By Chris Parker
Seneca baseball will be look to bounce back from a five-win season with eight starters and 14 lettermen returning this season.
A trio of all-conference selections in Kade Johnson, Conner Ackerson and Hagen Ginger return for Seneca.
Johnson was a first-team all-conference selection on the infield as a sophomore. He played third base, caught and pitched last season. He will pitch and play catcher this season. The junior hit .403 with a .545 on-base percentage with 16 runs scored.
“Kade is a smart and versatile baseball player that can play a lot of different positions. He also has a strong bat that he has developed through a strong work ethic,” Seneca head coach Chris Yust said. “He has gotten stronger, and he has taken on more of a leadership role this year with the experience he gained last year.”
Ackerson is a two-time all-conference selection in the outfield entering his senior season. He will start in centerfield this year. The senior led Seneca in stolen bases (12) and runs scored (18) as a junior with a .304 batting average.
“I look for him to be one of our leaders this year as well as continue to give us excellent defense in the outfield and produce at the plate and on the bases,” Yust said. “His best asset is his defense. He gets great reads and jumps on balls hit in the outfield. At the plate, injuries hurt his production last year and with him healthy he will be an asset there as well.”
Ginger was an honorable mention all-conference selection on the infield last year. He started at first base and saw some innings at shortstop. Ginger hit .323 with a .429 on-base percentage.
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Returning with Johnson to the pitching staff are sophomore Grant Houchin and junior Colton Curtis.
Houchin threw 53 innings with a 3.94 era as a freshman.
“He (Houchin) has a good fastball and has good command of his fastball and breaking ball which allows him to keep hitters off balance,” Yust said.
Curtis threw 17 innings all in 14 relief appearances in 2022.
“He does a good job throwing both his fastball and curveball for strikes,” Yust said.
Lincoln Renfro was slated to be in the starting rotation last year until an injury ended his season. Payne Sikes (junior), Brian Bigbee (junior), Hagen Ginger (sophomore), Dalton Mathre (sophomore) and Kaden Clouse (sophomore) will also provide valuable innings this season.
Around the infield, expect to see Curtis (shortstop), Houchin (third base and shortstop), Ryan DeLaunay (second base), Cedar Starchman (second base), Renfro (third base), Sikes (first base), Bigbee (designated hitter), Ryan Owens (infield), Brayden Roark (infield) and Mathre (infield).
The outfield will feature Ackerson, Cade Galindo, Kaden Clouse, Gabe Leer and Lane Scribner.
Last year’s team was young, but that experience should pay off in 2023.
“Overall, the maturity of the players from the inexperience last year to knowing what to expect this year (has improved),” Yust said. “The experience gained from last year and the players physical and mental maturity from a year ago (will be a strength).”
Seneca opens the season Mar. 18-25 at the Cassville Tournament.
“This year with the experience that we gained last year I expect to compete and be in every game,” Yust said. “My goal is for us to continue to improve every game and be in a spot to compete for a conference and district championship at the end of the season.”
