Thayer is looking to bounce back from a two-win season last year that was hampered by many rainouts.
“Last year was tough for us as a team. We were coming back from a year where we graduated seven starters, and we suffered from some injuries as well. However, we worked hard to get better every game, and I truly believe that our record does not accurately reflect the progress we made throughout the season,” head coach Lucas Brown said. “We played a tough schedule, but I stressed to our boys that playing tough teams is important if you want to get better. Our conference was loaded and included some state-ranked teams. We were competitive in several of those games, but we struggled with finishing off the game.”
Four starters in Jordan Miller, Garrett Young, Jalen Andrew sand Arthur Tate return to lead the Bobcats. The first three are all seniors with Tate coming back for his sophomore season. Andrews, a second baseman, led that group with a .444 batting average last season. Young, a center fielder, had the most hits with 14 total hits to go with seven RBI.
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Miller will be leaned upon as a key pitcher.
“I look forward to what Jordan will do this year for us both on the mound and at the plate. He has a strong arm with a great fastball, and he has worked to develop an effective off-speed pitch over the last two years. Jordan has the potential to have a great season and help us compete this year,” Brown said.
Freshmen Bobby Dale and Levi Poulette will see time in the lineup immediately.
Finishing will be a focus for Thayer this season.
“This season my primary focus will be on consistency and mental toughness. Last year we let far too many games slip through our fingers after putting ourselves in a position to win. I want to make sure we capitalize on the other team’s mistakes while minimizing our own,” Brown said. “Coach Tate and I are working to develop intense and efficient practice plans with these goals in mind. I have a very smart and hard-working group of players this year, and I think they will respond well to this approach. Once our games begin we will emphasize staying focused on every pitch, every situation, and how to continue improving our game. I am looking forward to every game on our schedule; each one provides us with the opportunity to compete and get better.”
Thayer opens the season on Mar. 26 at Dora.
