On paper, the Branson Pirates baseball team is in line for a stellar season, but head coach Troy Nimmo is well-aware that looking good on paper doesn’t always translate to wins.
“A lot of things have to fall in place,” Nimmo cautioned. “Just because it looks like you’re good on paper doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.”
The Pirates return seven starters from last year—a year in which Branson finished second place in the Central Ozark Conference-Large Division. The Pirates saw their season end in the semifinals of its loaded Class 5 District 11, whose champion finished third place in the state. Outside of the catching position, every other position features a returning starter for Branson this spring.
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“We’re a veteran club,” Nimmo said. “We started several sophomores and predominately juniors last year. They got a lot of experience playing in the spring and summer. Anytime you have your entire infield and outfield back, you’d like to think you can compete again. But we do play in the COC, where everybody is well-coached and they’re all very good teams.”
In the outfield, Branson returns junior left fielder Hunter Werling, senior centerfielder Chad Reusch, and senior right fielder Hayden Gibson.
Reusch, a three-year starter who also pitches, has committed to play collegiately at College of the Ozarks. On the infield, the lone newcomer is senior Seth Cline taking over at third base, while last year’s third baseman, Jake Newberry, has taken over the catching duties.
Junior Bryce Burtless will play first base and is also the ace of the pitching staff, while juniors Dawson Nimmo and Zac Funderburk will man second and short.
If there’s a question mark on this Branson team, it seems to be in the pitching staff, where the Pirates graduated several “pitching only” players last year.
“We’ve got several sophomores that will give us some good innings,” Nimmo said. “We’ve got eight or nine kids that will contribute at the varsity level on the mound for us.”
Even so, it’s been the pitching and defense that has been impressive so far for the Pirates.
“Hitting usually comes later because it’s hard to (replicate hitting reps in practice),” Nimmo said. “You can do mound work, practice fielding ground balls … but until you see another pitcher, it takes a few days to get your timing.
“I’ll take pitching and defense anytime. If you have those two things, you’re going to be in every ball game.”
