Marshfield finished 3-21 in 2016, but the Blue Jays are just three years removed from a 15-win campaign. The Blue Jays are looking to recapture the success with a new coach this season.
Marshfield welcomes in new head coach Tyler Henry, who spent the previous two years coaching at Buffalo.
Things won’t be easy for Henry in his first year, however, as the Blue Jays graduate seven players from last season’s club, including a pair of all-district selections in P/IF Wade Owens and 3B Ryan Coffman. Owens compiled a 1.04 ERA in 33.2 IP and batted .274 at the dish. Coffman finished last season with a .274 BA with 8 doubles.
Despite the departures, Henry remains optimistic about the tasks that lie ahead.
“We as a staff are looking forward to coaching quality young men, finding out what we’re capable of and working toward individual and team improvement,” said Henry. “We’re excited for the many opportunities to compete and improve.”
An abundance of talent will still flood the roster this spring, including senior Evangel commit Kellen Maxwell. Batting .314 with 12 RBI and 12 stolen bases last year, Maxwell, who earned 2nd Team All-District honors, will anchor the lineup. The senior will also be asked for his services on the mound at times.
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“Kellen is arguably our most skilled player,” Henry said of Maxwell. “We expect him to be a team leader this spring, to be one of our top defenders and to provide consistency in our lineup. We’d like him to contribute quality innings on the mound as well.”
Lead pitching duties will be assigned to junior Eric Nunn, who will look to improve on his 4.40 ERA in 30.2 IP a season ago.
“Eric is a dedicated player with a strong work ethic,” said Henry. “He will be one of our primary pitchers, will compete for time in the outfield and should display improved offensive ability.”
The senior class will be rounded out by IF Bo Atkinson, IF Austin Allen and P/IF Colby Lininger – all of whom will be asked to significantly contribute at the plate and in the field.
In addition, juniors Elijah Biggers, Josiah Wolfard, Klayton Brooks and Kirk Henry will be expected to make the jump to the varsity level and produce after spending their time exclusively playing JV ball.
The schedule will be fairly kind to the Blue Jays to begin the season as they play their first three games (Mexico, Excelsior Springs and Waynesville) in the confines of their own park before traveling to play Monett on March 23.
There are no lofty expectations for a new-look Marshfield squad, but that isn’t going to stop them from competing and striving to get better as each day passes.
“We expect to compete to the best of our ability every opportunity we get, and to improve individually and as a team throughout the season so that we’re peaking around the second week of May,” Henry added. “We expect to play with joy, passion and a sense of urgency.”
Marshfield hosts Mexico on March 18.
