Jasper baseball won 10 game last season. Six starters return this season and pitching will lead the way.
“Our strength will be our pitching,” Jasper head coach Jonathan Nash said. “Our situational awareness took leaps last year and that will be a strength with veterans at most key positions. We will continue to improve and be looking to put pressure on our opponents to make a play.”
That pitching staff will be anchored by Will Thompson (senior), Treyton Ritchhart (junior), Hunter Earl (senior) and Brady Sisseck (senior). Thompson threw 16.1 innings with a 0.86 ERA as a junior. Ritchhart, who also plays shortstop, struck out 43 over 38 innings with a 1.84 ERA. Earl threw 15 innings and was three-for-three in save opportunities. Sisseck, who also plays first base, is a tall left-hander who will jump into the regular rotation this season.
The Eagles must replace their catcher with Thompson and junior Carson Lehman as options at that position.
The infield will feature Earl, Ritchhart, Sisseck, Thompson, Ryder Grisham (senior), Austyn Moss (sophomore) and Rustin Selvey (sophomore).
Trace Lehman (senior), Selvey, Jaycob Titus (senior), Quentin Winans (junior) and Carson Lehman are all potential factors in the outfield.
“We will look to Will, Hunter, Trace and Treyton for leadership. Those are all guys that have started the last two years and know what it takes to be successful,” Nash said. “Will led our team in BA/RISP (.397/.429) and QAB% (60.87). Treyton was our ace on the mound last season battling some of our toughest opponents and conference games. I can’t say enough about Hunter who filled in any role needed as utility and relief pitcher, also finishing second in batting average (.328). Trace is extremely reliable in the field and is a great communicator out there.”
The defense will need to step up to provide support for the pitching staff.
“Our defense will have some holes to fill at key positions, especially behind the plate,” Nash said. “If we’re willing to put in the work to be successful, we will be. The talent is there, we will just need to grow and improve as the season goes on. Also, our bats got a little cold down the stretch and that can’t happen if we want to get where we know we can be.”
Jasper opens the season Mar. 21-24 at the Lamar Tiger Classic.
“Our identity will be that we’re a tough opponent for anyone on our schedule. We need to allow teams to put the ball in play and let our defense retire hitters to keep arms on the mound. The focus on offense will be to put pressure on teams and force them to make mistakes,” Nash said. “We expect to compete for a conference title again this year. We were in the mix with the top two or three teams last year and beat Archie who won the WEMO last year 8-1. We know we can compete with everyone on our schedule and it’s a tough one opening up with the Lamar Classic. We look to be playing our best ball in districts and make some noise there.”
