The Ava Bears have a winning tradition with head coach Rex Sawyer at the helm, and the team looks to continue that in Sawyer’s 21st season there.
The Bears took second in the South Central Association last year and lost to Licking in the second round of districts, compiling a 15-9 record. But the team is working to improve in order to contend in conference and district play once again.
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“The bats have to come to life, and we have to become a better team in scoring,” said Sawyer. “If we’re going to compete, we have to get better offensively.”
The Bears do face some challenges. In addition to graduation losses of outfielder Shannon Porter, shortstop Chase Gastineau, and third baseman Cody Huff, each first team All-SCA players, All-SCA senior catcher Morgan Smith dislocated his ankle in basketball season and may not return until late in the spring.
But all hope is not lost, as the Bears bring back starting senior pitcher Zach Hunsaker and a slew of juniors. Nick Sterling, Colton Ritter, and Devin Elliott will each add to the pitching staff alongside Hunsaker.
Sterling will also man first base, Ritter, second, and Elliot will be in the outfield. Chase Dotston will start as middle infielder and Colton Skyles will be behind the plate. Aaron Everett, sophomore, will battle Skyles for the catching position in the absence of Smith.
New faces include Wyatt Gastineau, a sophomore who will play outfield, and freshmen Caleb Johnson and Thomas Emmerich.
Coach Sawyer said the Mountain Grove Panthers, last year’s district champions, are always their biggest competitors.
“We are very competitive and always in the running for the conference championships,” said Sawyer. “I think we are in it again, but we will have to do a better job to compete. At district time, you never know what will happen. But we have a good tradition at Ava.”
The Bears travel to Hollister on March 22 to open their season.
