Center Grove players pat first baseman Mikey Wyman (20) on the back after leading off the second inning with a solo homer against Roncalli, which went on to win 10-6.
Center Grove junior Brian Gaffney throws out the first pitch of the season to catcher Eli Lawyer-Smith on Saturday Grand Park in Westfield. Roncalli’s Hayden Harper is the batter. Center Grove (18-9) – Most players return after 18 wins … lost to Whiteland in first game of playoffs … graduated only three seniors, lost only one starter … coach Keith Hatfield’s experienced roster has 14 seniors with seven in starting lineup … ex-Perry Meridian coach John Carpenter new assistant coach … seniors, third baseman Ryan Sauter (.380, 22 RBIs) and Mikey Wyman (.371, 26 RBIs), and soph shortstop Bryce Eblin (.369, 22 runs) return as leading hitters … junior AJ Poynter is at second … outfield includes Braden Parks in center, and (when not pitching) Jacob Johnson (4-0, 1.56 ERA) and Corey Daffron and junior Brian Gaffney 3-2, 1.47 ERA) … Eli Lawyer-Smith opened behind plate with DH Kyle Winkler back-up … mound corps includes Hunter Burnett, Bryce Tidd, Justin Tolle, Jonathan Baumet and Jacob Gilcrest and junior Josh Johnson … CG site of county tourney Friday and Saturday.
Coach’s comments: “We have good bats. We can mix it up with some power and other ways to produce runs. We still have to work on our mental game and our aggressiveness at the plate. We have a lot of returning players and that helps us get an early start on some things. It helps having so many seniors, everything is familiar. Our pitching should get better as we get deeper into the season; we have to throw strikes, though. When tournament (IHSAA playoffs) roll around, we need to be ready.”
Coach’s comments: “We have good bats. We can mix it up with some power and other ways to produce runs. We still have to work on our mental game and our aggressiveness at the plate. We have a lot of returning players and that helps us get an early start on some things. It helps having so many seniors, everything is familiar. Our pitching should get better as we get deeper into the season; we have to throw strikes, though. When tournament (IHSAA playoffs) roll around, we need to be ready.”
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