Hillsboro Baseball Preview: Indians have high goals in '16
The goals and expectations for the 2016 Hillsboro Indians baseball team are the usual in gaining 15 or more wins, winning the South Central Ohio League championship, earning tournament wins and reaching the districts.
Those are the goals of the Indians, as they look to improve on a 12-14 season from a year ago, along with a 9-4 finish in league play last season. Even though the Indians lost nine seniors from last year’s squad, they lost just three starters, leaving them in a good spot as the season is set to begin this Saturday at Shaffer Park.
Seniors this season for the Indians include: DJ Brown, Wyatt Condo, Jacob Deatley, Ryan Hagan, Jacob Helterbrand and Jesse Walker.
“The seniors have shown a lot of growth over their career with us, both as players and people,” HHS seven-year head coach Tim Hunt said. “They have done a great job in assuming the leadership role and are looking forward to a strong year.”
Hillsboro is set to start the season with a tri-doubleheader at home this Saturday at Shaffer Park with non-league games against the Batavia Bulldogs and the Fairfield Union Falcons, starting at 10 a.m.
To have success to begin the season and throughout the spring, the Indians, like all baseball teams, will rely upon their pitching staff to lead the way. Hillsboro’s pitching staff all returns this season, including Helterbrand, who will be the ace of the Indians’ pitching staff.
“Our pitching staff is our strong point,” Hunt said. “The entire rotation is back from last year, led by seniors Helterbrand and Walker and junior Cayse Cameron. In addition, we have a talented group to assume the middle relief and weekend/non-league pitching roles.”
The Indians will also rely on their defense to keep runs from rounding the bases this season.
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“We also have been very happy with our defense, especially the infield play, during our scrimmages,” Hunt said. “Offensively, the kids are doing a much better job. They are putting the ball in play more consistently and doing a great job of putting pressure on the defense with our base running. Thus far, we’ve been satisfied with our kids’ performance in our scrimmages.”
Last season, the Indians were in the running for the SCOL title, but toward the end of the year things didn’t go their way, as they ended the league slate with four losses, costing them a shot at the championship.
HHS begins their league schedule on Wednesday, March 30 when they travel to face the East Clinton Astros. They will host the Wilmington Hurricane on Friday, April 1.
“Our league games will give us the opportunity to play strong teams that will prepare us for the tournament,” Hunt said. “In the league, I believe that we have the roster to win. Just like last year, though, it’ll be a fight night-in and night-out between our league teams.
“Wilmington has pitching, Washington is returning a great group of seniors, and Miami Trace and Clinton-Massie are always at the top of the standings. We have to jump out to a good start like we did last year, but we have to find a way to finish strong and avoid a late-season collapse like we experienced last year. I firmly believe that with this group, because of their excitement and drive and the fact that they truly care for each other, we can avoid that.”
In non-league play this season, the Indians are scheduled to play Batavia, Fairfield Union, Anderson, Blanchester, Little Miami, Goshen, Adena, Fayetteville, Milford and Western Brown, which is the scheduled final game (and doubleheader) of the regular season.
Last year, the Indians lost in the sectional round of the postseason to Sheridan, 7-0.
“We have a great test to start off the season with Batavia and a team we could see in the tournament, Fairfield Union,” Hunt said. “We’re extremely excited to get the season under way, and we think that this will be an exciting team to watch. We encourage everyone in the community to pack the park.”