GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (15-8): Coach Doug Hagist rebuilds with three seniors and a sophomore-dominated team … Cougars lost seven seniors, including pitcher Krae Sparks, Indiana Wesleyan (.443, 3-4, 1.75 ERA), and first baseman Nate Weems, Cincinnati Christian (.514, 36 hits, 34 runs), … will be hard to top last year’s astounding .386 team batting average …four-year pitcher-shortstop Nolan Check (.467, 21 hits, 16 RBIs), two-year left fielder Camden Peters (.385) and three-year infielder Ethan Chupp are lone seniors … sophomores on a quick learning curve … catcher Joey Jessup is in first year from Alabama … add sophomore Brady Wright to infield …outfielders Payton Modlin and George Apgar return to baseball after a year’s absence with outfielder Danny Wilson who had a solid freshman year … freshmen infielders Jake Kleingartner and Luke Walton join Cougars … look for less power and more small ball until sluggers develop … top four in lineup: catcher-pitcher Colton Crick (.347), pitcher-infielder Griffin Huizinga (.357), first baseman Elliott Murray (.281) and Check … open Monday at Manual.
Coach’s comments: “For five years now we have had to reinvent this team each year. We graduated seven, six were regular starters. We have a young team but they are talented. The key for our seniors will be to keep the younger players from becoming frustrated about the challenge of varsity baseball. They need to enjoy the game. If the seniors bring them along, they’re not only setting us up for success this year but they will leave the program in better hands – that’s their job. Hopefully this year will be exciting and fun for the coaches and players.”
Coach’s comments: “For five years now we have had to reinvent this team each year. We graduated seven, six were regular starters. We have a young team but they are talented. The key for our seniors will be to keep the younger players from becoming frustrated about the challenge of varsity baseball. They need to enjoy the game. If the seniors bring them along, they’re not only setting us up for success this year but they will leave the program in better hands – that’s their job. Hopefully this year will be exciting and fun for the coaches and players.”
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