By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Eminence enjoyed a banner year, finishing the season with an 18-8 record. The Redwings fell 4-1 in the Class 1 state quarterfinal round to eventual champion Bell City.
Despite the loss, Head coach J.C. Hoagland felt the season was successful for Eminence, as the program was only a single game from an early goal.
“2017 was a great year for our program,” Hoagland said. “Making it to the quarterfinal game with Bell City was one step short of our preseason goal of making it to the final four. For me, watching the boys mature and become a really solid team was very rewarding.”
Eminence loses several key players to graduation, including pitcher/third baseman T.J. Rolen, outfielder Denton White, outfielder Parker Matteson and pitcher Morgan O’Dell (moved to Alton).
Rolen now plays at Crowley’s Ridge College.
“Losing Morgan and T.J. will be tough with the new pitch count rules,” Hoagland said. “Developing other arms will be a key.”
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Despite the roster losses, expectations remain high for the Redwings.
A trio of all-state selections return, including junior Trent McBride, junior Wyatt Spurgin and senior Robert Keeling.
Additional returnees include junior Reece Parrish, junior Grant Dyer, senior Taylon Jenkins, senior Ethan Drake and sophomore Trevor Voyles.
“We really have the bulk of our team back with three all-state players,” Hoagland said. “Reece Parrish narrowly missed the vote to be the fourth Redwing named. Grant Dyer had a monster fall season, and we look for him to have a nice spring.”
The Redwings welcome several varsity newcomers to the roster this season, including sophomores Noah Mcintire and Triston Alcorn, and freshmen Blaze Dodson, Isaiah Taylor and Aaron Denton.
Hoagland believes his team’s fate will ultimately be determined by the Redwing’s pitching development this season.
“The overall picture for us this year will be overcoming the loss of starting pitching,” Hoagland said. “We still have our No. 1 in McBride, who posted a solid 2.37 ERA this fall. Keeling and Spurgin both threw several innings, with Keeling now solidly the No. 2.”
Eminence begins the regular season on March 17 at home in a quarterfinal rematch against Bell City.
