By Chris Parker
Skyline baseball returns six starters and 10 lettermen in head coach Drew Wheeler’s first season with the program.
The team finished 7-17 a year ago, which was the first time the Tigers failed to win double-digit games since 2010.
A mix of seniors and juniors will be turned to for leadership.
“We will of course be looking to our two seniors Dakota Carlisle and Jayden Moppin for leadership this year,” Wheeler said. “However, we have seasoned guys such as Brigham Willis and Paxton Foster, who are both juniors, that can step in and help lead the team.”
Carlisle and Foster will be two key pitchers.
“Dakota Carlisle threw the most innings out of our returners. He is a seasoned pitcher and throws a firm fastball. He is also a guy that has great command with all of his pitches,” Wheeler said. “Paxton Foster will be another conference starter. He threw 22.1 innings last year and had a win-loss record of 2-2. He is a guy we can lean on to throw strikes and put us in a position to get outs.”
Sophomores Landon Hodges and Noah Long both threw quality innings last year.
“They were both guys that threw out of the bullpen which tells me that they are guys that can come in and stop the bleeding,” Wheeler said.
Foster, Logan Moppin (sophomore) and Hoyt Miller (freshman) are all players with potential to see time behind the plate at catcher.
Jayden Moppin (senior), Brigham Willis (junior), Tanner Hammers (sophomore), Noah Long (sophomore), Logan Moppin (sophomore), Mason Bibeau (freshman), and Kenton Owen (freshman) have all shown they could be guys to compete for time in the infield.
In the outfield, Carlisle will be the leader in centerfield. Landen Hodges (sophomore), Kruz Ullum (junior), Zander Dickey (sophomore) and Ethan Brewer (sophomore) will all be competing for playing time in the outfield. Brigham Willis (junior) is also a guy that can move around and play the outfield.
“What I want this team to be is to be the team that has the most fight,” Wheeler said. “A “dirt-bag” mentality is something that I have taken from past coaching and will use it during my time at Skyline. We want to play fast and play hard.”
Skyline opens the season Mar. 20 at home against Warsaw.
“I have high expectations for this year,” Wheeler said. “I expect to be the team that wins with class, no matter who we play. A district championship is something that every team strives to get, and that is something that I expect to contend for.”
