By Chris Parker
Bradey Welsh enters his third spring as head coach of the Hartville baseball program with five total starters returning.
This season, he expects pitching to be a strength for the Eagles.
“The biggest strength of our team is pitching,” Welsh said. “We rely on our pitchers to keep us in every game we play. We have pitchers that are able to mix pitches and be in the strike zone. We can be successful this spring if our pitchers stay healthy and are consistent.”
The top of that rotation features juniors Gus Sinning and Truett Coryell along with sophomore Heston Lowery. Sinning brings a dominant fastball. Coryell mixes pitches well and gets chase. Lowery throws a lot of strikes and forces weak contact.
Junior Brock jones will catch the pitching staff.
“Brock Jones has improved behind the plate,” Welsh said. “He has always been a solid catcher for us but each year he keeps getting better. He saves a lot of extra bases for us. We would be a completely different team without him catching.”
The infield will feature Sinning (third base), Jacob Meglan (first base), Brodyn Hulsey (second/third base), Gavin Stigall (shortstop) and Hunter Walker (shortstop).
Coryell will be in centerfield and joined by Maddox Jones (right field), Hunter Walker (left field) and Cole Sinning (corner outfield).
Stigall, Gus Sinning, Jones and Coryell will provide leadership.
“These players have played varsity for multiple years now and if they are playing well then we usually play well as a team,” Welsh said. “The team feeds off what these players do and look up to them. If they are positive and doing what they need to do, then it will help our entire team.”
Defense and contact at the plate will be areas of focus.
“We need to improve on defense. Errors will be what keeps us from being the best team we can be,” Welsh said. “We also need to be able to consistently put the ball in play. If we limit our strikeouts and are able to move runners, then we will set ourselves up for success.”
Hartville opens the season Mar. 22-27 at the Purdy Tournament.
“I want to see us improve in every game we play in and be able to overcome adversity,” Welsh said. “If we have the mindset of wanting to get better and not letting the little things bother us then we will set ourselves up for success. This team could win the conference and play for a district championship if they play to the best of their ability each and every game.”
