By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
There’s a new coach guiding Neosho’s baseball team this season with Keith Kilgore coming to the Wildcats after previously serving as an athletics director in northwest Arkansas. He’s also serving as the school’s activities director.
“I am a newcomer to the COC but understand that the conference is loaded with great teams,” Kilgore said.
“Respect the game and your opponent,” he said of his coaching philosophy. “Player relationships are key and team culture wins championships.”
He takes over a Neosho team that went 10-23 last spring after winning 17 games two years ago. Kilgore is an experienced baseball coach, having compiled a career record of 322-137 in 16 seasons with a state championship in 2002 and a state runner-up finish in 2012.
“We return several individuals that can provide the leadership and experience necessary to find success,” he said, and cited “great kids who work hard and are coachable” as program strengths.
The Wildcats will have 12 returning lettermen in all and four newcomers are in the mix for playing time, Kilgore said.
“Last year’s group did not have the season desired, but were competitive all season and played their best ball in districts,” he said.
Senior Kanten Smith is the only returner with postseason honors after he was named to the Central Ozark Conference second team as a catcher. He was a .321 hitter with three doubles, a triple and two homers and he drove in 15 runs.
The Wildcats graduated players like Quenton Hughes (pitcher and shortstop), Colton Southern (infielder) and Drake Swift (outfielder), but the team featured at least seven juniors and a sophomore who contributed. Brody Crane, a sophomore last year, struck out 18 batters in 11 innings on the mound, while juniors like Cade Spiva (.333 hitter with 8 steals), Hudson Williams (.280 with 18 runs and 22 walks and 8 steals), Finn Versluis (.284 with 10 steals), Brodie Arthur (13 IP, 13 strikeouts) and Liam McInturff (14 strikeouts in 9.2 IP) were other contributors. Williams also pitched, logging 33.1 innings and 29 strikeouts with a 3.99 ERA.
Neosho will host a jamboree March 14 with Lamar, Seneca and McAuley in attendance. A week later the team will travel to St. Petersburg, Florida for some spring break games.
“Hopefully in some great weather and to strengthen our team culture,” Kilgore said.
The Wildcats open their home slate against Grove, Oklahoma, part of a stretch of games against Pittsburg, Kansas, St. Mary’s (Pittsburg) Colgan and Springdale, Arkansas.
