By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Springfield Catholic baseball enjoyed a magical run in 2022.
The Fightin’ Irish finished with an 18-11 record and Class 3 second place finish.
Head coach Courtney Spitz was pleased with his team’s postseason drive after entering the district tournament with a 12-10 record.
“Our 2022 season was a fantastic season,” Spitz said. “We played a very tough schedule that we feel prepared us for a postseason run. This season was one to remember, our best finish since winning state in 2014, and key to our players’ development when looking toward this season and their careers after high school.”
Heading into the 2023 season, Spitz will need to find replacements for a talented class of graduates including all-state shortstop Cole Leonhart.
Fortunately for the Irish, three more all-state selections return in Ben Smith, Coleman Morrison and Ben Ruter.
Smith, a senior pitcher and infielder, hit .522 last season with 5 home runs, 30 runs batted in and 4 stolen bases. On the mound, he finished with a 7-2 record and 1.14 earned run average.
Morrison, a senior pitcher and infielder, hit .367 with 1 home run, 29 runs batted in and 3 stolen bases last season. On the mound, he recorded a 5-6 record and 4.74 earned run average.
“Ben and Coleman are premier pitchers on this team, and Ben may be the best in the entire state,” Spitz said. “Ben threw two no-hitters in the district championship and quarterfinal game and hit over .500. I thought it was – and will still be – very important for us to have hitters behind him to protect people pitching around him. Coleman hitting .367 and driving in 29 RBI’s was huge for us.”
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Ripper, a senior catcher, hit .253 with 2 home runs, 17 runs batted in and 1 stolen base.
“Logan Ripper is an excellent catcher and manages the pitching staff very well, from a defensive point,” Spitz said.
Kaiser, a senior outfielder, hit .202 with 6 runs batted in and 5 stolen bases.
“Hans Kaiser is a very well-rounded athlete that can play multiple positions,” Spitz said.
Outfielder Ben Ruter (.365 BA, 2 HR, 16 RBI, 7 SB), utility Jack Schoen (.242 BA, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 7 SB, 3-1, 3.33 ERA) and pitcher/outfielder Cole Schoen (0-2-1, 3.13 ERA) return as juniors.
“All these young men have taken the task of leadership after tasting a final four,” Spitz said. “They are hoping to get better each day and have another opportunity to play for a championship at the end of the spring.”
Varsity newcomers expected to make an impact this spring include sophomore infielder Hayes Burke, freshman pitcher Jack Smith, junior infielder Brett Roberson and senior outfielder Kurtis Lammers.
“We have a talented team,” Spitz said. “My expectations are to compete every game and have a chance to win. We just need to play solid baseball and not get too high or low. Wins and losses don’t mean too much before districts start.”
With Smith set to anchor an experienced staff, Spitz believes pitching will be Catholic’s strength heading into the season.
“We have some very talented arms with a nice mix from seniors to freshmen,” Spitz said. “It will be important for us to pitch efficiently and maximize our starters. We will have a nice bullpen but some of our bullpen arms are first time varsity inning guys. We are not 20 arms deep, but we won’t have to ride out two or three starters.”
At the plate, the Irish return the bulk of last season’s lineup. With Smith and Morrison again slotted in the middle, expectations remain high.
“Our offense has a chance to be very good,” Spitz said. “We look to build offensively and be more well rounded as a team. We want to make it extremely tough to get through our lineup. Our strengths from last year to this year are not much different. Our overall depth has increased and that helps out a lot.”
Catholic opens its season March 18 at Lee’s Summit.
