By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Logan-Rogersville finished with a 17-11 record last spring, falling in the district semifinal round to eventual Class 4 champion Aurora.
Wildcats head coach Casey Ledl feels the valuable experience could pay big dividends for this season’s squad.
“Last year was very successful in terms of growth for some of our younger players,” Ledl said. “We have some great talent in our younger classes who gained valuable experience over the course of their first varsity season.”
Rogersville’s graduated seniors include Tegan Rambo, Devin Radke, Grant Umlauf, Christian Casanova, Cameron Chesick, Jarrett Stiles and Adam Melgren.
“We lost some good players, but even better kids to graduation,” Ledl said. “We have five returning starters who had a major impact on last year’s group and will be back for another year.”
Rogersville’s returning starters include senior outfielder Nathan Salinas (.333 BA, 2 SB), senior infielder/pitcher Caleb Casanova (2-0, 1.77 ERA, .324 BA, 14 RBI, 5 SB), junior outfielder AJ Craft (.308 BA, 14 RBI, 8 SB), junior pitcher/infielder Reed Metz (3-3, 4.00 ERA, .274 BA, 13 RBI) and junior pitcher/infielder Thomas Kane (3-0, 2.50 ERA, .320 BA, 10 RBI, 6 SB).
Ledl believes Casanova’s defensive abilities and production at the top of the order can be difference-makers for the Wildcats this season.
“[Casanova] is one of the best defensive infielders in the area,” Ledl said. “He will be counted on to hit in the top of the lineup and be a table-setter for our offense.”
Senior outfielder Caleb Ashley, senior pitcher Austin Hall and junior infielder Trey McDaniel round out the Wildcat returnees.
Rogersville also welcomes several newcomers to the varsity roster this season, including juniors Owen Christian, Cade Blevins, Seyth Miranda and Drew Kennell. Sophomores Parker Thiemann, Gavin Nally, Drew Cornelison and Colin Archer will also compete for varsity playing time.
Ledl has high hopes for a roster that has worked to develop chemistry during the long offseason.
“Our kids have worked hard in the weight room all off-season to get bigger, stronger, and faster,” Ledl said. “This is a tight knit group of kids who are a lot of fun to coach and play hard. I anticipate us having a lot of success but our ultimate goals will always be getting into the playoffs and try to make a run.”
For Rogersville to be challenge in the postseason, it will rely heavily on a pitching staff that is both deep and experienced.
“I’m very excited about our pitching staff,” Ledl said “We return several kids who logged innings from last year’s team. We have both quality and quantity making us a difficult team to match up against late in the year.”
Rogersville is set to compete in the newly-formed Big 8 East Conference and will have to navigate a challenging schedule full of competitive squads.
“Our district and conference schedule are a gauntlet with all the quality teams and coaches,” Ledl said. “But our kids love those challenges and really seem to play well in those environments.”
Rogersville opens its season in the Lael Leadoff Tournament March 16 against Branson.
