2025 Spring Preview: Sarcoxie Baseball

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By Chris Parker

Sarcoxie baseball returns seven starters this season but overall will have a young team coming off a nine-win season.

“We are young,” Sarcoxie head coach Chris Mettlach said. “We will probably start five or six freshmen and sophomores, but our expectations will remain high. We expect to compete with everyone on our schedule and hopefully surprise some folks. Our goal and expectation every year will be to compete for a district championship.”

Mettlach does not expect too many youthful mistakes in the field.

“I think this team will be really strong defensively,” Mettlach said. “When I fill a lineup card out, I’ll feel good about every spot having the ability to be routine. These guys are fighters, a lot of them have started in the fall in football as underclassmen so there is a lot of grit to this group of guys.”

The pitching staff will feature Carter Phillips, Marshall Hall, Kole Kellhofer, Lane Everts and Greyson Phelps.

Phillips led the team in wins as a freshman with four last season. He threw 39.2 innings with a 3.00 ERA and 47 strikeouts.

“He (Phillips) is a weapon for us who works hard on his craft,” Mettlach said. “He is a lefty who hits spots well.”

Hall was mainly a reliever last season with 18 innings pitched.

“Marshall has good off-speed and is able to mix his pitches well to keep hitters off balance,” Mettlach said. “I think he will step into a bigger role this year on the bump.”

Kellhofer is a freshman who is looking to make an immediate impact.

“Kole Kellhofer is an incoming freshman who I think will fill up a ton of innings on the mound,” Mettlach said. “He is a big kid with great stuff. He’s a competitor.”

Everts and Phelps will compete for innings as well.

“They both have thrown for us recently and should be ready for varsity innings,” Mettlach said. “Both have developed a lot physically, and I’m excited to see what they can bring.”

Senior Caleb Chrisman along with Phelps will catch.

Tyler Lambeth (sophomore), Phelps, Marshall Hall (sophomore), Kellhofer, Landon Straw (freshman), Kole Flynn (sophomore) and Chrisman are all options on the infield.

Look for a combination of Phillips, Everts, Chris Lara (senior), Ayden Welch (junior), Abram Pogue (sophomore) and Lucas Lambeth (senior) in the outfield.

Chrisman and Everts bring experienced leadership to the otherwise young Bears.

“Our team is young, so we will really lean on Caleb Chrisman and Lane Everts to make sure we get done what we need to culture wise,” Mettlach said. “They have both started every game in their high school careers and know how to do things the right way.”

Mettlach thinks the sophomore class could break out this season.

“I’m most excited about our sophomore group,” Mettlach said. “Those guys all had to grow up fast and start as freshmen and they all did a great job. I’m excited to see what another year of maturity does for them. I think that Greyson Phelps and Marshall Hall could really be good for us on the mound and Tyler Lambeth is swinging a good bat right now. Carter was an all-conference and all-district pick as a freshman and will continue to improve.”

Sarcoxie opens the season on Mar. 21 at home against New Heights Christian.

“I want this team to be gritty and compete with every team on our schedule. I thought we did that last year but didn’t quite get over the hump in some games. This year we will hopefully have the experience and grit to get it done,” Mettlach said. “I’d just like to add that I’m really proud of our boys the last couple of years in turning our program around. Guys are excited about baseball, and I think it’s going to pay off for them. They deserve it.”

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