By Chris Parker
Licking baseball took full advantage of a fall baseball season to help close the gap on experience lost from the cancelation of last season.
“Getting to play in the fall held even more importance this year because of the lost season last spring. It was a return to a sense of normalcy for the players and the coaches. Last spring, not only did we not have school or games, but we were not able to practice. Summer baseball did take place but was different from what many players had experienced. So, the fall for us meant regularity, routine, and familiarity,” Licking head coach Harv Antle said.
Licking finished 11-6 overall in the fall.
“The fall is a tremendous opportunity for any school that plays baseball. Many people will point to the added game experience, which is important, but the real value comes in the practice time on the field. The weather is so much better for baseball in the fall than the spring. Typically, the fall season will consist of eight to 10 weeks. This allows us to develop our players and incorporate the fundamentals of our program while the coaches figure out where the pieces are going to fit and determining what the team’s strengths and weaknesses are. So, when the spring rolls around, we have a pretty good handle on our personnel and can concentrate on preparing them for competition,” Antle said.
Easton Ice and Landon Medlock will be the only seniors on the roster. Ice is a left-handed hitting outfielder. He hit .388 with 19 RBI in 16 fall games. Medlock is a right-handed pitcher who is the team’s best strike-thrower on the mound.
Three sophomores in Malachi Antle, Cole Wallace and Keyton Rinne will be underclassmen that will lead.
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“They are some of our most experienced players as they have played on area summer teams that have traveled in recent years,” Antle said. “Antle, catcher, is very strong defensively. He consistently showcases pop times at 2.0 seconds and below. He calls a mature game behind the plate and blocks well. As a hitter, he sprays the ball and hit .474 this fall with 28 RBIs and 23 runs scored. His hits included five doubles and four triples. Wallace (pitcher/infield) is a versatile defender. On the mound, he logged 20 innings in the fall. As a top of the order hitter, Wallace registered a .419 average with 19 RBIs, 17 runs scored, and a .587 on-base percentage. Rinne (second base), is a gamer and very gritty. His on-base percentage was .458 while his average checked in at .238. He is a steady defender at second and can go over and play third as well.”
Wallace and Medlock will be the team’s top two pitchers. After them, there will be a parade of arms according to Antle.
“Keyton Cook is a freshman who threw 13 innings this fall. He fanned 15, went 2-1, and notched a save. He will develop into a power arm for us. He is very projectable,” Antle said. “Silas Antle is another freshman that is projectable as well. He has a big, strong frame, and went 2-1 in the fall with 19 strikeouts in 13 innings. Austin Stephens is yet another freshman that will log innings this spring. He was our most consistent JV pitcher in the fall and recorded a 2.63 ERA over a couple of varsity appearances. Ice may be counted on to give some lefty relief on the mound too. Kaiden Wantland is a junior that could be given some relief opportunities as well.”
Silas Antle will play first base. Spencer Rogers will also see time there as a junior. Cook will play shortstop. Wallace and Rinne will both see time at third base.
Ice, Wantland, Medlock, Rusty Buckner, Elijah Ullom and Logan Gorman are all candidates in the outfield.
“We will be long on youth and short on experience this spring. That being said, I think we will play an aggressive brand of baseball. Our three most experienced players, after Easton Ice, are only sophomores. We will start two seniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen most of the time. There will be competition for a spot in the lineup. Depending on who is pitching, we may look drastically different from game to game,” Antle said. “We do not have any power arms yet, so we will need to throw strikes and pitch to contact. That means we will have to obtain the outs defensively when they present themselves. There is not much long ball capacity in our lineup so we will need to take the extra base when we can, bunt, hit and run, and manufacture runs. I like this team, especially their potential and enthusiasm for the game. I am excited to watch their growth and I think we can be a force to reckon with in the coming years. In the meantime, we might just surprise some people this year.”
Licking opens the season Mar. 22-27 at the Houston Tournament.
