By Chris Parker
Liberty baseball creeped close to the .500 mark last year finishing 9-11 overall. The Eagles will have to replace four players that received postseason honors from that team if they are to finish above .500 for the first time since 2010.
Noah Jester (senior second base/pitcher), Dylan Cooper (senior shortstop/pitcher), Cole Zimmerman (senior outfield/pitcher), Kal Acklin (junior catcher/pitcher), Jaden Anderson (junior first base/pitcher), Hayden Foster (senior second base), Eli Moore (sophomore outfield), Wyatt Honeycutt (sophomore catcher/first base) and Hoyt Layman (junior pitcher/outfield) all return for Liberty this year.
Jester hit .397 with 11 RBI while posting a 4.20 ERA on the mound as a junior. Cooper hit .343 with 10 RBI and eight stolen bases while compiling a 5.12 ERA last year. Anderson is the team’s top returning pitcher in terms of ERA after finishing his sophomore year with a 3.16 ERA to go with a .281 average at the plate.
Head coach Allen Hedden on Jester: “Noah has been a starter since his freshman year. He plays second base and catcher. We look for him to log a bunch of innings this year on the mound. Noah is an extremely hard worker and comes to the field everyday ready to get better.”
Hedden on Cooper: “Dylan is our shortstop and one of our pitchers. Dylan has a good baseball mind and does the little things that helps our team. Dylan has been a starter since his freshman year.”
Hedden on Zimmerman: “Cole will log some innings on the mound and will played first base and outfield for us. Cole has worked hard and has earned his shot in the lineup. I can’t say enough about Cole’s work ethic and attitude.”
Hedden on Acklin: “Kal played second base for us last year. He will be our catcher this year. He has shown great leadership and work ethic. The pitchers love how he works behind the plate.”
Hedden on Anderson: “Jaden played third base for us last year. This year he will pitch and play first base. Jaden is a hard worker with a great baseball I.Q. We look for great things from Jaden this year.”
Hedden on Foster: “Hayden has played a little second base for us in the past. We look for him to be our DH and pinch hitter this year.”
Hedden on Moore: “Eli took over the centerfield job last year as a freshman and had a good season. Eli is a hard worker and comes in everyday to work everyone.”
Hedden on Honeycutt: “Wyatt is a catcher and first base. Wyatt is a hard worker and has a bright future ahead of him.”
Hedden on Layman: “Hoyt will pitch and play in the outfield. Hoyt has put in a lot of hard work and we look forward to him being rewarded for that.”
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A trio of freshmen in Gavin Reese (third base/pitcher), Parker Foster (third base) and Parker Holden (outfield) will look to make an immediate varsity impact.
Hedden on Reese: “Gavin is a good baseball player with a high baseball I.Q. He has played a lot of travel ball and has had great success each year. We look for Gavin to pitch and play third base for us.
Hedden on Foster: “Parker is Hayden’s cousin. Parker will play JV for us this year and we look for him to crack the varsity lineup next year.”
Hedden on Holden: “Parker will pitch for the JV this year. He can play a lot of positions and we look forward to having him on our team.”
Liberty opens the season Mar. 21-25 at the Cabool Tournament.
“The boys are looking forward to the season,” Hedden said. “We have several players with varsity experience and depth on the mound. This is a great bunch of kids and enjoy baseball and enjoy each other’s company. We have a tough schedule but we hope that it will prepare us for district play.”
