By Chris Parker
Verona baseball posted an 11-10 record last season finishing with a district semifinal loss to Marionville. Five starters and eight lettermen from that team return this season.
Senior Weston Shrum will be the team’s leader according to head coach Donald Walker.
“(He is) outspoken in encouraging and helping each player to be better,” Walker said.
Shrum will pitch and play a middle infield spot when not on the mound. He brings control with good off-speed pitches to the mound. The senior hit .341 with a .517 on-base percentage scoring a team-high 17 runs in the fall. On the mound, Shrum threw a team-high 38 innings with 44 strikeouts in the fall.
Noah Freiburger, Kayden Cornelison, Jake Stellwagen and Derek Mayne are the team’s other four returning starters.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LINKS TO ALL OF OUR SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS
Freiburger will serve as the team’s catcher. He hit .319 with a .492 on-base percentage with 11 RB and 11 hit by pitches in the fall.
Stellwagen will pitch and play on the infield. He brings a fastball with good velocity. In the fall, Stellwagen threw 37.2 innings with 45 strikeouts.
Cornelison will also be on the infield coming off a fall where he knocked in 11 runs.
Mayne will play in the outfield. He had a .407 on-base percentage with eight RBI and eight runs scored in the fall.
Sean Lechner (freshman) and Ian Freiburger (senior) will also look for time on the infield. Isaac Alvarado (senior), Alce Jimenez (senior) and Asher Freiburger (junior) will look to find time in the outfield.
Ian Freiburger has shown marked improvement going from batting .067 last spring to .478 during the fall campaign. Cornelison also improved his hitting from .271 in the spring to .309 in the fall.
Verona opens the season on Mar. 17 at home against Pierce City.
