By Derek Shore (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Neosho High School baseball team’s 2017 campaign was a tale of two seasons.
In the early part of the year, the Wildcats carried over their late-season momentum from last spring, jumping out to a strong 9-4 record. However, things began to unravel when they took on their dreaded rival Webb City on April 14, who had knocked them off in the district title game the past year and eventually eliminated them in the semifinal game in May.
“We had very high expectations entering last season,” Neosho head coach Danny Powers said. “The year before we lost in districts to Webb City and we were eager to get back there. With seven returning starters, we started off the season very well.
“Unfortunately, after starting the season 9-4, we hit a big time slump that was plagued by injuries.”
Neosho suffered a 10-0 shutout against the Cardinals on April 14 and enter the injuries. Namely to their true number one hurler, Jacob Galbraith, who experienced recurring soreness in his elbow following Tommy John surgery and was promptly shut down the rest of the season.
Before the Wildcats were able to find their footing near the end of the year, it was too little too late as they ended the year with 12-13 overall record (1-7 in COC-Large play) and saw seven lettermen walk across the graduation stage in May.
Among the key departures includes four seniors that are currently playing college baseball – Galbraith (Crowder College) Colton Marion (NEO-Miami), Marcus Crawford (Independence CC), and Austin Wren (North Central Missouri College).
“Jacob did a great job come off arm surgery and completed well for us,” Powers said. “If he had been healthy on the mound the entire year, I have no doubt he would have won more games. Colton was a two-time All-State infielder with great speed and stole a ton of bases. We will miss him leading off for us this season.
“Marcus was one of the most talented catcher’s in our conference. He was a great team leader and probably the hardest worker on the team. Austin was a true utility player. He pitched well for us and played first. He was our most consistent hitter last year. He will be tough to replace in the middle of our lineup.”
Fortunately for Neosho, they will have more returning lettermen (nine) than lettermen lost from last spring, including senior Clint Winchester. Winchester, a two-time first-team All-Conference outfielder, hit .301 with eight of his 22 total hits going for extra-bases. He also posted 17 RBIs and swiped 12 bags last season.
Powers looks for him to hit in the middle of the order and use his speed to steal more bases.
Another senior is Hank Selig, a hardworking infielder, who plays nearly every position on the field. He comes off a junior season in which he batted .265 with 18 total hits, four doubles, one triple, 16 RBIs, and ten stolen bases.
“He will be competing for a spot at shortstop or third,” Powers added. “We will also look to Hank to compete for a spot in our pitching rotation as well.”
Not only that, Kaleb Moreland will return for his senior season after hitting .284 while smacking 19 total hits and driving in nine RBI as a junior. He will also see some time on the mound.
“Kaleb hit very well for us at the bottom our lineup (last season),” Powers said. “We will look for him to hit second for us this season. Kaleb is a fundamentally sound left handed pitcher. I expect Kaleb to do big things for us on the mound this season.”
To round out the returning class of seniors is Gavin Kelley, who missed his junior season with a knee injury. He is poised to earn starting playing time in the outfield and get innings on the mound.
The rest of the returnees includes a group of five juniors, headlined by third baseman Brett Cook, who had a .254 average last year with 16 hits and thefts, respectively.
“Brett served as our DH most of last season,” Powers said. “He has very good power and he could end up starting at third base this year as well. We will also need Brett to pitch for us this season.”
The other juniors are Jared Stephens (pitcher/outfielder), A.C. Marion (catcher), and Kaden King (infielder).
Powers said Stephens pitched well for the Wildcats last spring and has put on weight and added velocity, saying he has the potential to be one of the better pitchers in the COC this year. The third-year Neosho coach also said Marion has big shoes to fill behind the plate and could pitch as well. King, who is described as a solid middle infielder, will likely start somewhere if he can improve offensively.
Powers also listed three top newcomers in Cole Seward, Weston Durman, and Gage Kelley, who each could break into varsity this spring.
“This season we are going to ask a lot of our players to expand their roles,” Powers said. “We lost a lot of letterman last year, but we have some very good talent coming up. I’m excited to see how our kids have developed over the past couple seasons.
“They’ve worked hard and have been very patient. Now it’s their turn to show the world what they can do.”
Neosho opens the season on the road against Lebanon on March 17.
