'll see. It's still up in the air."
Rase expects to receive contributions from a number of other players like outfielders Logan Damschroder, Eric Jahna, Marcus Tille, Fred Sisco, first baseman Jake Blausey and third baseman Brad Mendoza.
CARDINAL STRITCH
Coach: Craig Meinzer, fifth year
Career record: 81-87
Last season: 9-17 (7-7, TAAC)
Key returnees: Grant Curavo, Sr., P/OF; Jude Neary, Sr., P/Utility; Sean Killian, Sr., P/OF; Stephen Johnson, Jr., P/OF, Bryce Pratt, Jr., P/OF; Jeff Dunsmore, So., P/Utility
Preview: Coach Craig Meinzer said two reasons for last season’s disappointing performance were “a lack of focus and not a whole lot of team chemistry.”
“We worked really hard on that in the offseason and it’s paying off,” Meinzer said. “We’ve done a lot of different things and the kids have bought into some things. I don’t think they want to go through last year again. I thought we had one of better teams in the league and we just didn’t do the little things you need to do to win.”
Cardinal Stritch, which has four left-handed pitchers, returns three starters and one other letterman from last year.
Grant Curavo, a second-team All-TAAC pitcher a year ago, hit .367 with 14 RBI and nine stolen bases. Meinzer expects Curavo to be the team’s No. 1 pitcher.
“Grant’s strength is his pitching,” Meinzer said. “He’s matured at the same pace every year, mentally and physically. He’s got huge potential. Colleges are looking at him because he’s a left-handed pitcher. He threw well – two shutout innings - against St. John’s (in a scrimmage).”
One of Curavo’s battery mates could be Jude Neary, a first-team All-TAAC catcher a year ago. Meinzer said, however, that he intends to start Neary at shortstop because the Cardinals have “three decent catchers who can play multiple positions.” Neary hit .362 with 17 RBI and was 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA on the mound last season.
“Jude’s definitely our best athlete,” Meinzer said. “He plays multiple positions. He will be starting at shortstop this year because we want to be able to move a younger kid (sophomore Andrew Flowers) who played shortstop last year. Jude is just our steadiest shortstop.”
Stephen Johnson will pitch and play outfield after going 2-1 with a 3.47 ERA last season.
“He pitched well as a sophomore and he’s been pitching really well so far this year,” Meinzer said. “He’s a big, strong kid, and being left-handed he’ll be getting looks from colleges, no doubt.”
Three other top players are Bryce Pratt, Jeff Dunsmore and Sean Killian. Pratt, a lefty, was 1-3 with a 3.70 ERA last year and will also vie for a spot in right field. Dunsmore batted .361 with 10 RBI last year and was a second-team All-TAAC selection as a third baseman.
Killian, who missed several games with an arm injury last season, will pitch and play in the outfield.
NORTHWOOD
Coach: Jeff Hess, second year
Career record: 8-17
Last season: 8-17 (5-9, TAAC)
Key returnees: Sean Whitmore, Sr., 1B/P ; James Hazlett, Sr., RF/INF; Evan LaPlante, Jr., P/SS/OF; Mike Vallejo, Sr., SS/OF
Preview: The Rangers have a young squad with a lot of new faces, but that doesn’t faze coach Jeff Hess.
“I like their willingness to work hard and their flexibility,” said Hess, who had just one player hit above .300 last year. “I will be able to play them in a lot of spots, which makes them easier to coach.”
Northwood will rely on four returning starters in Sean Whitmore, James Hazlett, Evan LaPlante and Mike Vallejo. Whitmore was 2-3 with a 280 ERA on the mound last season and will look to improve his .236 batting average.
“Sean’s going to be one of our leaders,” Hess said. “Last year he was our leadoff (hitter) and his role kind of changes because of a broken leg he suffered during football season. He was a center fielder who has moved to first base. We’re moving him out of that leadoff spot into the five-hole. He helps us out there more with his experience, and he should drive in more runs.”
Hazlett batted .250 last season and is one of the team’s more vocal players, according to Hess.
“He has a good arm from the outfield and can hit to all fields fairly well,” Hess said. “He will help us out a little bit on the mound as well.”
LaPlante is Northwood’s top returning pitcher despite going 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA a year ago. LaPlante took the mound against some of the Rangers’ top competition in 2015.
“He’s just a bulldog,” Hess said. “He hits his spots well and changes speeds well. He just attacks the hitters. He got thrown into some roles last year that put him in some tight situations.”
Vallejo, who platooned last year, will play shortstop along with LaPlante and should help eat up some innings on the mound.
“He has experience playing outfield as well,” Hess said. “He was really disappointed with his batting average last year, but he turned things around in a summer league. I expect a lot of things with his approach this year, batting in the middle of the order.”
The Rangers have a good group of newcomers in senior Calyn Noel (C/P/3B), junior Brad Meeks (OF/P) and sophomores Gabe LaPlante (3B/P/OF), Tyler Lindhurst (2B) and catcher Tim Romstadt.
LAKE
Coach: Greg Wilker, 32nd year
Career record: ???
Last season: 21-9 (9-5, NBC)
Key returnees: Nick DeLauter, Sr., SS; Adam Duncan, Sr., OF; Jacob Middaugh, Sr., C/P; Austin Wilhelm, Sr., OF/P; Aaron Witt, Sr., OF/P; Jordan Bekier, Jr., P/3B; Brandon Knieriem, Jr., OF
Preview: Coach Greg Wilker has been at this long enough to know one reason why last year’s team was so successful and what it will take for this year’s team to contend for an NBC title.
“Last year we only gave up 107 runs,” Wilker said. “That’s 3.5 per game, which is pretty good. We’re going to play good defense this year and we run really well. We’re not going to throw it by lot of people. We’re going to have to field the ball and throw strikes.
“We’ve had one scrimmage (through March 22) and we struck out a lot. It was our first time outside. We need to do a better job top to bottom putting the bat on the ball. This is a good group of kids. They work hard and seem to enjoy being around each other, and they’re fun to coach.”
The Flyers graduated No. 1 pitcher Todd Walters, who will be replaced in that role by Jordan Bekier. The junior was a second-team All-NBC pitcher last season, going 6-4 with a 1.33 ERA.
“He has a good fastball, controls it, moves it in and out,” Wilker said. “He throws three pitches for strikes. He’s our ace this year.”
Lake’s second and third starters will be either sophomore Dylan O’Quinn, Aaron Witt or Jacob Middaugh.
Brandon Knieriem (.358) was a second-team all-conference selection as a designated hitter last year and will play in the outfield this season. Witt and Adam Duncan, a three-year starter, were both second-team selections in the outfield. Witt batted over .300 in conference games.
“Brandon runs really well and is an outstanding outfielder,” Wilker said. “He has quick hands (at the plate), which is something you just can’t coach. He gets his hands through the zone. Aaron Witt is a tough out. He makes great contact at the plate. Duncan will bat leadoff. I know he was disappointed with his hitting last year, but we’re going to need him to hit better this year, and I think he will.”
Nick DeLauter will be a reliable shortstop, according to Wilker.
“He’s an outstanding leader and he worked very hard in the offseason, working on throwing the ball and being in great shape,” the coach said. “He’s working on his arm strength. I want to see him have a good year.”
GENOA
Coach: Ron Rightnowar, fifth year
Career Record: 76-35
Last Season: 24-5 (11-3, NBC)
Key Returnees: Matt Bradfield, 3B; Kurtis Lee, OF; Dylan Grosjean, 2B; Gabe Scott, 1B
Outlook: Rightnowar does have some experience returning like first baseman Gabe Scott, outfielder Kurtis Lee, third baseman Matt Bradfield and second baseman Dylan Grosjean.
Some of the newcomers include catcher Owen Phillips, outfielder Noah Edwards, shortstop Zach Grodi, outfielder Mike Apthorpe and pitcher Jake Plantz.
Sam Sutter, Matt Bradfield and Zach Grodi are going to be relied on upon to provide much of the pitching.
"Sam and Matt, being the juniors, and Zach have the most on-the-mound experience. Matt and Sam will be next men up until guys start to emerge and see who is going to be the consistent No. 1 and 2," Rightnowar. "Three or four will vie for those spots; we'll have to see. They're all capable and they've done well the past few days; they've thrown the ball well. It's kind of exciting. It's an unknown commodity seeing guys in the game as opposed to the practice field."
The infield is comprised of first baseman Gabe Scott, second baseman Sutter, shortstop/second baseman Dylan Grosjean and third baseman Matt Bradfield. Noah Edwards will play left field, Kurtis Lee plays center and Mike Apthorpe will man the fort in right. Owen Phillips is set to catch and Jake Plantz can play a number of positions and also pitches.
Rightnowar is hoping that Edwards, Sutter, Bradfield and Scott will lead the way at the plate.
"They're at the top of the lineup and we'll see how the rest of them fit in there," said Rightnowar.
As for the Northern Buckeye Conference, Rightnowar sees the league as being very balanced and believes a number of teams could compete for a spot at or near the top of the league.
EASTWOOD
Coach: Kevin Leady, fifth year
Career record: 47-54
Last season: 9-17 (6-8, NBC)
Key returnees: Eli Brown, Sr., P/OF; Noah Zatko, Sr., 1B/C; Jared Luther, Sr., INF; Collin Dewese, Jr., P/OF; Jake Pickerel, So., 3B/P; Cade Boos, So., CF; Grant Hirzel, So., SS; Tyler Haas, So., C/P
Preview: Eastwood has depth this season, returning 10 players who have started a varsity game. The pitching staff includes four capable throwers.
“We’re going to have a nice little rotation,” Leady said. “Defensively, we should be much improved.”
Eastwood’s No. 1 pitcher is Eli Brown, who had a 3.14 ERA last season. He also batted .310.
“He’s a tough kid who always gives everything he has, especially on the mound,” Leady said. “He’s one of those kids who just battles. He doesn’t get rattled very easily.”
The next spots in the rotation will be filled by Collin Dewese (1.99 ERA), Jake Pickerel and Tyler Haas.
“They really compete,” Leady said. “That’s the big thing you want on the mound. If you have all three or four of your best pitches you can throw on a given day, you’re fortunate. If your secondary pitch isn’t working, you have to rely on the other pitches. Our guys have been tougher on the mound than they have been in the past.”
Pickerel batted a team-high .467 last season, and fellow freshman Cade Boos hit .333 from the No. 9 spot in the batting order. Boos will bat leadoff this season.
“Jake has a little bit of pop in his bat and is a very tough out,” Leady said. “He’s a kid who will take every at-bat to the fullest and has a great approach to what’s going on. He usually puts his best swing on the ball. Cade is going to be the catalyst to our offense. If we’re going to score a lot of runs, he’s going to jump-start everything for us. Hopefully he’ll get a lot of RBIs this year because that means a lot of guys are getting on base.”
WOODMORE
Coach: Jake Huss, third year
Career Record: 18-8
Last Season: 18-8 (10-4, NBC)
Key Returnees: Tristan Roth, P/SS; Connor Bringman, P/1B; Dillon Williams, P/1B; Mason Beachler, 2B; Matt Depner, P/OF
Outlook: Three All-Press selections — Tristan Roth, Connor Bringman and Dillon Williams — are back to lead Woodmore after a season in which they won a program-record 18 games, missed out on the league title by one game and claimed a sectional championship.
Roth had a fantastic season on the mound, going 7-2 with a 1.38 ERA. He earned All-Northern Buckeye Conference honors and struck out 62 batters in 61 innings of work. Roth, who also plays shortstop, did very well at the plate, hitting .351, driving in nine runs and scoring 20 times.
Bringman hit .312, drove in 18 runs, scored 17 times and stole nine bases. He also pitched, going 3-1 with two saves. Williams, meanwhile, hit .306 and drove in nine runs.
"I always count on all of my seniors to step up during the season. I think it will be important for those players mentioned to play well, but it will also be important for other players to step up," said Wildcats coach Jake Huss. "I feel that in order to have a good season, you must have strong senior leadership."
Huss sees Roth, Bringman and Williams as three of his top hurlers, but he's also expecting some younger players to answer the call.
That trio, along with second baseman Mason Beachler and outfielder Matt Depner, is expected to provide some punch in the lineup as well. Expect Evan Sandwisch, Trey Schnabel and J.T. Atkin to see action this year as well.
Though Woodmore did lose three key players from last year — Logan Fonseca, Ross Wolford and Josh Cowell — much of the production has returned in Roth, Bringman, Williams, Beachler and Depner.
The Wildcats stole 113 bases last year and Huss expects their speed to be an asset once again.
"Like the last few years, I expect our team speed to present some problems for the opposition and to help open some things for us offensively. Last year, we had 113 steals, and 68 the year before," he said.
OAK HARBOR
Coach: Nick Lance, first year
Career Record: 0-0
Last Season: 9-17 (3-9 SBC)
Key Returnees: Dean Kellogg, P/1B; Jake St. Clair, 1B/P; Billy Ling, 2B; Caleb Turco, LF/P
Outlook: Dean Kellogg appears to be the No. 1 pitcher with Jake St. Clair and Aric McAtee battling it out for the next spots in the rotation.
"We'll see which one rises to the top," said Lance of St. Clair and McAtee. "The team should be able to throw strikes and (defend)."
Lance is hopeful that he can get some production from the likes of St. Clair, Billy Ling, Caleb Oberther, David Tooman and Rheve Martin, among others, in the batting order.
On the field, Ling will play second base while Martin, who previously played third, has been moved to short, where, according to Lance, he's been doing a phenomenal job. David Tooman plays third and St. Clair and Kellogg will split time at first with Quintin DeWalt will serve an important role as a utility fielder and play short and second when needed. Caleb Turco is currently slotted to play left field, Ethan Schwaderer will play right and Tristan Varga and Owen Segaard are battling it out in center.
"In center, it will come down to who will be able to swing the bat the best; they are about equal on the field, it come down to hitting, that's something we've lacked in the last few years," said Lance. "We've tried to change some things from years past with situational hitting; we've looked really good at the plate (so far)."
Oberther will catch, something he's only done for a few years.
"He has an aggressive nature behind the plate, and does a real good job with situational hitting," said Lance. "He's relatively new to the position, he has a few years at the position. He's doing a good job back there right now."
Oak Harbor will need to pick up the slack at the plate considering that three of last year's top players, Mike Osbourne, Jourdan Maguire and Garrett Harvey, an All-Press selection, are gone.
WAITE
Coach: John Segura, second year
Career record: ???
Last season: 0-25 (0-6, TCL)
Key returnees: Brandon Wagner, Sr., OF/P; Deon Williams, Sr., OF; Tommy Nutter, Sr., OF/C; Ke’veontae King, Sr., OF; Sam Russeau, Jr., Utility; Jace Gutierrez, Jr., P/INF; Ancelmo Padilla, So., INF/P
Preview: Waite returns two of its top players in Jace Gutierrez and Ancelmo Padilla, who were both named honorable mention All-City League last year at shortstop and second base, respectively. Gutierrez will be this year’s No. 1 pitcher.
“He was my ace last year,” Segura said. “He has great mound presence. He has a fastball, slider and a change-up and he throws strikes.”
The Indians’ other top pitchers are sophomore Nick Holdren and senior Brandon Wagner, who was a second-team all-league outfielder last year.
“Nick throws strikes,” Segura said. “All of our kids throw strikes and have good mound presence. Nick is mentally tough on the mound and doesn’t get too high or too low. Brandon has an extremely high baseball IQ. He’s not overpowering but he keeps people off balance with a nice curveball and a change-up.”
Junior catcher Terry Friess takes over for first-team All-City League catcher Nick Jensen, who graduated.
“Terry has improved his game tenfold,” Segura said. “He’s really worked hard to improve his catching.”
The early-season batting lineup will go as follows: Padilla will lead off followed by junior second baseman Hondo Avilla, Wagner, junior first baseman Jake Jankowiak, Gutierrez, Deon Williams or Tommy Nutter, Friess, Russeau or Holdren, and King.
Senior outfielder Robert Lawson could also see some playing time and “is a good leader for us,” Segura said, adding that the Indians’ goal is to compete for the CL title.