By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
For some coaches, they usually avoid putting the “leadership” tag on high school players who are not seniors or juniors.
That’s not the case this year for Ash Grove High School baseball coach Troy McMain.
“Team leaders would be our sophomore class because of their willingness to answer the call,” McMain said, “and lead by example (after) losing so many key pieces last year.”
Ash Grove, which finished 7-17 a year ago but reached a district semifinal, graduated five key players.
However, of the 14 projected varsity players this season, six are returning lettermen, including three sophomores. They are seniors Draven Zeigler and Cody Byerly, junior Cody Raney and sophomores Jake Thompson, Dalton Carr and Deegan Vauter.
Zeigler is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound pitcher and middle infielder who has been a three-year starter. Byerly took over first base after a position change mid-season a year ago and anchored the bottom half of Ash Grove’s lineup. Raney has shown consistency and gives the Pirates an anchor in the outfield and perhaps can spot up as a catcher.
Then there are those sophomores.
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In fact, McMain said Thompson is “an old ball player” trapped in 16-year-old body. He’ll pitch and play in the middle of the infield.
Carr worked his way on to the varsity last season, playing third and handling some pitching duties. Even better, he hit the weight room in the offseason.
Vauter is Ash Grove’s fastest player and arrives having pitched and played infield last season in varsity games. He’s also put in the time in the offseason.
“He can do it all,” McMain said.
Be sure to keep eyes on junior Ben Medlin, sophomore Ethan Gray and freshmen Billy Hatch, Drew Sullins and Colin Doles.
McMain noted that Medlin can be a leader in any situation and has become a dedicated student of the game. Hatch, a multi-sport athlete, could find some varsity time. Sullins has a determination that could set up Ash Grove well as he makes a case for a varsity role. Doles can play multiple positions, and Gray gained valuable experience last year on junior varsity.
“We will be a young but experienced group,” McMain said. “This group sees what we can be with a little more experience and good leadership.”
McMain is 34-38 overall at Ash Grove. In the late 1990s, he starred for Willard High School in both baseball and football before graduating in May of 2000. In baseball, he set several career and single-season records, including 22 home runs and 119 RBI.
He’ll be assisted by Craig Hicks, a former player at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff.
They’ll also help guide the team into a new conference, as Ash Grove is moving from the Mid-Lakes Conference into the Southwest Conference.
The Southwest Conference will include Marionville, Lockwood, Pierce City, Pleasant Hope, Miller, Sarcoxie and Diamond.
“It’s a new conference with all of us shooting to win the first conference title,” McMain said. “I imagine it will be difficult but balanced.”
