By Chris Parker
Miller baseball improved from six to 16 wins in the first season under head coach Justin Snider.
“I think coming off of a 16-win campaign last year, when it was not expected, certainly helps raise the expectations of our program,” Snider said. “It also brings with it added pressure. We have had a good offseason. We still have a few question marks heading into the season, but we will work hard to try and narrow those areas down as quickly as possible. The last two months of the season last year we saw a lot of No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers and that will not change this year, so our kids’ adjustments at the plate will be key. We have high expectations for the season, and we will not let those waver or drop.”
The Cardinals will look to take another step forward with six players who have starting experience along with eight total lettermen.
A group of five juniors including Jarod Lung, Gavin Hendricks, Colten Brown, Caden Calvin and Nate Hill will be team leaders this season.
Lung returns as a three-year starter at shortstop and pitcher. He hit .286 posting a .471 on-base percentage with 32 runs scored. On the mound, Lung threw 30.2 innings with 24 strikeouts.
“He (Lung) will be a three-year starter and was our leadoff hitter and No. 3 pitcher last year,” Snider said. “He will slide into the top of the rotation and plays a great shortstop when he is not pitching. He was an all-conference and all district player last year.”
Hendricks was an all-district and all-conference outfielder last season. He will play centerfield and pitch.
“(Hendricks) is an all-conference and all-district outfielder who we will look to produce in the RBI categories,” Snider said. “He will slide into the 3/4/5 spots in the order. Gavin covers a tremendous amount of ground in the outfield as well.”
Brown will be a corner infielder primarily at third base. He hit .276 with a . .475 on-base percentage.
“He (Brown) will be looked at to help produce more in the lineup this year as well,” Snider said.
Calvin is a utility player who will pitch.
“Caden Calvin is a great utility player who can play anywhere on the field and at a high level,” Snider said. “He will hit in the top of the order this year too.”
Hill moved into the starting lineup late last year and will be an outfielder/pitcher.
“Nate Hill started the last month of the season last year and is a great athlete that should see plenty of time on the mound as well,” Snider said.
Sophomore left-hander Paul Nunez will also be in the rotation. Hayden Schnake (freshman right-hander) will likely be the team’s No. 3 pitcher. Hill, Calvin and Owen Weiss (sophomore left-hander) are in the running for the No. 4 spot in the rotation.
Sam Ferguson (freshman), Brayden Williams (sophomore) and others are in a competition for the catcher spot.
The infield lineup will feature Brown (first base), Calvin, Bodie Gubsor (senior) or Schnake at second base, Lung at shortstop and Schnake or Gavin Burton (senior) at third base.
Brown, Calvin, Schnake and Lung will all be on the field in some capacity at all times.
Eli Woods is a sophomore who could see time at second base or designated hitter.
Nunez, Henricks, Hill and Calvin will all see outfield time.
“Our strength will be that we have a good amount of experience back in the lineup,” Snider said, “They have a year of our system under their belt and understand the importance of being disciplined and paying attention to all of the small details that can make or break a game. I think our rotation 1-3 will be very solid as well, along with experienced guys at the plate with varsity baseball returning.”
Miller opens the regular season on Mar. 15 at home against Exeter.
“I think our identity will be known as a team that does all of the little things right,” Snider said. “Our focus and attention to the details of the game is what we pride ourselves in. We want to be able to out-execute our opponents in all phases of the game. If the players are as dedicated to this as last year, we will have a lot of success.”
