Dadeville finished 3-20 overall last season. The Bearcats return five total lettermen in senior Wil Toler, juniors Clinton McGill and Garrett Freeze and sophomores Carter Lakey and Austin Coonis this year.
Toler was a first-team all-conference selection last year. He will be needed to eat up innings on the mound. McGill and Freeze will both likely slot in the outfield. Lakey and Coonis are strong athletes who could each see time at multiple positions.
At the plate, Toler is the top returning hitter after posting a .255 batting average. He also had 11 stolen bases and nine RBI. Lakey and McGill were both also terrors on the base paths last year with 14 and 11 steals, respectively.
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Dadeville will also have a strong freshmen group that includes Bailey McGill, Reid Goodman, Jacob King and Caleb Walker. Sophomore Jacy Carlson will also join the team.
“From top to bottom, we will be as young as we have been in several years,” head coach Brent Rountree said. “With seven starting players being underclassmen, I expect us to make some youthful mistakes, but I like the athletic potential of this group. Most have already made an impact on the basketball court, and have had success at the junior high levels. Our overall numbers have been down in recent years, but this year and future years should start to see that trend increase.”
Dadeville opens the season on Mar. 18 at home against Billings.
