2019 Highland County Baseball Preview
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Highland County high school baseball enters the 2019 season with a lot of momentum for some teams after very successful, record-breaking and history-making seasons. One of those teams is the Whiteoak Wildcats, who not only won 28 games, but were conference, sectional, district and regional champions on their way to qualifying for the Division IV State Semifinals one year ago.
That Whiteoak team returns a good number of players from a year ago, but changes have been made in pivotal spots in the lineup for the Wildcats to work their way back and to trust the process for a second straight season.
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There is also the Hillsboro Indians team who reached the district finals and played their best baseball in the latter stages of the regular season, resulting in a solid tournament run the Indians hadn’t had in quite some time as they ended the season with 14 wins.
The Fairfield Lions are coming off a season where they reached the district semifinals and won 13 games, also with a solid lineup returning from last season. The Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs are coming off a season of eight wins and the McClain Tigers are also looking to bounce back from last season after losing in the first game of the tournament, totaling four wins last season.
Listed are capsules for all five Highland County baseball teams.
WHITEOAK WILDCATS
Head Coach: Chris Veidt
2018 Overall Record: 28-3
2018 SHAC Record: 13-0 (champions)
Returning Players: 10
The Whiteoak Wildcats are back on the diamond following a run of success last season that saw them earn the most wins in a season in program history with a 28-3 overall record, while they also won a Southern Hills Athletic Conference (Division II) championship, a sectional title, a district championship and for the first time they were crowned regional champions, which qualified them for the Division IV State Semifinals.
Though that was a great season where 10 of those players are back from last year (five have graduated), the Wildcats have put that success in their rearview mirror. Now they are looking to make their mark on the 2019 season, as they will once again trust the process, with the same goals they have each and every season.
“Last year is in our rearview mirror, and it’s an example of what can happen when a group believes in each other and works toward a common goal,” Veidt said. “The majority of us experienced it, so we understand that process. Success is nice to peek at during our quiet moments but does not define who we are.
“This year’s approach will be just like years past. Show up, do the work, be good teammates and positive results will occur. Pressure is self-inflicted. It is when people become overly concerned with results. We are here to enjoy the process of becoming great.”
Graduated from last year’s state team are Chase Carraher, Casey Nace, Joey Oliver, Caleb West and Trever Yeager. Also last season, Whiteoak had five players selected to the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Ohio Team, and those players were: Traeten Hamilton (first-team), West (first-team), Evan Brill (second-team), Carraher (second-team) and Mason Lehr (honorable mention).
One of the brightest spots of the Whiteoak program is their pitching, as they have seven of their pitchers back from last season, and they have 10 pitchers on the roster who could be called upon at any time.
Those pitchers are Zach Harless (junior), Hamilton (senior), Connor Butler (freshman), Michael Igo (sophomore), Ryan Roberts (senior), Chase Butler (senior), Jaycob Gross (sophomore), Brill (senior), Lehr (junior) and Ty Large (senior).
This season for the Wildcats, Hamilton, Roberts, Lehr and Large anchor the infield, while the outfield consists of Brill and Chase Butler in returning roles, while also having Trey Bogart (junior), Igo, Kyler Emery (junior) and Zach Harless (junior). Billy Oliver (junior) returns to the roster as well for the Wildcats, as he was the catcher last season.
Whiteoak is not just focused on pitching and defense this season, as they also have presence at the plate with Lehr returning as the home run leader with two HRs, along with being the batting average leader at .427, on-base percentage leader at .560 and slugging percentage leader at .646.
Hamilton last season led WHS in runs with 51, along with being the leader in hits with 39, doubles with 14, triples with three and he also hit .419 for the season. Brill also hit over .400 at the plate with a .405 average, while also having 24 RBI. Roberts returns after hitting .310 with a .470 on-base percentage.
The Wildcats have a lot of experience at the plate and on the field, but even with all of their talents, Coach Veidt said there is still work to be done.
“Last year we stole 211 bases, but we need to steal 250,” he said. “With our program, the kids have put in the work. Watching each kid develop into the best teammate possible in their own special way as they figure out how to be the most competitive person they can possibly become for two hours a day and four hours on Saturdays is something I’m looking forward to this season.
“Our expectations this year are the same as most, and that is to win SHAC and Southeast District Championships, to have 20 wins and come tournament time take things one pitch, one inning, one game at a time. We play one of the most competitive Division IV schedules in the SE District, and our program is built on developing players through the four years they are with us to step up when their numbers are called. That is what committed, selfless individuals do.”
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HILLSBORO INDIANS
Head Coach: Matt Garman
2018 Overall Record: 14-12
2018 FAC Record: 6-4
Returning Players: 6
The Hillsboro Indians will be looking to their starting pitching to keep them in games this season as they return all of their starting pitching back to a roster that went on a strong run at the end of the season to reach the district finals one year ago, which was they first time they reached that level since 2003.
The Indians have Ethan Humphries back as a senior this year as a starting pitcher, along with Luke Magulac (junior), Ryan Scott (sophomore) and Ethan Watson (senior).
“We have a lot of pitching back, so we are really excited about the fact we can be in every game we play this year,” HHS head coach Matt Garman said. “Having this much pitching back is unfamiliar territory. Usually you don’t have the luxury of having that many guys back. Early in the season last year, we knew it was going to be that, because some of those guys were going through some growing pains. They were learning how to battle through and to close games out at the varsity level.
“At the end of the year, you saw those guys really figure out how to win, and that is what allowed us to go on that run. Hopefully those guys start with that mentality and see where that takes us this year.”
The Indians will have to replace some key players at the plate and on the field, but Garman has players who have been through a tournament run and know what it takes to make it to that level of competition.
“Anytime you make a tournament run, the experience of being there and being a part of that helps players grow. I tell the guys there is nothing like do-or-die baseball. There is nothing like taking the high press at-bat, making a high leverage play, it is critical to have that experience. Having said that, we did lose a lot of defense and bats from last year.
“We lost Payton Bell, who played two years of varsity baseball and made two errors in the field, and that is a tough hole to fill. We lost Kelton Anderson, who was probably the best first baseman in the league last year, and losing Mason Stanley at third base, both will be tough spots to fill. Plus, all three were middle-of-the-order hitters for us. We have a lot of guys that will have to cut their teeth defensively. Having said that, we have guys with experience too with Grant Crum and Luke Magulac in the middle of the infield. Ethan Watson has been the best centerfielder in the league for two years now, and we expect him to be the best this year, too.”
The Indians also have Dylan Boone back in the outfield this season, as Garman said the Indians have the team defensively he feels that can complement the pitching of the Indians in 2019. Also back as catcher is Jared Thompson, who split time at the position last season.
“We are really excited about the season,” Garman said. “We have a lot of guys who are younger who we are giving looks. One of those guys is Ryan Scott, who is one of those guys who will be real pivotal to what we want to do at the varsity level. We have a lot of sophomores who we need to see what they can do as they are untested at the varsity level right now. We will need them at some point this season.”
The Indians have a tough schedule to start the season, but Garman said that is what he wants he team to face as he wants his team to just play good baseball at the start of the year.
“We have teams who went to the regional tournament last season,” he said. “We have a tough schedule to start, but that is how we want it. We want to be tested. At one point last year we were 6-11, but we played a tough schedule. The top two teams in our league were one and two in our district, and we split with Miami Trace and we beat Washington in the tournament.
“We always felt we weren’t playing as bad as our record said, we were a little bit better than our record said. We lost 12 games last year, and 10 of them were by one or two runs.”
The Indians’ roster this season consists of: Watson, Humphries, Thompson, Boone, Crum, Brennen Priest, Brock Haines, Ryan Harless, Casey Jordan, Magulac, Scott, Tanner Warner, Cullen Barney, Nick Lewis, Colton Hunter, Brad Miller and Zach Humphries.
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FAIRFIELD LIONS
Head Coach: Jeremy McGraw
2018 Overall Record: 13-7
2018 SHAC Record: 10-3
Returning Players: 7
The Fairfield Lions have talented players on their 2019 roster as they look to make their mark in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, but entering this season, for them to have their success they want to achieve, one part of their game must improve, according to second-year head coach Jeremy McGraw.
“We have to improve on communication and also work through when things start going a little south, how we are going to handle things,” McGraw said. “Last season, I felt like if we got down, we were out. What I am looking forward to this season is to watch them compete night-in and night-out and grow as a team.”
Last season, the Lions finished 13-7 overall, playing in the district semifinals after winning a sectional championship.
This season, the Lions have six seniors, one junior, four sophomores and four freshmen on their roster. The seniors are: Ethan Grooms, Layne Morgan, Sam Buddelmeyer, Andrew Dingey, Griffin Irvin and Austin Setty.
Before the district final game last season, Setty led the Lions with a .381 batting average with 24 hits (two doubles), 12 walks, 23 runs and 14 RBI in 63 at-bats.
Buddelmeyer had a batting average of .370 in 20 games and 54 at-bats.
The lone junior is Wyatt Willey, and the sophomores are Logan Rohde, Orrie Friend, Lane Sparks and Nathan Vidourek. The freshmen this season are: Zane Acton, Ryan Ludwick, Jacob Morgan and Hunter Burns.
Before the final game last season, Willey batted .373 for the season.
Pitchers this season for the Lions will include Buddelmeyer, Setty, Dingey and Morgan as the top starters, while the infield throughout the season includes Setty, Willey, Dingey, Irvin, Morgan and Rohde.
“All of those guys can all field it and play multiple positions, and that is the good thing with these guys,” McGraw said.
In the sectional finals last season, Buddelmeyer pitched a complete seven-inning game for the win, allowing one earned run on three hits and four walks, and he struck out 10.
The outfield this season for the varsity will consist of Buddelmeyer, Grooms, Friend, Vidourek and Burns at various times.
At the plate this season, McGraw expects a lot from Setty, Buddelmeyer, Morgan, Grooms, Dingey, Irvin and Willey.
“Those guys are all ones that we will rely on and have the most experience,” he said. “At any given night, any of these guys can have big nights at the plate. We’ll need them, as our expectations are to compete for a league title and make a run in the postseason.
“Our schedule is tough, and we will have to be ready to play night-in and night-out. Our younger guys are going to have to grow up quickly. I have 15 great young men who are enjoyable to be around. They are coachable kids, and that is all you can ask for.”
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LYNCHBURG-CLAY MUSTANGS
Head Coach: Vince Pitzer
2018 Overall Record: 8-11
2018 SHAC Record: 7-6
Returning Players: 8
For the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs going into the 2019 season, head coach Vince Pitzer knows his team has talented players, but it will be fixing the miscues on the field that will determine the final outcome of how successful the Mustangs can be this season.
“The main thing we need to clean up are our errors if we can cut down on them,” Pitzer said. “Plus, we need to add in a little more focus and positive attitude, and we will have a good season.
“Our main goal is to get back to the top of Southern Hills Athletic Conference, then looking forward to see if we can make any waves come tournament time.”
As with every team, pitching will be key for the Mustangs, and this year they have a nice core of players who can make a difference on the mound.
Those pitchers are: Drew Pitzer (28.2 IP, 41 Ks, 2.44 ERA), Damin Pierson (21.1 IP, 18 Ks, 4.26 ERA), Caden Hess (21.1 IP, 23 Ks, 4.59 ERA), Austin Proctor (18.2 IP, 19 Ks, 4.12 ERA), Ethan McConnaughey (9.1 IP, 8 Ks, 3.75 ERA) and Alex Barber (9.1 IP, 9 Ks, 2.25 ERA).
“With five seniors and one junior anchoring our pitching staff, we are looking forward to competing in every game we have on the schedule,” Pitzer said.
This season, the Mustangs have a total of eight returning players, and they are Pitzer (CF/P), Pierson (INF/OF/P), Josh Wolfe (C), McConnaughey (INF/P), Hess (INF/P), P.J. Fiscus (1B), Proctor (OF/P) and Barber (INF/P).
Infielders for LCHS include: McConnaughey, Pierson, Hess, Fiscus, Barber, Chase Smaltz and Zairan Bourne. Outfielders for the Mustangs are Pitzer, Proctor, Briar Bourne, Pierson and Austin Barnhill.
“With the experience we have, I’m looking for our infield to take a big step forward this season,” Pitzer said. “If they play up to their capabilities, we could be looking at a good season.
“We will have good speed in the outfield, so tracking down some balls hit in the gaps and making the routine plays are expected.”
At the plate for the Mustangs this season, returning is Wolfe, who batted for a .385 average, with 23 RBI, 16 runs and five walks. Pitzer batted .350 in 2018 with 17 RBI, 24 runs and 13 walks. Pierson batted .350 last season with six RBI, 25 runs and 11 walks.
Also for LC in ’18, Hess batted .298 with 18 RBI and nine runs. McConnaughey had a .288 average, with 10 RBI, 14 runs and 10 walks.
“I believe any of our players 1-9 in our batting order have the capability to put up good numbers this year,” Pitzer said. “I’m excited to see our seniors step up and lead this team back to the top of the league and setting the standard for our underclassmen to strive for.
“We have a pretty tough non-conference schedule, playing Bethel-Tate (advanced to regionals), Blanchester (beat Bethel-Tate to advance to the regional final), CNE (district semi-finalist) and Western Brown (DI school), to name a few. If we can get the weather to cooperate, we open the first two weeks of the season with 13 games in 15 days, and seven of those 13 are league games.”
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MCCLAIN TIGERS
Head Coach: Rich Bunner
2018 Overall Record: 4-18
2018 FAC Record: 2-8
Returning Players: 12
The McClain Tigers want to rebound in 2019 following a 2018 season where they had their share of struggles, as they won just four games, and just two of those were in the Frontier Athletic Conference.
Having 12 returning lettermen from last season, the Tigers want to use the experience gained last season to better themselves this year.
“We need to improve on finishing games,” MHS head coach Rich Bunner said. “Last year, we had a lot of teams down late in games and gave quite a few wins back. Defensively, we need to cut down on mental errors and physical errors, which no doubt this year I think we will.
“I’m looking forward to watching this team perform on the field. Without a doubt, this by far is my most talented team, and the spirits are high. Practices are exciting and kids want to be there, so it is really a great atmosphere. Being between the lines is what I look forward to the most.”
Pitchers this season for the Tigers are Austin Booth, Sam Faulconer, Evan Hutchinson, Cody Pollock, Mason Ratcliff, John Salyers, Nate Terrell and Preston Anderson.
“Our expectations are really high, and we should be really good, especially pitching-wise and defensively,” Bunner said. “With all the returning starters, expectations should always be high in my opinion, because they have been in the system for a few years and know what to expect.”
The infielders for MHS will be Garrison Banks, Booth, Salyers, Pollock, Cody Elliott, Faulconer, Terrell, Colton Mossbarger, Garrett Brewer, Trevor Dalton, Ratcliff and Hutchinson.
“Like I said before, defense will be what we are based upon this year, and our infield should be one of the best in the league with all the returning starters from last year,” Bunner said.
McClain’s outfield consists of Eric Anderson, Preston Anderson, Keith Bennett, Hutchinson, Wyatt Van Dyke and Mossbarger.
“Along with the infield, our outfield is very solid and experienced, too,” Bunner said. “At the plate, all of our kids are very disciplined and talented. We stress fundamentals of hitting and bunting, and the kids are buying in and seeing results.
“With our experience, there’s no way we can sell ourselves short on this year, so to say our expectations are not high would definitely be a lie. Win or lose, I expect our kids to bring everything they’ve got every game, which they will. I’m ready to see my kids perform. They have put a lot of extra work in in the offseason and are hungry to start this season and rack up the wins.”
That Whiteoak team returns a good number of players from a year ago, but changes have been made in pivotal spots in the lineup for the Wildcats to work their way back and to trust the process for a second straight season.
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There is also the Hillsboro Indians team who reached the district finals and played their best baseball in the latter stages of the regular season, resulting in a solid tournament run the Indians hadn’t had in quite some time as they ended the season with 14 wins.
The Fairfield Lions are coming off a season where they reached the district semifinals and won 13 games, also with a solid lineup returning from last season. The Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs are coming off a season of eight wins and the McClain Tigers are also looking to bounce back from last season after losing in the first game of the tournament, totaling four wins last season.
Listed are capsules for all five Highland County baseball teams.
WHITEOAK WILDCATS
Head Coach: Chris Veidt
2018 Overall Record: 28-3
2018 SHAC Record: 13-0 (champions)
Returning Players: 10
The Whiteoak Wildcats are back on the diamond following a run of success last season that saw them earn the most wins in a season in program history with a 28-3 overall record, while they also won a Southern Hills Athletic Conference (Division II) championship, a sectional title, a district championship and for the first time they were crowned regional champions, which qualified them for the Division IV State Semifinals.
Though that was a great season where 10 of those players are back from last year (five have graduated), the Wildcats have put that success in their rearview mirror. Now they are looking to make their mark on the 2019 season, as they will once again trust the process, with the same goals they have each and every season.
“Last year is in our rearview mirror, and it’s an example of what can happen when a group believes in each other and works toward a common goal,” Veidt said. “The majority of us experienced it, so we understand that process. Success is nice to peek at during our quiet moments but does not define who we are.
“This year’s approach will be just like years past. Show up, do the work, be good teammates and positive results will occur. Pressure is self-inflicted. It is when people become overly concerned with results. We are here to enjoy the process of becoming great.”
Graduated from last year’s state team are Chase Carraher, Casey Nace, Joey Oliver, Caleb West and Trever Yeager. Also last season, Whiteoak had five players selected to the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Ohio Team, and those players were: Traeten Hamilton (first-team), West (first-team), Evan Brill (second-team), Carraher (second-team) and Mason Lehr (honorable mention).
One of the brightest spots of the Whiteoak program is their pitching, as they have seven of their pitchers back from last season, and they have 10 pitchers on the roster who could be called upon at any time.
Those pitchers are Zach Harless (junior), Hamilton (senior), Connor Butler (freshman), Michael Igo (sophomore), Ryan Roberts (senior), Chase Butler (senior), Jaycob Gross (sophomore), Brill (senior), Lehr (junior) and Ty Large (senior).
This season for the Wildcats, Hamilton, Roberts, Lehr and Large anchor the infield, while the outfield consists of Brill and Chase Butler in returning roles, while also having Trey Bogart (junior), Igo, Kyler Emery (junior) and Zach Harless (junior). Billy Oliver (junior) returns to the roster as well for the Wildcats, as he was the catcher last season.
Whiteoak is not just focused on pitching and defense this season, as they also have presence at the plate with Lehr returning as the home run leader with two HRs, along with being the batting average leader at .427, on-base percentage leader at .560 and slugging percentage leader at .646.
Hamilton last season led WHS in runs with 51, along with being the leader in hits with 39, doubles with 14, triples with three and he also hit .419 for the season. Brill also hit over .400 at the plate with a .405 average, while also having 24 RBI. Roberts returns after hitting .310 with a .470 on-base percentage.
The Wildcats have a lot of experience at the plate and on the field, but even with all of their talents, Coach Veidt said there is still work to be done.
“Last year we stole 211 bases, but we need to steal 250,” he said. “With our program, the kids have put in the work. Watching each kid develop into the best teammate possible in their own special way as they figure out how to be the most competitive person they can possibly become for two hours a day and four hours on Saturdays is something I’m looking forward to this season.
“Our expectations this year are the same as most, and that is to win SHAC and Southeast District Championships, to have 20 wins and come tournament time take things one pitch, one inning, one game at a time. We play one of the most competitive Division IV schedules in the SE District, and our program is built on developing players through the four years they are with us to step up when their numbers are called. That is what committed, selfless individuals do.”
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HILLSBORO INDIANS
Head Coach: Matt Garman
2018 Overall Record: 14-12
2018 FAC Record: 6-4
Returning Players: 6
The Hillsboro Indians will be looking to their starting pitching to keep them in games this season as they return all of their starting pitching back to a roster that went on a strong run at the end of the season to reach the district finals one year ago, which was they first time they reached that level since 2003.
The Indians have Ethan Humphries back as a senior this year as a starting pitcher, along with Luke Magulac (junior), Ryan Scott (sophomore) and Ethan Watson (senior).
“We have a lot of pitching back, so we are really excited about the fact we can be in every game we play this year,” HHS head coach Matt Garman said. “Having this much pitching back is unfamiliar territory. Usually you don’t have the luxury of having that many guys back. Early in the season last year, we knew it was going to be that, because some of those guys were going through some growing pains. They were learning how to battle through and to close games out at the varsity level.
“At the end of the year, you saw those guys really figure out how to win, and that is what allowed us to go on that run. Hopefully those guys start with that mentality and see where that takes us this year.”
The Indians will have to replace some key players at the plate and on the field, but Garman has players who have been through a tournament run and know what it takes to make it to that level of competition.
“Anytime you make a tournament run, the experience of being there and being a part of that helps players grow. I tell the guys there is nothing like do-or-die baseball. There is nothing like taking the high press at-bat, making a high leverage play, it is critical to have that experience. Having said that, we did lose a lot of defense and bats from last year.
“We lost Payton Bell, who played two years of varsity baseball and made two errors in the field, and that is a tough hole to fill. We lost Kelton Anderson, who was probably the best first baseman in the league last year, and losing Mason Stanley at third base, both will be tough spots to fill. Plus, all three were middle-of-the-order hitters for us. We have a lot of guys that will have to cut their teeth defensively. Having said that, we have guys with experience too with Grant Crum and Luke Magulac in the middle of the infield. Ethan Watson has been the best centerfielder in the league for two years now, and we expect him to be the best this year, too.”
The Indians also have Dylan Boone back in the outfield this season, as Garman said the Indians have the team defensively he feels that can complement the pitching of the Indians in 2019. Also back as catcher is Jared Thompson, who split time at the position last season.
“We are really excited about the season,” Garman said. “We have a lot of guys who are younger who we are giving looks. One of those guys is Ryan Scott, who is one of those guys who will be real pivotal to what we want to do at the varsity level. We have a lot of sophomores who we need to see what they can do as they are untested at the varsity level right now. We will need them at some point this season.”
The Indians have a tough schedule to start the season, but Garman said that is what he wants he team to face as he wants his team to just play good baseball at the start of the year.
“We have teams who went to the regional tournament last season,” he said. “We have a tough schedule to start, but that is how we want it. We want to be tested. At one point last year we were 6-11, but we played a tough schedule. The top two teams in our league were one and two in our district, and we split with Miami Trace and we beat Washington in the tournament.
“We always felt we weren’t playing as bad as our record said, we were a little bit better than our record said. We lost 12 games last year, and 10 of them were by one or two runs.”
The Indians’ roster this season consists of: Watson, Humphries, Thompson, Boone, Crum, Brennen Priest, Brock Haines, Ryan Harless, Casey Jordan, Magulac, Scott, Tanner Warner, Cullen Barney, Nick Lewis, Colton Hunter, Brad Miller and Zach Humphries.
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FAIRFIELD LIONS
Head Coach: Jeremy McGraw
2018 Overall Record: 13-7
2018 SHAC Record: 10-3
Returning Players: 7
The Fairfield Lions have talented players on their 2019 roster as they look to make their mark in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, but entering this season, for them to have their success they want to achieve, one part of their game must improve, according to second-year head coach Jeremy McGraw.
“We have to improve on communication and also work through when things start going a little south, how we are going to handle things,” McGraw said. “Last season, I felt like if we got down, we were out. What I am looking forward to this season is to watch them compete night-in and night-out and grow as a team.”
Last season, the Lions finished 13-7 overall, playing in the district semifinals after winning a sectional championship.
This season, the Lions have six seniors, one junior, four sophomores and four freshmen on their roster. The seniors are: Ethan Grooms, Layne Morgan, Sam Buddelmeyer, Andrew Dingey, Griffin Irvin and Austin Setty.
Before the district final game last season, Setty led the Lions with a .381 batting average with 24 hits (two doubles), 12 walks, 23 runs and 14 RBI in 63 at-bats.
Buddelmeyer had a batting average of .370 in 20 games and 54 at-bats.
The lone junior is Wyatt Willey, and the sophomores are Logan Rohde, Orrie Friend, Lane Sparks and Nathan Vidourek. The freshmen this season are: Zane Acton, Ryan Ludwick, Jacob Morgan and Hunter Burns.
Before the final game last season, Willey batted .373 for the season.
Pitchers this season for the Lions will include Buddelmeyer, Setty, Dingey and Morgan as the top starters, while the infield throughout the season includes Setty, Willey, Dingey, Irvin, Morgan and Rohde.
“All of those guys can all field it and play multiple positions, and that is the good thing with these guys,” McGraw said.
In the sectional finals last season, Buddelmeyer pitched a complete seven-inning game for the win, allowing one earned run on three hits and four walks, and he struck out 10.
The outfield this season for the varsity will consist of Buddelmeyer, Grooms, Friend, Vidourek and Burns at various times.
At the plate this season, McGraw expects a lot from Setty, Buddelmeyer, Morgan, Grooms, Dingey, Irvin and Willey.
“Those guys are all ones that we will rely on and have the most experience,” he said. “At any given night, any of these guys can have big nights at the plate. We’ll need them, as our expectations are to compete for a league title and make a run in the postseason.
“Our schedule is tough, and we will have to be ready to play night-in and night-out. Our younger guys are going to have to grow up quickly. I have 15 great young men who are enjoyable to be around. They are coachable kids, and that is all you can ask for.”
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LYNCHBURG-CLAY MUSTANGS
Head Coach: Vince Pitzer
2018 Overall Record: 8-11
2018 SHAC Record: 7-6
Returning Players: 8
For the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs going into the 2019 season, head coach Vince Pitzer knows his team has talented players, but it will be fixing the miscues on the field that will determine the final outcome of how successful the Mustangs can be this season.
“The main thing we need to clean up are our errors if we can cut down on them,” Pitzer said. “Plus, we need to add in a little more focus and positive attitude, and we will have a good season.
“Our main goal is to get back to the top of Southern Hills Athletic Conference, then looking forward to see if we can make any waves come tournament time.”
As with every team, pitching will be key for the Mustangs, and this year they have a nice core of players who can make a difference on the mound.
Those pitchers are: Drew Pitzer (28.2 IP, 41 Ks, 2.44 ERA), Damin Pierson (21.1 IP, 18 Ks, 4.26 ERA), Caden Hess (21.1 IP, 23 Ks, 4.59 ERA), Austin Proctor (18.2 IP, 19 Ks, 4.12 ERA), Ethan McConnaughey (9.1 IP, 8 Ks, 3.75 ERA) and Alex Barber (9.1 IP, 9 Ks, 2.25 ERA).
“With five seniors and one junior anchoring our pitching staff, we are looking forward to competing in every game we have on the schedule,” Pitzer said.
This season, the Mustangs have a total of eight returning players, and they are Pitzer (CF/P), Pierson (INF/OF/P), Josh Wolfe (C), McConnaughey (INF/P), Hess (INF/P), P.J. Fiscus (1B), Proctor (OF/P) and Barber (INF/P).
Infielders for LCHS include: McConnaughey, Pierson, Hess, Fiscus, Barber, Chase Smaltz and Zairan Bourne. Outfielders for the Mustangs are Pitzer, Proctor, Briar Bourne, Pierson and Austin Barnhill.
“With the experience we have, I’m looking for our infield to take a big step forward this season,” Pitzer said. “If they play up to their capabilities, we could be looking at a good season.
“We will have good speed in the outfield, so tracking down some balls hit in the gaps and making the routine plays are expected.”
At the plate for the Mustangs this season, returning is Wolfe, who batted for a .385 average, with 23 RBI, 16 runs and five walks. Pitzer batted .350 in 2018 with 17 RBI, 24 runs and 13 walks. Pierson batted .350 last season with six RBI, 25 runs and 11 walks.
Also for LC in ’18, Hess batted .298 with 18 RBI and nine runs. McConnaughey had a .288 average, with 10 RBI, 14 runs and 10 walks.
“I believe any of our players 1-9 in our batting order have the capability to put up good numbers this year,” Pitzer said. “I’m excited to see our seniors step up and lead this team back to the top of the league and setting the standard for our underclassmen to strive for.
“We have a pretty tough non-conference schedule, playing Bethel-Tate (advanced to regionals), Blanchester (beat Bethel-Tate to advance to the regional final), CNE (district semi-finalist) and Western Brown (DI school), to name a few. If we can get the weather to cooperate, we open the first two weeks of the season with 13 games in 15 days, and seven of those 13 are league games.”
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MCCLAIN TIGERS
Head Coach: Rich Bunner
2018 Overall Record: 4-18
2018 FAC Record: 2-8
Returning Players: 12
The McClain Tigers want to rebound in 2019 following a 2018 season where they had their share of struggles, as they won just four games, and just two of those were in the Frontier Athletic Conference.
Having 12 returning lettermen from last season, the Tigers want to use the experience gained last season to better themselves this year.
“We need to improve on finishing games,” MHS head coach Rich Bunner said. “Last year, we had a lot of teams down late in games and gave quite a few wins back. Defensively, we need to cut down on mental errors and physical errors, which no doubt this year I think we will.
“I’m looking forward to watching this team perform on the field. Without a doubt, this by far is my most talented team, and the spirits are high. Practices are exciting and kids want to be there, so it is really a great atmosphere. Being between the lines is what I look forward to the most.”
Pitchers this season for the Tigers are Austin Booth, Sam Faulconer, Evan Hutchinson, Cody Pollock, Mason Ratcliff, John Salyers, Nate Terrell and Preston Anderson.
“Our expectations are really high, and we should be really good, especially pitching-wise and defensively,” Bunner said. “With all the returning starters, expectations should always be high in my opinion, because they have been in the system for a few years and know what to expect.”
The infielders for MHS will be Garrison Banks, Booth, Salyers, Pollock, Cody Elliott, Faulconer, Terrell, Colton Mossbarger, Garrett Brewer, Trevor Dalton, Ratcliff and Hutchinson.
“Like I said before, defense will be what we are based upon this year, and our infield should be one of the best in the league with all the returning starters from last year,” Bunner said.
McClain’s outfield consists of Eric Anderson, Preston Anderson, Keith Bennett, Hutchinson, Wyatt Van Dyke and Mossbarger.
“Along with the infield, our outfield is very solid and experienced, too,” Bunner said. “At the plate, all of our kids are very disciplined and talented. We stress fundamentals of hitting and bunting, and the kids are buying in and seeing results.
“With our experience, there’s no way we can sell ourselves short on this year, so to say our expectations are not high would definitely be a lie. Win or lose, I expect our kids to bring everything they’ve got every game, which they will. I’m ready to see my kids perform. They have put a lot of extra work in in the offseason and are hungry to start this season and rack up the wins.”