2013 Preview: McClain Tigers Baseball
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The McClain Tigers are looking to improve on their seven-win mark from one season ago, and to do that, they will have to replace pitching, but they return 11 players whom they rely heavily upon.
MHS is coming off a season where they went 7-18 overall, with a South Central Ohio League finish of 4-8. To climb back up the ladder of the SCOL, a league they won in 2010, the Tigers will need pitching to come through, mostly because they lost their top two pitchers from one season ago in Ryan Case and Ryan Perie.
In losing Case (1.67 ERA) and Perie (3.19 ERA), head coach Brandon Streitenberger said the challenge of the Tigers this season will be to replace the top of their pitching staff.
Though they lost their ace and No. 2 starter from last season, the Tigers will replace them, as of now, with seniors Kyle Flora and Jordan Boles to provide the one-two punch.
Last season, Flora threw 25 innings, striking out 30 batters. Boles worked 22 innings.
"Kyle was impressive this summer, and so far inside (the gym) he has had great stuff," Streitenberger said, who is entering his seventh season as MHS head coach and his 23rd year in the program. "Boles throws strikes. We have confidence in those seniors and expect them to lead our pitching staff this spring.
"We feel that we have two dependable starters in Flora and Boles, but after that, it is up for grabs. We have six other guys we are looking at (Shawn Haddox, Zach Rumer, Brent Shannon, Zach Puckett, Caleb Rayburn, Devin Trefz) … hopefully, one or more will step up."
The Tigers will consist of seniors Flora, Trevor Gossett, Trefz, Rumer, Boles, Shannon and Kyle Dawson; and juniors Haddox, Dylan Trefz, Josh Carroll and Logan Rhonemus. Sophomores this season will include Puckett, Cameron Spangler and Rayburn.
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"We expect to be strong defensively with most of their infield and outfield returning intact," Streitenberger said. "That is definitely the strength of our team.
"The real strength of our team is up the middle. With Puckett behind the plate, Boles and Shannon at short and second and Flora in center, we feel very confident," Streitenberger said. "Our corners are pretty reliable, too."
MHS will use their speed to their advantage this season. The Tigers are looking to improve at the plate, where they had a .230 batting average last year.
"Last year, we had great pitching and defense, we just couldn't hit consistently," Streitenberger said. "We hope that our hard work over the summer (American Legion and Babe Ruth leagues) will pay off in the form of more runs this spring."
Speaking of the Tigers' batting, MHS was led by Rayburn with a .333 batting average, as Streitenberger said Rayburn will play first and third base for the Tigers this spring.
Other offensive threats returning for the Tigers are sophomore Zach Puckett, who led the Tigers with two home runs last year and 18 stolen bases, and Boles, who had a .380 on-base percentage.
"We've got a lot of 'baseball guys' on this team," Streitenberger said. "They all play Legion or Babe Ruth in the summer. Most of these guys consider baseball to be their 'main sport'. They love the game, and it's a fun group to be around.
"Once again, we need to find pitchers who throw strikes and keep the ball down. We need to improve at the plate. If we can do those things, we should be competitive this spring."
Assistants this year for the Tigers are Ed Bolender (15th year as an assistant - all at McClain) and Brad Campbell (sixth season as an assistant - all at McClain).
MHS is coming off a season where they went 7-18 overall, with a South Central Ohio League finish of 4-8. To climb back up the ladder of the SCOL, a league they won in 2010, the Tigers will need pitching to come through, mostly because they lost their top two pitchers from one season ago in Ryan Case and Ryan Perie.
In losing Case (1.67 ERA) and Perie (3.19 ERA), head coach Brandon Streitenberger said the challenge of the Tigers this season will be to replace the top of their pitching staff.
Though they lost their ace and No. 2 starter from last season, the Tigers will replace them, as of now, with seniors Kyle Flora and Jordan Boles to provide the one-two punch.
Last season, Flora threw 25 innings, striking out 30 batters. Boles worked 22 innings.
"Kyle was impressive this summer, and so far inside (the gym) he has had great stuff," Streitenberger said, who is entering his seventh season as MHS head coach and his 23rd year in the program. "Boles throws strikes. We have confidence in those seniors and expect them to lead our pitching staff this spring.
"We feel that we have two dependable starters in Flora and Boles, but after that, it is up for grabs. We have six other guys we are looking at (Shawn Haddox, Zach Rumer, Brent Shannon, Zach Puckett, Caleb Rayburn, Devin Trefz) … hopefully, one or more will step up."
The Tigers will consist of seniors Flora, Trevor Gossett, Trefz, Rumer, Boles, Shannon and Kyle Dawson; and juniors Haddox, Dylan Trefz, Josh Carroll and Logan Rhonemus. Sophomores this season will include Puckett, Cameron Spangler and Rayburn.
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"We expect to be strong defensively with most of their infield and outfield returning intact," Streitenberger said. "That is definitely the strength of our team.
"The real strength of our team is up the middle. With Puckett behind the plate, Boles and Shannon at short and second and Flora in center, we feel very confident," Streitenberger said. "Our corners are pretty reliable, too."
MHS will use their speed to their advantage this season. The Tigers are looking to improve at the plate, where they had a .230 batting average last year.
"Last year, we had great pitching and defense, we just couldn't hit consistently," Streitenberger said. "We hope that our hard work over the summer (American Legion and Babe Ruth leagues) will pay off in the form of more runs this spring."
Speaking of the Tigers' batting, MHS was led by Rayburn with a .333 batting average, as Streitenberger said Rayburn will play first and third base for the Tigers this spring.
Other offensive threats returning for the Tigers are sophomore Zach Puckett, who led the Tigers with two home runs last year and 18 stolen bases, and Boles, who had a .380 on-base percentage.
"We've got a lot of 'baseball guys' on this team," Streitenberger said. "They all play Legion or Babe Ruth in the summer. Most of these guys consider baseball to be their 'main sport'. They love the game, and it's a fun group to be around.
"Once again, we need to find pitchers who throw strikes and keep the ball down. We need to improve at the plate. If we can do those things, we should be competitive this spring."
Assistants this year for the Tigers are Ed Bolender (15th year as an assistant - all at McClain) and Brad Campbell (sixth season as an assistant - all at McClain).