2019 SPRING PREVIEW: SALEM BASEBALL
Salem finished five-2 inside the SCA closing season; however, nine-12 normal. The Tigers had been a young group remaining year with the complete pitching body of workers keep one player new to pitching on the varsity stage.
This year, teach Phillip Karr returns five starters. Three of these gamers earned all-conference honors, including Boone Schrader (2nd-crew all-conference), Reese Dodson (2nd-team all-convention), and Jordan Shults (honorable mention all-conference).
Schrader hit .365 final season with 12 RBI and 6 stolen bases. He also saw time on the mound and will see more this year. The senior will play shortstop when no longer pitching.
“Boone is a clearly true great faculty baseball player that loves the game of baseball. I recognize he can play someplace in college, so with any luck, some faculties get out to see him,” Karr stated. “Boone is bendy, and I intend him to play shortstop to start the season. I believe he can be a solid 2nd baseman at the next stage, and that’s wherein he’s maximum cozy. He has by using some distance our excellent range, so he will probably need to teach hard at shortstop. Boone will also be needed to win a few games for us at the mound this yr.”
Dodson brings velocity to the fold after swiping 12 bases remaining yr. He also drove in 14 runs while hitting .380. The junior will play on the whole in centerfield; however, they may play second base when a middle infielder has to pitch.
“Reese is only a solid athlete and mentally sharp in sports. He is always thinking and battles on the plate and stays alive until a pitcher makes a mistake. Reese has an awesome fundamental swing which allows his success charge, and he’s clearly versatile as an athlete,” Karr stated. “Reese has won strength in the weight room, and that constantly facilitates a participant by way of having sufficient strength that he’s reputable through the opposing outfield.”
Shults came along well as a remaining junior season in his first season of varsity baseball. He knocked in 17 runs at the same time as earning all-convention honors inside the outfield. These 12 months, he’ll pitch more significantly and can see time at DH to store his legs for his starts.
Brett Fore (junior third baseman), Noah Leathers (senior pitcher/third baseman), Dawson Conway (junior outfielder), and Silas Wulff (junior catcher) will all be anticipated to boom their production this yr. Leathers and Wulff each knocked in double-digit runs last season.
Salem has to publish a more potent file this year, not due most effectively to improvement among the traces among their ears.
“Our children have an awesome mindset closer to practice and the sport itself; however, they lacked self-assurance and performed too conservatively because they didn’t accept as true with themselves closing 12 months. You should make pitches, make plays, and get massive hits to gain self-belief, but you’re never going to come thru in case you dread the ball or bat for your hands. That’s what our players have to triumph over; the worry of failure,” Karr said. “This is a game which you normally fail extra than you prevail. However, you have to consider yourself while each opportunity arises because it’s a new possibility. Our youngsters didn’t get there last season, and if we conquer that considerable trouble from the final 12 months, we can reap higher outcomes than the last year and wonder quite a few people.”
