Five returning starters raise expectations for the 2015 McDonald County High School baseball team.
So much so, coach Nick Martin is looking at the team's first year to compete in the Big 8 conference as a chance to win a conference title.
"I think we can compete with Monett for the Big 8 Conference championship," Martin said. "This is a hard working group of kids and we have gotten better since the first day of practice despite the bad weather."
Infielders, including junior catcher Emitt Dalton, lead the returners. Joining Dalton on the infield are seniors Jake Wilkie, Dagan Stites and sophomore Jamie Hanke.
Wilkie will most likely move from third to second this year while Stites is a fixture at shortstop. Hanke settles in at third this year.
"Emitt is smart behind the plate and helps our pitchers out a bunch," Martin said. "Dagan is a very good shortstop. We should be able to catch ground balls at all the infield spots."
Outfielder Jake Wood is final returning starter. Wood started last season in right field but will probably move to left for his senior season.
While no returning pitchers had starting experience on the mound with the exception of Wilkie, several had enough innings to earn their varsity letter, including D.J. Madewell, Dillion Lance and Mason Hendrix.
"Our pitchers will throw strikes, but they won't strike out a lot of people," Martin said. "D.J. had a great summer and is our number one. Hendricks and Wilkie will be fine if they can stay healthy."
Other returning lettermen include Elijah Harrell, Josh Kinser, Lakota Rose, Jarrett Sanny, Brock Burnett, Donavan Taylor and Seth Shockley."
"We don't have a lot of home run power, but we have the ability to put the ball in play," Martin said. "We will make contact and should be able to find some gaps."
Martin said while there is experience on the infield, he is holding tryouts for the outfield.
"We are trying to find people to fill some holes in the outfield," Martin said. "Center field is a big hole right now."
After opening on the new Joplin High School field on March 21, McDonald County played Gravette High School at Arvest Park in Springdale, Ark. on March 24. The Mustangs' first tournament is set for March 27-28 in Harrison, Ark.
McDonald County's home opener is set for March 31 when the Mustangs host Seneca in a key Big 8 Conference contest.
Sports on 03/26/2015