By Chris Parker
McDonald County baseball is looking for a bounce-back season with seven starters returning from last year’s four-win squad.
Hayden Lett (senior), Tim Pagle (senior), Chayton Banta (junior), Konner Land (junior) and Axeton Bateman (junior) will all be looked to on the mound pitching.
“Pitching has the possibility to be a strength for us,” head coach Heath Alumbaugh said. “We have had a lot of guys throw a lot of innings. Those guys also put in time during the off-season to improve on the mound for us.”
Juniors Brodie Roessler and Corbyn Sanderson are both in the mix at catcher.
Koner Gill (senior), Banta, Persim Sohse (sophomore), Land, Kreighton Kasischke (junior), Jette Akins (junior), Kalen Goswick (junior) and Gage Williams (sophomore) are all options on the infield.
Lett, Pagel, Bateman, Camden Compton (junior), Corbyn Sanderson (sophomore) and Lane Harris (sophomore) are in the mix in the outfield.
Lett, Pagel and Gill will be team leaders.
“Our team leaders will be our three four-year seniors,” Alumbaugh said. “They have all been in the program from junior high to now. They know the expectations for work and what it takes to be successful.”
McDonald County opens the regular season Mar. 21-22 at the Harrison (Ark.) tournament.
“I think the identity of this year’s team will just be a tough mentality. Tough to get out at the plate, tough defending the routine play, and tough to really barrel a ball against at the plate,” Alumbaugh said. “My overall expectation for this season is to be a team that competes every night we step on the field. We have a very tough competitive mindset that will allow us to do just that.”
