Beech Grove has much-needed experience with seniors, from left, infielders Kayla Woodruff and Taylor Harmon and catcher Haven Price.
SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY AL STILLEY Kacy Kestner, who has served as co-coach at Beech Grove, takes over has head coach for the Hornets. BEECH GROVE (5-14) – Super-young in 2018 … co-coach Kacy Kestner now solo head coach … speedster Reecie Gilliam (26 stolen bases) among 5 grads … 6 key returnees lead … seniors, infielder Taylor Harmon & catcher-first-baseman Haven Price, return with experience & power … joined by fleet classmate Kayla Woodruff, who played as freshman … junior Lexi Ham solid at plate (.448, 26 hits) with hard-nosed pitching experience (5-12, 5.18 ERA) … soph Caley Johnson No. 2 pitcher … soph catcher Tia O’Connor (.370, 20 hits) can play infield … senior outfielder Emily Johnson up from JV after injury … speedster Arial Keown can hit from left … freshmen Mikaya Grubbs, Destiny Ham, Madison Roseberry & Morgan Woodruff must develop quickly.
Coach’s comments: “We have good leadership, but we are still trying to mold our younger players. The experience of our three seniors is a plus. We will miss Reecie (Gilliam) on bases, but we have some kids who can steal bases. We can be a running team. We do have a few power hitters and some good contact hitters who can move runners. What we do at varsity will be new to our freshmen. Defense will be an early strength. I want to see them make big plays in the field and at the plate. We play a lot of tough teams, so we will have our hands full.”
Coach’s comments: “We have good leadership, but we are still trying to mold our younger players. The experience of our three seniors is a plus. We will miss Reecie (Gilliam) on bases, but we have some kids who can steal bases. We can be a running team. We do have a few power hitters and some good contact hitters who can move runners. What we do at varsity will be new to our freshmen. Defense will be an early strength. I want to see them make big plays in the field and at the plate. We play a lot of tough teams, so we will have our hands full.”
Beech Grove Hornets, from left, sophomore catcher Tia O’Connor, junior infielderoutfielder Arial Keown and junior pitcher Lexi Ham are determined to improve upon last year’s record.
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