El Dorado Springs will be a young squad relying primarily on juniors and sophomores in key positions after finishing 13-9 last season.
2019 will also mark the Bulldogs’ return to playing a conference schedule.
“This is our first year in a very long time that we will be able to compete in a conference so we are excited about that. This year’s team will look different then what we have had the last few years. Overall we will be a young team but I think an exciting team. There should be some great competition for starting jobs among the team which will hopefully bring the best out in us,” El Dorado Springs head coach Jeremy Barger said.
Pitching will be a strength for El Dorado Springs according to Barger. Juniors Derek Hays and Payton Zartman along with sophomores Gaven Morgan and Logan Spencer will anchor the pitching staff. Hays wen 3-2 last year with a 3.08 ERA. Spencer posted a 3.31 ERA and a 1-0 record.
Senior Orlando Guerrero returns at first base to start for a third season. He has only committed two errors in two years of starting. Classmate Ty Davis will also see time in the infield.
Junior Deston Malek and sophomore Trevyn Garringer will lead the outfield for El Dorado Springs.
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El Dorado Springs will be a good base running team, but will need to get timely hitting to score more runs.
“Our team will have to do a better job at not leaving people on base,” Barger said. “Too many times last year our team did a great job at getting on base, but at times we struggled to just put the ball in play with runners in scoring position.”
Barger hopes his Bulldogs will be able to compete for the Ozark Mountain Conference title in year one of the conference.
“I believe we will be a team that will give great effort every night and a team that will never quit. When it comes to our goals and what we are looking forward to I think it would have to be our conference play, and then districts. Everyone’s goal is to win districts, and that is no different for us. We will have a young team but a team I think can compete right away if they are willing to put in the work,” Barger said.
El Dorado Springs opens the season on Mar. 25 at Stockton.
