By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
The hype train for Forsyth freshman Tristan Hunter is rolling along already in the same manner it did prior to the debut of all-time Panthers great Jay Kaufman nine years ago.
Kaufman lived up to all expectations and then some, becoming a perennial all-stater for Forsyth from 2012-2015 and arguably rates as the premier player in the program’s history.
Coach Byron Richardson is confident Hunter has some of the same star qualities Kaufman possessed.
“He’s one of those guys you dream of coaching,” Richardson said. “He’s going to be special. He’s a five-tool player. Tristan will either be our No. 1 or No. 2 pitcher. Even as a freshman, he’ll probably hit in the middle of our lineup and will play shortstop when not pitching.”
Hunter’s father, Doug, was a standout at Forsyth in the early 1990s.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Hunter already has made a name for himself in some southwest Missouri baseball circles. While technically still being an eighth-grader, he played in the SABA All-Star Game last summer. Hardly overwhelmed, he pitched two scoreless innings and homered.
Richardson reports Hunter owns a plus-fast ball that figures to overpower many hitters.
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“He throws in the mid-80s and by the time he gets rolling in the spring and it gets warm out, he may be in the upper 80s,” Richardson said. “He has a slender, athletic frame and is working hard in the weight room. He puts in a ton of extra work on his own. He has a great attitude. In our younger group, there are several guys like that. You don’t have to beg them to do extra work in the weight room. They’re excited to be in there working.”
Richardson likes Forsyth’s future, beginning with the Panthers’ chances to contend for Mid-Lakes Conference and District titles this season.
“The kids have got to put in the work,” he said. “If things work out, with this group and we have one or two more good classes coming, we’ve got the potential to have several good years in a row.”
The Panthers feature a mix of veterans and youngsters.
Senior Buck Sanders will alternate with Hunter between pitching and playing shortstop. Sanders will hit lead-off. As a sophomore, he hit .228 and with a keen eye in the batter’s box, drew enough walks to post a .405 on-base percentage.
“He’s a great athlete,” Richardson said. “He was all-state in football, (did) well in basketball and hopefully will be just as good in baseball. He’ll set the tone for us. I wish we could have seen what he would have done as a junior. He had the potential to have a real breakout year. I think his numbers are going to go up big-time this year.”
Sanders had 18 stolen bases as a sophomore.
Richardson hopes Forsyth can return to the aggressive nature on the basepaths that helped make the program a traditional power. The Panthers dipped to 10-15 and 8-13 in 2018 and 2019.
“We haven’t had quite as much as speed the last few years. That’s going to change this year,” Richardson said. “We’ve got a few more guys who can run. I’d love to be able to put pressure on the other team.”
On the mound, Sanders will try to keep hitters guessing.
“Buck can mix it up and also come after you with a fast ball,” Richardson said.
Forsyth’s veterans also include third baseman Aaron Gross, outfielder Zach Strahan, first baseman Parker Gillman, infielder Hayden Day and utility man Keegan Etheridge.
Etheridge’s duties will also include pitching.
“He’ll probably be our No. 3 pitcher,” Richardson said. “He throws off-speed and does a good job keeping hitters off balance.”
Richardson thinks Strahan is a sophomore to keep an eye on.
“He is capable of big contributions,” Richardson said.
Day is coming off shoulder surgery.
The hope is Gillman will develop into a power hitter.
“He has a chance to have some pop in his swing,” Richardson said. “He worked hard in the off-season. He has a good attitude and I look for him to be a good leader.”
Citing his players’ mental makeup, Richardson is confident their work ethic will allow them to reach their potential.
“This is the most excited I’ve been about a group I’ve had,” he said. “For most of them, baseball is their favorite sport, it’s their passion. They want to do something special in the next several years. I think we’ve got the potential this year to make some noise in our conference. We’ll have to adapt and work to succeed.”
