By Chris Parker
El Dorado Springs baseball has been ready to get back on the field since losing in the district championship game to finish 2019. The Bulldogs played seven sophomores or freshmen in that 6-3 loss to Lamar.
“Losing last season was disappointing for our guys. The previous season ended in a disappointing loss in the district championship that had seven sophomores or freshmen playing in the game. They were looking to continue to build off that success and try to make a run into the state playoffs. It will be known as the season that never was,” El Dorado Springs head coach Nick Engleman said.
This year the Bulldogs will have a large senior class to look to for leadership.
“We will have a big senior class this year. Gaven Morgan, Preston Robison, Trevyn Garringer, Clayton Collins, Trey Graves, Ian Esry, Dalton Adams and Logan Spencer all started at some point during their sophomore season. Each can play multiple positions and almost all of them will pitch in meaningful games. Our versatility will be a strength for this team,” Engleman said.
Morgan will be the team’s top pitcher and play catcher. He hit .452 last summer with four home runs and 15 RBI.
“Gaven Morgan will be our big game pitcher. He has pitched in many big games and he is plus level with his fastball and curve. He is receiving college interest,” Engleman said.
Garringer, Robison, Spencer and Adams will all also be key pieces of the pitching staff. Garringer posted 28 strikeouts in just under 22 innings pitched last summer to go with a .484 batting average. Robison had a summer ERA of 1.70 with 26 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched. Graves hit .304 to go with 15 strikeouts in 13 innings on the mound. Adams was a big strikeout arm on the mound with 53 in 25 innings.
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“Trevyn Garringer is our crafty lefty that hits spots and changes speeds well. Preston Robison pitches teams backwards a lot and looks to keep hitters off balanced and guessing. Logan Spencer is a strike thrower that keeps the ball down and uses his off-speed pitches to get players to make soft contact. Dalton Adams has a great fastball with movement that is tough to catch up to and make solid contact with for hitters,” Engleman said.
The infield will feature Spencer at shortstop, Esry at second base, Morgan at first base when not on the mound or behind the plate, Graves at third base and Collins as a utility player. Junior Kaden Hutsell will see time both behind the plate at catcher and at third base. Kade Fast will be a utility player in his sophomore season.
The outfield will see Robison (left field), Garringer (centerfield), Adams (right field) and junior Payton Green (right field).
Sophomores Judd Koshko and Kaden Burley will fill utility roles.
This group should form a solid defensive and pitching unit.
“We will be a strong defensive and pitching team. We have several good arms and several players can defend and play multiple positions. We have several good hitters and we will look to run and bunt to produce runs and put pressure on other teams,” Engleman said.
El Dorado Springs will need to be strong defensively while waiting for the offense to catch up.
“We will need to improve our overall hitting as a group. We have quality hitters, but we can improve our consistency and competitiveness at the plate,” Engleman said.
The Bulldogs are looking for another deep playoff run behind all of this returning experience and talent.
“I have high expectations for this group. We have several players that have playing experience, most are multiple sport athletes, and our just overall great young men,” Engleman said. “We will build upon our talent to develop truly competitive players that strive for excellence and don’t settle for anything less than that.”
El Dorado Springs opens the season on Mar. 19 at home against Dadeville.
