By Chris Parker
Seymour baseball has a new head coach in Tyler Lumley this season. He takes over a Seymour baseball program that finished as state runner-up in 2019, but slipped below .500 last year at 10-14. The Tigers found success this past fall going 8-5.
Senior Payton Bryant will be the team’s leader at both catcher and pitcher.
“Payton Bryant is our senior catcher and our middle of the order bat. He leads by example and is a good role model for our younger guys,” Lumley said. “Payton Bryant is our other key starter who is able to mix speeds well and has a great 12-6 curveball to keep guys off balance.”
Bryant hit .355 with 12 RBI and 13 stolen bases last year.
Juniors Chade Noble and Dylan Henry are a pair of move-ins who will reside atop the Seymour rotation.
“Chade Noble is our ace and has a good high spin fastball that he pairs with a good sweeping breaking ball,” Lumley said. “Dylan Henry is our other key pitcher who has a good fastball with a lot of life. He pairs that with a really tight slider.”
Bryant will be the primary catcher, but Lawson Wright (junior) Trevor Young (freshman) Caleb Schreffler (freshman) will all compete for time.
The lineup around the infield will feature: Cohen Koop (junior first base) Luke Rasmussen (sophomore second base), Derek Akers (junior second base), Brayden Baker (sophomore shortstop), Chade Noble (junior middle infield), Kason Richards (junior third base) and Lawson Wright (junior third base).
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The outfield will lineup like this: Canaan Park (senior left field) Luke Rasmussen (sophomore centerfield) Dylan Henry (junior center/left field) and Bryson Benson (senior right field).
This lineup will be formidable at the plate.
“I think we have a really balanced lineup and can do damage top to bottom,” Lumley said. “We also have good pitching and the ability to strike guys out.”
While the top of the rotation is strong, Seymour will need to develop depth to make a post-season run.
“Our pitching depth will be something that will need to be improve, and our defense will need to continue to improve as well to back up our pitching,” Lumley said.
Seymour opens the regular season on Mar. 18 at Bakersfield.
