By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
With departures come new opportunities.
In Bolivar’s case, those opportunities are on the pitching staff.
The Liberators, who won the Class 4 District 10 title last season, must replace their top two starting pitchers from that squad: Connor Sechler and Britt Tucker.
“Last year, we could rely on our pitching staff to keep us on an even keel,” said Bolivar coach Brad Roweton. “Losing your top two pitchers is always tough to overcome but we feel we can compete on the mound this year as well.
“We are still proud of our pitching staff and think they can get the job done again this year. We have several guys that will be competing for playing time.”
Sechler (6-2 overall, 101 strikeouts, 1.23 ERA) received second team all-state honors and signed to play at Missouri State.
“The thing I’ll always remember about Connor was his leadership… and his desire to make wherever place he is at a better place,” Roweton said.
Tucker, a Central Methodist signee, went 5-4 on the mound with a 3.31 ERA. In addition to Sechler and Tucker, Morgan Moore – described by Roweton as an “unsung hero” – also graduated.
Bolivar returns 11 total letter-winners, including seven starters.
The Liberators went 16-9 overall last year. They beat Buffalo (12-0) and Clinton (4-2) to capture the district crown before falling to Helias Catholic (10-0) in sectionals.
“Last year’s team had several new faces on it,” Roweton said. “We had some young guys step in ready to play and we were able to get solid pitching performances from several guys that kept us in games.”
Bolivar returns a productive, senior-heavy lineup.
Chase Hampton received first team all-conference honors last season. The speedy, senior outfielder had a .437 batting average and led Bolivar in total hits (31) and stolen bases (10).
Zach Howard, a 6’2”, 290-pound senior, returns at catcher and will have a spot in the pitching rotation. Howard went 3-0 with a 2.73 ERA last season; at the plate, he had 24 total hits and 14 RBIs.
Howard’s signed to play college football at Northwest Missouri State.
Senior middle infielder Deacon Banner returns after starting at second base last season. He’ll also see time on the mound.
Juniors Joey Vote (.320 BA, 24 total hits, nine RBIs, six stolen bases) and Jack Hadank (0.65 ERA, .304 BA) started regularly as sophomores.
Hadank will split time between the infield, catcher and the mound. Vote plays the outfield and could also pitch.
“We have a good nucleus of guys returning and several of them have shown the ability to be part of a good baseball team,” Roweton said. “We have a lot of challenges ahead. It is going to be a competitive spring this year in practice.”
Four more seniors will factor into the lineup.
Colton Lindsay returns at third base. AJ Lynn was a spot-starter last year and will split time between the mound and field.
“With an added year of experience for most of our guys we feel like we could have a more potent offense this year as well,” Roweton said.
Wesley Severns and Brayden Tunender (2-2, 2.36 ERA) are two more names to watch in the pitching rotation.
“Brayden will be one of our top pitchers this year. He had an excellent summer and will be ready to build off of what he has done the last year,” Roweton said.
Junior Brock Pitts was a part-time starter in right field as a sophomore last season; he may see additional innings in the infield this season.
Roweton also said junior Payton Wine “may find his way into our top five on the mound.”
Several sophomores will push for playing time: Hayden Burks, Cooper Bushey, Josh Francisco, Cooper Hitchcock, Jamison Jones and Gage Mann.
“They are a hard-working group that has shown a lot of improvement over the last year,” Roweton said. “We have some good young ones coming and it will be fun watching them develop in the near future.”
Roweton enters his sixth season as Bolivar’s head coach. He surpassed 300 career wins last season.
Bolivar hosts a tournament March 16-17 to begin the season.
