By Chris Parker
Southwest baseball is hoping a strong 9-6 finish this past fall helps jumpstart a program looking for its first spring finish above .500 since 2016.
Pitching will be the key.
“You need to handle all aspects of the game but pitching is No. 1,” Southwest head coach Kenny Ferguson said. “Our schedule is fuller this spring so we will need to find a couple more pitchers who are able to give us varsity innings. Most of the fall we started four freshman and two sophomores. The experience they gained is invaluable. We should be better this spring.”
Leading the returning players is sophomore Cruz Marquez. Marquez found immediate success last season earning first-team all-conference honors as a freshman. He threw 31.2 innings with 34 strikeouts and a 2.21 era in the fall. At the plate, Marquez was also a fall force with a batting average of .553 and an on-base percentage of .656. He will pitch and play shortstop this year,
“He kept the game simple. He took the approach at the plate of just see the ball – hit the ball. He is a line drive machine. Defensively he is very solid. If he gets to it he will catch it,” Ferguson said. “He is more sure of himself and has stepped into a leadership role. Although only a sophomore, others look to him for leadership.”
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Juniors Colton Hignite and Austin Pippin also return after earning all-conference honors last year. Hignite will be the team’s ace on the mound and play first base while hitting in the middle of the lineup. He threw 37.2 innings in the fall with 39 strikeouts. At the plate, Hignite hit .500 with 21 RBi and 18 runs scored. Pippin brings a strong defensive presence behind the plate at catcher and some pop at the plate. He led the team in the fall with two home runs and 22 RBI.
Seniors Tim DeShields and Isaac Taylor and junior Ryan Peachtree round out the upperclassmen expected to provide major contributions to the varsity level. DeShields will play first base, second base and catcher while hitting in the middle of the order. Peachtree will be at third base and pitcher. Taylor will be in right field.
The sophomore class is bolstered by Ty Howard (second base/outfield), Mason Bernard (center/left field), Kobi Roland (pitcher/right field) and Aiden Rhodes (center field). The freshman class is strong with Zak Corwin (pitcher/shortstop/center field), Coy Shrum (center/left field), Brandon Brooks (second base/right field/pitcher), Allen Hendrix (right field/first base/pitcher) and AJ Anderson (left field).
“This is a good group of boys who get along well with each other,” Ferguson said. “We need to teams away when we get up. We tend to let up mentally.”
Southwest will be a young squad, but that has not tempered expectations.
“I expect us to continue to improve and to move up more in the SWCL,” Ferguson said. “I truly believe we will compete in every game this spring.”
Southwest opens the season on Mar. 20 at home against Billings.
