By Chris Parker
There is some uncertainty for the Cabool baseball program heading into the 2022 season. The Bulldogs will be a fairly young team coming off a 9-12 finish last season.
“I never know what to expect this early in the season. I am hoping to build off of what we started last year and continue to raise the expectations here,” head coach Joseph Spittler said. “We will be very young this year so I am expecting several of our sophomores to step up and fill the holes we have.”
Two upperclassmen in Braxton Davis (senior) and Caleb Graven (junior) will be key leaders for Cabool.
Davis will pitch and play third base while hitting in the three or four spot in the lineup.
“He (Davis) has the most game experience and stepped up as a leader toward the end of last year,” Spittler said.
Graven, who was a first-team all-district selection last year, will pitch and play all over the field while hitting atop the lineup.
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Aceton Gonzales and Trey Atkins are two sophomores who will be key leaders. Gonzales will pitch and play center or wherever he is needed. Atkins is a utility player who will pitch.
Another sophomore in Will Tucker will handle the catching.
Payton Hunter along with several others will battle for time on the infield with Davis, Graven and Atkins.
Gonzales, Brady Byerley and Isaiah White-Wake are just three players who could see tie in the outfield after graduating three senior starters from that unit.
“We will be a fast team and I think when we get people on base we will be able to put some pressure on pitchers and defenses. The kids we have work hard and are coachable kids,” Spittler said. “I think pitching will be our biggest concern this year. We will struggle to find enough experienced arms early in the year. I think as the year goes on we will be able to develop a few extra kids to help us.”
Cabool opens the regular season on Mar. 18 at home against Gainesville.
