By Brock Sisney (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
GRANBY — The East Newton Patriots return three starters and eight more players from two seasons ago, giving third-year head coach Jordan Savage a solid nucleus to build around for the 2021 season.
Like every spring sport team last season in Missouri, East Newton had its 2020 season taken away by the COVID pandemic.
“Be grateful for every opportunity that you have,” Savage said. “It doesn’t matter if you are the guy on the mound or the guy cheering from the dugout, every person on the team has a role and it is your job to be the best you can be at that role. You cannot focus more on the future than the present, the present is what you have and as we saw the future can be taken away.”
The Patriots open their season Mar. 22-26 with the Purdy Tournament, their first action since a 10-1 loss to Clever on May 13, 2019 in the Class 3, District 12 tournament. About one week before their opener, East Newton first travels to Purdy for a jamboree.
“I think the excitement level will be felt by everyone in the state when we return to baseball,” Savage said. “I am excited for our first practice and everything we get after that. Playing in a jamboree will be great for our guys and just something that I hope will lead to a successful season. The overall excitement and commitment to this offseason has been different this year, but in a very positive way. I think losing last year has put a lot into perspective for some kids and that has helped us tremendously as we are getting ready for the season.”
East Newton’s returning starters are No. 1 pitcher and infielder Ethan Brummett, infielder Jake Anderson, and outfielder Noah Brashers, and the Patriots’ other returners are pitcher and infielder Dakota Walters, pitcher and infielder Jackson Adams, pitcher and infielder Mason Hailey, catcher, infielder and pitcher Ty Bowman, and outfielders Shane Rawlins, Brian Peters, Barrett Burkey, and Dakota McKee.
CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF THE SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS
This group contributed to a 12-win season in 2019, an improvement of 10 wins from Savage’s first season as East Newton head coach.
“I believe this group will have a great work ethic and will want to be at practice just as much as they want to play games,” Savage said. “We have a good group of seniors who have really bought in and are looking to be good leaders both on and off the field. Our biggest weakness will be the same as a lot of schools in the fact that our younger guys especially our sophomores lost a year of playing and learning our system and getting the reps they needed as freshman. Some will be asked to step up and jump into varsity action this year and it will take some time for them to adjust.”
Starting catcher Bowman will likely bat leadoff for the Patriots and be followed in the order by second baseman-shortstop Anderson, shortstop-pitcher Brummett, first baseman Hailey, third baseman Walters, second baseman-outfielder Adams, outfielder Brashers, outfielder Rawlins, and outfielder Burkey.
Brummett, Walters, Hailey, Adams, and Bowman form the pitching rotation with Rawlins, Kolt Walters, Brinnen VanLue, Anderson, and McKee additional arms in the mix.
“As a team, we did not have the opportunity to play any leagues or in the fall,” Savage said, “But a few of our guys were able to get on a summer/fall team and get some games in. We have had the opportunity to get some offseason work in with our non-basketball guys and we should have a good jump on getting our arms in shape.
“Our goal from the very start will just be getting better every day. We can’t do anything without being consistent in practice and coming out every day ready to work on our game. Losing a year will really hurt when it comes to situations and just making sure our younger guys are up to speed when it comes game time.”
Brummett drove in 16 runs and stole seven bases en route to all-Big 8 West first team honors, and posted a 1-1 record with one save and a 3.45 ERA. All three returning starters are seniors and that provides the Patriots with a core of leadership during a season that’s truly not like any other.
“We are fortunate enough to have a good group of seniors who have all bought into being team leaders and realizing it can’t be only one person,” Savage said. “They all work hard together and do everything they can to help the underclassmen through our routines and drills in order to make practices run better. I think that is how culture is created and also how it continues.”
In addition to the Purdy Tournament and the usual slate of Big 8 foes, East Newton’s schedule includes the Monett Tournament and the Mickey Mantle Classic in Commerce, Okla., where the Patriots are still defending champions by virtue of winning the Miners Division title in 2019 and there not being a tournament last year.
“I believe just being consistent will be our biggest key to success,” Savage said. “Being able to throw strikes and give ourselves a chance is key for any season and this will be no different. On the offensive side it will be just finding a way to grind out at bats and force them to throw us our pitch. I believe we can create some offense by just fighting and doing what we can every time we are at the plate.”
