By Chris Parker
Exeter baseball went 13-9 last season with a 3-1 record in conference. The Tigers return seven starters and eight lettermen from that team this season.
“We should finally have some experience coming into this season,” Exeter head coach Matt Tripp said. “We will still be young but not as young as last year and a lot more reps for these guys at their prospective positions. The pitching rotation will be much more mature, and the word experienced comes to mind again. We needed a bump on the offensive side of things and a lot of that came to fruition this last fall season.”
The returning starters are Kason Nelson (junior catcher), Wyatt Lemons (junior pitcher), Zach Lee (senior shortstop/pitcher), Cason Antle (sophomore third baseman/pitcher), Kason Crowe (junior outfielder/pitcher), Kronikel Lokot (senior outfielder), Ed Lokot (sophomore utility) and Morgan Zinn (senior first baseman/outfielder).
Nelson hit .461 with 18 RBI and 17 stolen bases last season. He was named Ozark 7 Conference Player of the Year last season.
“He (Nelson) is one of the best catchers in the region at any level and could play any position on the field,” Tripp said. “His work ethic and leadership by example is beyond impressive.”
Lemons was 7-4 with a 1.73 ERA on the mound with a .323 batting average at the plate as a junior. Lee had three saves, a .323 batting average, 16 RBI and 19 stolen bases last season. Antle posted a 4-4 record pitching while hitting .246 at the plate last year. Crowe drove in 13 runs as a sophomore. Kronikel Lokot had 11 total hits last season. Ed Lokot hit .167 last season. Zin stole three bases and drove in five runs as a junior.
Sophomores Kelby Cross, Jax Brock and Logan Aldridge along with freshman Coy Aldridge, Cameron Brattin and Mason Lee will be newcomers to watch this season.
Tripp will look for the offensive production to pick up this season.
“We’re going to have to prove the offense can produce against top level competition this spring,” Tripp said. “We need the pitching depth and maturity to give us some breathing space in those four-game weeks. If the defense can remain solid and potentially improve along with the offense and pitching remain solid from fall to spring then this should be a highly successful team.”
Exeter opens the season on Mar. 15 at Miller.
“I want this year’s identity to be work first and play later. We have got to improve hitting that switch when we step on the field each and every day at practice. I expect boys to be hustling, sliding and diving from day one. Our basketball program has taken a major leap this year in their performance and expectations of competing due to Coach Tremayne Williams’ hard work over the last few years. This is the first year in my coaching career at Exeter that these boys can roll from a successful season on the court right into the same culture on the field. I’m excited,” Tripp said. “We took some victories from teams this fall that we had not secured prior to. I look for that trend to continue. We need to be checking more milestones off our list. A fourth straight conference title is within our grasp and a district championship is absolutely attainable. This should be the most talented team I’ve had the honor to coach here and expect the record and accomplishments will show that.”
