By Chris Parker
Blue Eye baseball is a young program that is seeking to get back to the 10-win plateau for the first time since 2015.
“We, as a team, will have to do a better job of executing and competing,” Blue Eye head coach Dustin Ewers said. “This team is still very young and will have to continue improving to reach our team goals.”
The varsity lineup will be led by seniors Jeremiah George (pitcher/utility) and Jarett Crouthamel (infield). George was the team’s top pitcher in the fall throwing 36 innings with 39 strikeouts on his way to a 3.31 ERA. Crouthamel hit .308 with 14 RBI and 16 runs scored. The latter two numbers were both team-highs.
Michael Crews (pitcher/first base) will be the lone junior expected to contribute. Crews threw 25.2 innings this past fall with 29 strikeouts and a 3.81 ERA.
The sophomore class is deep with Brandon Box (pitcher/infield), Lance Clark (outfield), Dakota Powers (outfield), Daniel Jones (infield), Braedon Boyd (outfield) and Tristen Johnson (infield) all in line to contribute. Powers led the team in hitting during the fall with a .421 batting average. He scored 10 total runs. His 10 total walks helped push his on-base percentage to .633. Box threw 24.2 innings with 27 strikeouts in the fall. He showed great patience at the plate with a team-high 16 walks. His patience helped him post a .526 on-base percentage with a .250 batting average.
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Freshmen Logan Isbell (infield), Landon Murray (outfield) and Alex Labrier (infield) should also make immediate varsity impacts. Murray hit .304 with 11 runs scored in the fall.
“This year’s team will be deeper than in year’s past. We have consistently improved and I expect that to continue throughout the spring,” Ewers said. “We as a team will need to consistently throw strikes and make the routine play defensively. We will have to do a better job of preventing big innings from happening when on defense.”
Blue Eye finished 7-9 in the fall after winning just one game in the previous fall (2018) and three games last spring. Ewers will look for his team to keep that fall momentum going this spring.
“The overall expectation for this team is to be competitive every day and work hard. If we can do those things the wins and losses will take care of itself,” Ewers said.
Blue Eye opens the season on Mar. 31 at Galena.
