By Stephen Buus (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Carthage finished 10-17 last year with an inexperienced team last year, but the Tigers had a chance to go deep in the state baseball playoffs and almost did just that.
Coach Mike Godfrey said, “Last year’s team had very little varsity experience coming in. We got good pitching but overall the defense was spotty and we lacked consistent offense. Having said that, we had some good wins late over Neosho, Aurora, and Joplin to help us get the No. 2 seed in the district. We lost in extra innings to Joplin 5-2 in the district semifinal.”
Godfrey said goodbye to five seniors, including catcher Dawson “Doc” Fultz, who hit .257 with 16 RBI. Fultz is now playing baseball at Pratt Community College in Kansas. Other key graduates were Kyle Greene (.298, 9 RBI) and Shane Becker (2-1 pitching, 4.97 ERA).
Godfrey begins his tenth season as head coach of the Tigers, with a record of 126-113 in that span. He is 357-284 overall in a 30-year career.
This year’s senior class includes Brett Fullerton (6-foot-1, 175 pounds), Colton Smith (5-10, 150), and Kaden Carter (6-1, 175). Godfrey calls Fullerton a “solid defender behind the plate.” Smith is “very good with the glove in the infield.” Carter will play corner infield and pitch as well.
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Junior Ian O’Malley (5-10, 175) was Carthage’s top hitter with a .348 average and 14 RBI. “Look for him to be a run producer in the middle of our lineup,” Godfrey predicts.
Another junior, Trason Vogt (5-6, 160) figures to be the Tigers’ ace on the hill. Despite a 2-5 record, Vogt notched an ERA of a paltry 1.61. Godfrey expects him to help his own cause by getting on base from the leadoff spot and scoring lots of runs.
Godfrey adds, “With the returning starters we have, I look for great improvement in their production. We have a couple of solid arms that should win games for us. Our newcomers have the potential to come in right away and be solid performers. If our young guys can provide depth on the mound we should be able to get back on the winning track.”
Top newcomers include junior shortstop/pitcher Bryce Pugh (5-10, 165), junior outfielder Zeke Sappington (6-1, 185), and sophomore infielder/pitcher Tanner Green (6-2, 220), whose size should make him quite the presence and a threat at the plate.
Carthage will play Monett and Joplin in the Joplin Jamboree on March 13 before opening the regular season at Glendale on March 17. Godfrey names Webb City as the team to beat in the Central Ozark Conference Large as well as in Class 5 District 12. The Tigers will have home-field advantage in the district.
