By Chris Parker
The fall baseball season helped a young Sparta Trojan baseball team gain some much needed experience. Sparta finished 4-8 in the abbreviated campaign.
“The fall season worked out well for our young guys to get some experience. Unfortunately we only played in 13 games due to quarantine restrictions,” Sparta head coach Michael Willis said. “The advantage of the fall season is the opportunity to see what we need to improve on for the spring.”
Sparta will look for sophomores to lead. That group includes Kaiden Kelly, Steven Brown and Caden Roller.
Kelly was the team’s top hitter and pitcher in the fall.
“Kaiden was an all-conference utility player in the fall of his freshman year. He played short, pitcher, catcher and some outfield. He led the team in hitting as a freshman with a .390 average. This past fall he led the team in innings pitched on the mound with a record of 2-2,” Willis said.
Brown is a catcher who will also eat innings on the mound. He was an all-conference catcher in the fall of his freshman year and hit .387.
Roller will play all over the field.
“This past fall Caden hit the ball well with a .344 average and he played centerfield, second base and pitched. This spring he will be looked to eat up some more innings on the mound,” Willis said.
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The team’s lone seniors are pitcher/first baseman Isaac Willis and Charles Cavazos. Both are returning from ACL surgeries
“Coming off his third ACL surgery this summer, Isaac had to miss this past fall. After missing the first half of his junior fall season due to his second ACL surgery, he pitched in three games his junior fall season with success with a 1.9 ERA and 7 strikeouts,” Willis said. “Charles missed his senior fall due to ACL surgery, his junior fall he hit .250. Charles has a good swing and usually will make contact. I am excited for him and Isaac to finally be able to play baseball this spring.”
Sophomores Dexter Loveland and Alex Hanson will also be in the starting lineup.
Loveland is a first baseman.
“Dexter is our starting first baseman after moving from the outfield his freshman year. This past fall he hit the ball hard but at times right at the defense so it explains his .235 average. That being said I look for good offensive numbers from this big first baseman,” Willis said.
Hanson is a centerfielder.
“Alex played some centerfield and pitched for us this fall. He improved greatly from his freshman fall with a .258 average,” Willis said. “He will need to eat some innings this spring on the mound and he will go further in games if he will cut down on his walks.”
Freshmen Brayden Davis (third base) and Walker Loveland (left field) will also start.
Sparta opens the season Mar. 22-26 at the Exeter Tournament.
