By Kai Raymer/OzarksSportsZone.com
The Fair Play Hornets are seeking their first winning season since 2012 this spring.
Fair Play has won eight or fewer games each season since 2013, including a 3-14 overall record last season.
Coach Eric Derossett will look to a multi-sport senior standout and a junior trio to aid the Hornets’ turnaround hopes.
The senior is Camden Welch, who was also the leading scorer for Fair Play’s basketball team this past season. As the 2-hole hitter for Fair Play last spring, Welch hit .326, posted an on-base percentage of .442 and led the team in runs.
“He is excellent at advancing runners and setting the table for the power part of our lineup,” Derossett said. “Camden is a lefty and is a smooth-fielding first baseman. He has become the anchor of our infield defense and we count on him heavily in this role.”
The juniors are Kendal Wright, Justin Viles and Kohner Thomas.
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Wright hit a team-high .359 last season with an on-base percentage of .490.
As a batter, he led Fair Play in RBIs and extra-base hits. As a pitcher, he led Fair Play in innings pitched and strikeouts.
“Kendal is extremely valuable in the field, as he pitches and catches,” Derossett said. “He has been working all fall and winter in the weight room to get stronger and more explosive. He has spent individual time working on his swing and hitting approach as well.”
Viles will be a big factor in Fair Play’s pitching rotation after gaining valuable experience as a sophomore. He also sees time at catcher.
“He has the potential to be a crucial part of our defense and we see nothing but good things in the future from him as a catching mainstay for our team,” Derossett said. “We are excited about what is in store for him his junior and senior years.”
Thomas hopes for a healthy junior campaign after missing all of last season with a knee injury. He tore his ACL during basketball season and was unable to play baseball in the spring.
As a freshman, Thomas was the team’s starting third baseman and a middle-of-the-order hitter.
“He is fully recovered and we expect him to make an immediate impact for us,” Derossett said. “He also was a valuable pitcher for us during his freshman year and he will give us depth in our pitching rotation this year. Kohner is versatile and he could have a breakout season for us.”
Fair Play’s last winning season was in 2012, when it finished 12-11 overall. The Hornets haven’t won a game in their district tournament since an eight-win campaign in 2013.
Fair Play takes a move up to the Class 2 level this season, joining Jasper, Liberal, Lockwood, Morrisville and Pleasant Hope in District 13. Morrisville is the host school for the district tournament.
