By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
2024 was a successful season for Lamar baseball.
The 13-10 Tigers captured a second-straight district championship, falling to Forsyth in the Class 3 state sectional round.
Heading into the spring campaign, Lamar welcomes back eight of nine starters from last season, as well as a brand new head coach in former assistant Chase Kilgore.
“Coming off a district championship, the team’s focus is to maintain momentum, play with confidence and believe they can compete with any team,” Kilgore said. “With a strong senior class leading the way, the team has built a close-knit culture that balances having fun with knowing when to work and compete.”
A quintet of talented seniors will lead the Tigers this season, including Alex Wilkerson, Cooper Haun, Eli Hull, Trey Pittsenbarger and Gage Shaw.
Wilkerson, and all-conference and all-district outfielder, hit .311 last season with 16 runs batted in and 14 stolen bases.
“Alex is one of the best high school outfielders I have had the pleasure of coaching,” Kilgore said. “You can guarantee any ball hit his way is going to be caught. He is a threat on the bases and has some pop at the plate.”
Haun, an all-conference and all-district catcher, hit .250 with 5 doubles and 17 runs batted in as a junior.
“Cooper filled a big role last year as our catcher. He made some tremendous strides to become a kid that we can count on behind the plate despite not catching much prior to the season,” Kilgore said. “He is a competitor and doesn’t back down when the pressure is on.”
Hull, an all-conference designated hitter, hit .269 with 15 runs batted in and 6 stolen bases last season.
“Eli has an incredible work ethic, unlike anything I have seen from a high school kid,” Kilgore said. “He is always looking to get better in order to help his team succeed. He is a powerful kid who has some pop with the bat.”
Pittsenbarger, an all-district infielder, posted a .299 average with 8 stolen bases last spring.
“Trey is a solid infielder who you can count on to make a play,” Kilgore said. “He is a kid who will bounce around the infield but has the confidence to make plays from any position.”
Shaw, an all-district pitcher, finished the season with 4 wins and a 3.864 earned run average.
“Gage is a kid who you can count on to step on the mound and throw strikes,” Kilgore said. “He is a competitor who attacks the zone and will force you to beat him.”
Juniors Trent Torbeck and Brody Gardner also return for Lamar.
Torbeck, an all-conference and all-district pitcher and infielder, hit .368 last season with 2 home runs, 31 runs batted in and 5 stolen bases. On the mound, he recorded 3 wins and 1 save, with a 3.365 earned run average.
“Trent Torbeck is a dual threat,” Kilgore said. “He is a competitor on the mound who fills up the strike zone with plus stuff. He is an athletic infielder with great range and is a tough out anytime he is at the plate.”
Gardner, an all-conference and all-district infielder, hit .315 with 13 runs batted in as a sophomore. On the mound, he finished with 4 wins and a 4.036 earned run average.
“Brody is a utility player,” Kilgore said. “He is a kid that can play anywhere on the field and be competitive. Offensively, he is a tough out and always finds a way to put the ball in play.”
Kilgore also expects a trio of varsity newcomers to step in and compete for playing time this season in sophomore utility Toby Ansley, sophomore infielder Brady Gire and sophomore infielder Aiden Kiethly.
“Our expectation is to build on last season’s success by playing confident, consistent baseball and proving we can compete with any team we face,” Kilgore said. “With a strong group of seniors leading the way and a roster that has bought into our program, we believe we can be a top contender in both our conference and district. If we continue to develop our younger players and play clean baseball, we’ll put ourselves in a position to make another deep postseason run.”
On the mound, the Tigers will be deep and experienced with most of last season’s staff returning.
“We’re returning nearly all of our pitching staff from the 2024 season, giving us a strong foundation on the mound,” Kilgore said. “The key will be staying in the zone, limiting walks and forcing opponents to earn their runs by letting our defense make plays. We have solid depth in this area,but developing a few more arms will be crucial. This season, we’ll be counting on some young pitchers to step up and contribute valuable varsity innings.”
At the plate, Kilgore expects his veteran lineup to continue producing runs at a consistent level from last season.
“With eight of nine starters returning, our lineup is built for consistency and offensive production,” Kilgore said. “We have the ability to move baserunners efficiently, manufacture runs and deliver in clutch moments with some sneaky power throughout the order. If we stay disciplined at the plate, limit strikeouts, and put the ball in play, we’ll create plenty of scoring opportunities and put pressure on opposing defenses.”
If Lamar is to make another postseason run, Kilgore believes playing clean, mistake-free baseball will be paramount.
“With a strong core of returning players and depth on the mound, our success will come down to limiting defensive errors, avoiding the one bad inning and executing in key moments,” Kilgore said. “If we stay disciplined, play fundamentally sound baseball, and trust our approach, we have the talent and chemistry to compete at a high level all season.”
Following a March 14 jamboree at Neosho with Seneca and the host school, Lamar opens its season March 21 at home against Butler.
