By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When Tyler Henry fills out his lineup card for Marshfield High School baseball games, the coach might be apt to simply write “UT” beside most of the names.
That’s because this spring, the Blue Jays feature a versatile group of players.
“One of our strengths is versatility,” Henry said. “We’re going to have guys playing various positions into late April and early May. It worked last year.”
Henry is in his second year as head coach – the team was 10-15 last season – and figures that, by having numerous moving parts, it will create the internal competition that keeps guys on their toes.
For instance, the Blue Jays are likely to have four different catchers.
“As a former catcher, I know I was better when I was not catching all the innings. It let me stay fresh,” said Henry, a Colorado native who played at Seward County Community College in Kansas and then at Evangel University before eventually coaching at Buffalo High School.
It’s a team that could be led by senior pitcher and shortstop Nick Visconte, who was a First Team All-Class 4 District 10 as well as First Team All-Central Ozark Conference Small last year. He has signed with State Fair Community College.
“He has a chance to be a two-way player there but primarily a pitcher,” Henry said. “He could be D-II or D-I.”
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Visconte was 2-2 with a 3.77 earned run average last year and also batted .354 with 28 total hits, 13 RBI and 14 steals. His glove is pretty good, too.
“Nick is Mr. Reliable,” Henry said. “Hopefully he can make some spectacular plays.”
Another key returner is Eric Nunn, who was 3-4 with a 3.43 ERA last season and was All-Class 4 District 10.
“I think he’s one of the best pitchers in the area,” Henry said. “He’s going to Drury but to swim.”
With Visconte and Nunn on the mound, the Blue Jays also will look for innings from Logan Yates as well as Josiah Wolfard, Parker Dinwiddie, Truett Gardner, Austin Dobrick and Brooks Espy.
“With the new pitching rules, it takes four or five guys at least and up to seven to get through a varsity season,” Henry said.
Handling catching duties will be Klayton Brooks, Gardner, Will Smith and Espy.
“They all do different things well,” Henry said. “We’ve spent ample time having a lot of them catching everybody, so people get that familiarity.”
The roster also includes Elijah Biggers, Colin Hurley and Brennan Espy.
Yates stole 15 bags last year and had 18 hits. Gardner had 15 hits and 16 RBI. Brennan Espy had 11 hits.
But they should be ready to play anywhere.
“It’s open competition,” Henry said. “That’s the caveat with versatility. You’re going to have a lot of guys competing for time. That helped us last year. … So hopefully going into this year, we can play at that high level from the get-go.”
However, the Blue Jays graduated two key players in Kellan Maxwell and Bo Atkison. Maxwell was arguably their best all-around player and earned both All-District and All-COC.
“We definitely think we can compete,” Henry said. “More than anything, we’ve got a bunch of kids who are fun to be around. We expect to play with joy, passion and a sense of urgency.”
