By Chris Parker
El Dorado Springs baseball will be looking to take another step forward in 2024, the second season under head coach Robbie Mossman.
“I hope to improve on last year, which I think we are very capable of doing,” Mossman said. “We made big strides in conference play. I would like at some point to become one of the best teams in conference year end and year out. The biggest improvement that I would like to see is at the end of the season. I want to be competing for district championships.”
Five starters and nine lettermen return from last season’s eight-win team.
Hunter Frame is the lone returning senior. He will play on the infield and pitch.
“We will need Hunter to pitch several innings whether as a starter or reliever,” Mossman said. “He played good defense last year, but we are going to need him to hit consistently.”
Brett Alexander will play infield and pitch as a junior now two years removed from an injury.
“Brett came off of elbow surgery last year and played a very good infield and hit well, but we will need him to pick up big innings for us this year,” Mossman said.
Sophomore Kandyn Ewert is a shortstop and pitcher who will pitch key innings.
Maverick Mitchell will also take more of a leadership role this year.
Joining Frame, Alexander and Ewert pitching will be Karson Burley. The sophomore has the ability to get big outs in big games.
Sophomore Connor Bradley returns behind the plate at catcher after starting a majority of the games last season. Maverick Mitchell also is in the mix for time at catcher along with freshman Marcus Mossman.
Frame, Ewert and Alexander will be joined on the infield by Cooper Greathouse (second/third base) and Marcus Mossman (first base/catcher).
Grady Crews and Burley saw significant action in the outfield as freshmen and return. Aidan Rotert also saw outfield action.
“We are going to play the game hard, run the bases, put pressure on the defense, and make routine plays,” Coach Mossman said. “Holding runners, pitchers throwing strikes, and our overall hitting approach needs to improve. We need to hit strikes and take balls. It sounds simple but it really is not. Have a desire to put the team before themself or individual accolades. This is not an easy task, but a characteristic of a good team.”
El Dorado Springs opens the regular season on Mar. 15 at Dadeville.
