By Justin Sampson (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Strafford reclaimed the spot it has grown accustomed to last spring: atop the Mid-Lakes Conference.
The Indians went undefeated through league play for their fourth crown in five seasons and reached the Class 3 quarterfinals. The scary bit: Strafford could be even more dangerous in 2018.
“The kids are as excited as any team I can remember,” said head coach Shane Pierce. “We have several kids that play with travel teams so they have been working throughout the offseason.”
Strafford lost two All-Mid-Lakes seniors: Austin Tipton and Elijah Perkins, but return seven starters and what Pierce calls the best pitching rotation he has ever had.
Juniors Tony Caldwell and Dillon Turner, both all-conference picks, lead the staff with identical 5-2 records as starters from 2017. Caldwell pitched in the biggest matchups Strafford faced last spring, posting a 1.85 ERA while taking the team’s triple crown honors at the plate (30 hits, 29 RBI, .448 batting average).
Turner finished with 2.11 ERA as he also nabbed a Second Team All-Mid-Lakes nod as an outfielder.
“(Turner) is probably the hardest working kid I’ve ever had,” said Pierce. “He just started playing baseball in seventh grade. He played tennis and other things growing up, but just started playing baseball and fell in love with it. He probably works four or five nights per week just getting better and stronger.”
Mason Foley (2B/SS/P) turned heads with one of the better freshman campaigns Pierce could remember. He swiped a team-high 16 bases and was second with a .375 batting average. He also went 4-0 on the mound with a 1.94 ERA, hitting in the low 80 MPH range at times.
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That kind of speed fits perfectly into the way Pierce likes to attack defenses.
“I take great pride in bunting, so that is something we will do a lot. At our level, you can win a lot of games doing that.”
The rotation will get another boost from the return of senior Drew Stoll. He ruptured his spleen after just 13 games last season, but held a spotless ERA before missing the remainder of the year. The Indians will not gloss over how vital his presence could be.
“I believe if we would’ve had him (last year), we may have made a bigger run at the final four.”
The other lone senior, Bryce Boswell, adds to the staff depth after signing to play at Drury in November.
Juniors Hunter Langston (OF) and Wyatt Maples (C) pad the all-conference list and will be counted on to produce at the plate and in the field.
As one coach put it: Strafford is the team to beat until someone does so. Pierce is not ready to put that label on his squad, but is eager to get started with the talent he has to work with.
“I keep feeling like we’re young. Every year, I feel like we’re never old enough to be the hunted. This group will have two seniors and a bunch of juniors. I think if we can do something this year, I’ll say yes next year.”
