Nearly 10 months removed from their first-ever district championship and a run to the state quarterfinals, the Marionville Comets are out to prove that last season was anything but a fluke.
And they'll have the right pieces to help accomplish their mission.
Marionville, which has collected 35 wins over the past two seasons and was crowned champion of its district for the first time in program history in 2015, will once again be led by head coach Jamie LaSalle – now in his third year coaching the Comets.
LaSalle brings back a solid core of upperclassmen to this year's squad, but will have to fight through the absence of second team all-state pitcher Geren Reavis, who graduated last May.
Posting an ERA of just 0.6 last year, Reavis leaves some sizable shoes to fill.
“He had the most dominating season as a starter that I have seen,” LaSalle said of Reavis.
Having no Reavis likely means extended pitching time for junior Aaron Head, who compiled a 6-3 record on the mound. Head also earned all-state honors in the infield and was the Comets' second-best hitter in terms of batting average (.352) a year ago.
The Mid-Lakes Conference will also have to fear the returning talents of senior Jacob LaSalle, the coach's son. An all-state infielder in his sophomore season and an all-state outfielder for his junior campaign, LaSalle is expected to have a big season at the plate.
In addition to going a perfect 6-0 on the mound last year before an elbow injury, LaSalle led Marionville in batting average (.417), slugging percentage and walks. The senior also has some commendable speed – tallying eight triples last spring.
Senior first baseman Waylan Davis, who also batted over .300 and was second on the team in extra-base hits, is another returnee who will provide a spark with his bat.
All told, 34 players are going out for the team – providing the third-year head coach with no shortage of talent.
“We can field a varsity, junior varsity and ninth-grade team,” said LaSalle. “We will have some really good competition at key spots for playing time.”
Marionville will have to contend with some tough teams again this year, including in its Mid-Lakes Conference portion of the slate, which regularly fields quality squads. However, with the pieces that LaSalle has returning, there's no reason to think that the Comets won't come out on top and make a deep playoff run.
“We expect to win another district championship and to make a final four appearance,” LaSalle added. “We expect to have a much better season on the offensive side.”
The Comets begin their 2016 season at home against Billings on Mar. 28.
