By Chris Parker
Pleasant Hope baseball was expecting to have a big 2020 season after improving from seven to 14 wins from 2018 to 2019.
COVID, as it did with teams all over the nation, changed all of that.
“We feel like we are making good gains on becoming highly competitive, so it (the cancelation) hurt us to see where we are and trying to get better under pressure situations,” Pleasant Hope head coach Page Jones said. “It means a lot (to get back on the field), because we have had a core group that has started for us since their freshman years at the varsity level.”
Senior Colton Highfill will do a bit of everything for the Pirates.
“He (Highfill) can do it all from pitcher to shortstop to driving in a bunch of runs, and is a threat when on the bases. We feel he is one of the top seniors in southwest Missouri,” Jones said.
Grant Dohle will be a steady presence behind the plate at catcher.
“Grant is a great catcher that receives and blocks at a high level. He has worked hard at the plate and has added power to his all-around good swing. Grant takes away our opponents’ running game and is also expected to be a great contributor to our pitching staff,” Jones said.
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Brendle McDaniel returns to the outfield where he has started since his freshman year. He will be the No. 2 hitter on the team.
Senior Colton Coffey will be the team’s best pitcher.
“Colton is a player that will be at the top of our rotation, and has really worked on his hitting, as he had a breakout summer for us at the plate. He is very versatile in that he can play all infield positions,” Jones said.
Senior Reed Fullerton, sophomore Cole Davis, senior Raif Fullerton and sophomore Landon Davis will join Highfill, Dohle, McDaniel and Coffey on the mound to form the pitching staff. Raif Fullerton will also see time behind the plate when Dohle pitches.
Around the infield expect to see Coffey at first and third base, Davis and sophomore Chris Agee at second base, Highfill at shortstop and Reed Fullerton at first base.
McDaniel will anchor the outfield in center with Raif Fullerton in left field. Clinton Spracklin, Landon Davis, Kyron Highfill and Duane Hickman will also battle for innings in the outfield.
“Experience and our pitching depth should be our strong points,” Jones said. “The back end of our batting order needs to produce more than in the past.”
Pleasant Hope opens the season Mar. 19-27 with its home tournament.
“We feel like if we could start out strong. We have a pretty good chance to be a tough out come district time,” Jones said. “Expectations are high for us from the kids and our community.”
