By Chris Parker
Seymour baseball has a new coach but a familiar name taking over this season in Carson Sturdefant. Sturdefant graduated from Seymour in 2020 and was a key player on the 2019 state runner-up team.
“This is my hometown and where I grew up so when I heard that the opportunity was open, I thought of no better way to start my career then back home,” Sturdefant said.
He inherits a team with eight varsity starters returning coming off a seven-win season, which was the fewest for the program since 2016.
The pitching staff will feature Trevor Young (senior), Preston Lambeth (senior), Truman Helms (sophomore) and Ryan Leonard (freshman).
Sturdefant on Young: “Trevor Young will be one of our key starters in the pitching rotation. He commands a lot of strikes and lets his fielders work. He doesn’t try to overpower people but can command the strike zone. He’s our fill up zone guy.”
Sturdefant on Lambeth: “Preston Lambeth is going to be working his way into our starting rotation and is going to help us tremendously in our pitching depth. He can throw hit spots with his fastball and can also throw his off-speed pitches for strikes.”
Sturdefant on Helms: “Truman Helms will be one of our younger starters that can throw with some speed.”
Sturdefant on Leonard: “Ryan Leonard will be our youngest guy that can fill up the strike zone with his off speed pitches and can locate well.”
Lambeth will also handle catching duties along with Owen Benson (junior).
The infield will feature Young at third, Helms at shortstop, Caleb Schreffler (senior) at second base and Reece Hepko (sophomore) at first.
Look for Benson in left field, Wyett Bennett (sophomore) in centerfield and Wyatt Caswell (junior) in right field.
“I think one of our strengths this year will be our defense. We have a lot more guys this year that allowed us to have depth at every position,” Sturdefant said. “Our offense needs to start with being aggressive on the basepaths, getting guys to be aggressive and want to take another base and wanting to score.”
Seymour opens the season Mar. 22-26 at the Purdy Tournament.
“For this group I want us to be .500 or above. I want my guys ready to show up every day and put in the work to depict our record,” Sturdefant said.
