After a heartbreaking 6-4 loss to eventual Class 4 state runner-up Sullivan in the state quarterfinals a year ago, Carl Junction returns virtually intact this spring with dreams of ending the season in O’Fallon. The Bulldogs, who finished last season with a 25-8 record, begin this season ranked #3 in the preseason rankings released by the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association.
“Last year was an exciting year,” said head coach Flave Darnell. “It was really fun to watch a lot of players contribute to our success."
While there is plenty of talent and experience returning for Carl Junction, the losses to graduation include catcher Dyllan Avery-Smith, who batted .342 with 40 hits and 19 RBI last season. Avery-Smith was also named 1st-Team All-Conference and All-District for the Bulldogs. Also gone is outfielder Austin Niemeyer.
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“Dyllan will be a tough one to replace,” said Darnell. “He was a great leader behind the plate. His ability to learn from mistakes and grow as a player will be missed. Austin did a good job in right field. He had a good arm and was a good defender.”
The Bulldogs will not be lacking for experience or talent, though, as eight starters return to provide plenty of firepower, while a ten-deep senior class will provide leadership.
Headlining the list of returnees for Carl Junction will be senior first baseman Justice Hylton, a 1st-Team All-State selection last season after batting .439 with 50 hits, 12 doubles, three homeruns, and 44 RBI. Hylton, a hard-throwing southpaw, also posted a 4-2 record with a pair of saves for the Bulldogs, en route to earning 1st-Team All-Big 8 and All-District honors.
Senior shortstop Ethan Frack also returns after a 2nd-Team All-State junior campaign, in which he batted .444 with 48 hits and 24 RBI from the leadoff spot. Frack, the reigning Big 8 Conference Player of the Year, also posted a 7-4 record on the mound with an impressive 1.27 ERA, and will once again be the Bulldogs’ ace on the hill.
Speedy senior second baseman Ben Luton (.373 BA, 41 H, 15 RBI) swiped a team-leading 15 bases, while fellow classmate Zach Snodgrass (.320 BA, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 13 SB) will once again be the Bulldogs’ closer. The lefty Snodgrass set the school record a year ago by recording six saves for the Bulldogs.
Senior third baseman Evan Hutcheson (.313 BA, 31 H, 19 RBI) also returns, as does fellow senior Tay Mitchell (.269 BA, 15 RBI), who will battle for the starting catcher spot vacated by the graduation of Avery-Smith. Versatile senior Ryan Devore is back, and is capable of playing virtually any position on the field, including pitcher, where he recorded a 4-1 record for the Bulldogs a year ago and was a big reason for the Carl Junction’s run to the state quarterfinals.
Senior pitcher Conner Williams (3-0, 1.53 ERA) returns, as does junior Hunter Adams, a speedy and athletic outfielder who will see a lot of action on the mound this season after last year’s 3-0 output. A trio of varsity newcomers in seniors Konner Day and T.J. Rogers, and junior Dason Boren also will contribute to the Bulldogs’ success.
“We have a lot of players coming back from last season,” said Darnell, who is in his 14th season as the head coach at Carl Junction. “We have several good athletes and kids that have played a lot of baseball. If we can focus on the process of getting better and keep the distractions away, we have a chance to have another successful season. We need to throw strikes and cut down on our strikeouts from last year.”
Carl Junction opened the 2016 campaign with a 5-1 victory over Republic in the Branson Tournament Friday night, as Frack tossed a one-hit gem for the Bulldogs. Carl Junction followed that up with an impressive 12-2 six inning victory over Class 4 #2-ranked Logan-Rogersville, a team which the Bulldogs beat 14-2 in last year’s Sectional round.
The Bulldogs will once again compete in a tricky District 12, which features the likes of state-ranked Monett, as well as Cassville, East Newton, Nevada, and Seneca. Carl Junction returns to action in the Branson Tournament Monday night with a trip to Nixa.
