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Every player key for 'Hound baseball
It's February, with sub-freezing temperatures and snow on the ground.
It's also baseball time in Fort Scott.
While the recent weather has impacted the community college baseball team, the Greyhounds of Coach John Hill III are anxious to get outside and take to the field in competition.
A pair of doubleheaders with Southeast Community College have been cancelled thus far, with the season now due to start Saturday with a doubleheader versus North Central Missouri at 1 p.m. at Jaycee Ball Park in Pittsburg. The Greyhounds will face NCMC again Sunday at the same time.
Hill, who is entering his sixth year as head coach at the school and his 12th overall, is assisted by Ian Janes, in his fourth year, and Jared Walters, in his second.
The trio guided FSCC to a 40-17 record last year, the third most victories in school history. The Greyhounds went 23-13 in the Eastern Division of the Jayhawk Conference to finish second behind champion Cowley, owned a 20-5 home record, won a Super Regional series against Pratt and advanced to the Region VI Tournament at Wichita.
"Our team returns many of last year's contributors and also has quality new players," Coach Hill said in assessing his team's prospects. "This team has as much potential as any team we have had here. However, much remains to be seen on how we handle adversity.
"Our strength isn't necessarily a baseball skill. Our team strength is our attitude and competitiveness. The returning players have continued to mature as mental athletes in addition to continuing to develop their physical skills. I have been very impressed to this point with our daily attitude and commitment to preparation."
Though the season begins Saturday and runs about 3 ½ months, the 'Hounds have been preparing since the school year began back in August.
"Baseball is a daily grind that takes six plus months of preparation in a school year before the first pitch is thrown," Hill said. "Our players have done a great job of having a daily attitude of energy, commitment and excitement toward their preparation. "I feel those attributes will carry over to the season and help us handle the challenges that arise every year."
While optimistic, the coach noted the primary challenge to the Greyhounds' success continues to be turnover. The Greyhounds will miss Ka'ai Tom, who led the team with 11 homers, a .387 batting average and a .761 slugging percentage as a freshman, Joe Hermsen, and Reyn Sugai. Tom is now at the University of Kentucky. Hermsen, who batted .292 and was second on the team with 10 doubles is at St. Mary's University in San Antonio. Sugai, who batted .340 and had a .458 slugging percentage, has moved on to Temple University.
"Our weaknesses will be the same of any junior college team: inexperience," Hill said. "The key to making sure that isn't as much as a weakness as other junior college teams is to ensure there is player leadership and communication.
"Such a small sample of your team has been through the grind of a 56-game college baseball season. Our 'experience' is our sophomores and they have only done it one time."
However, those sophomores include several players who are already getting looks from four-year schools.
"We pride ourselves on being strong as a team," Hill says. "We do have returning players who earned more accolades last year than some others."
Among those returning are pitcher Aaron Mason, a sophomore from Broken Arrow, Okla., who had an 11-0 record, struck out 8.2 batters per game, and posted a 1.97 earned-run average. He was a third-team NJCAA All-American last year.
Alex Copeland, a catcher from Broken Arrow, was an All-Conference performer who was also the Gold Glove nominee for the catcher position in the conference. He posted a .349 batting average and a .994 fielding percentage last season.
"However, each player on our team is the key to our success," Hill says. "Our team is very small in roster size (29). Each player has a role that is important and at some point over 56 games, each player will have to contribute a large part to our success."
Hill is looking to Sam Gilbert (2-1, 2 saves, 9.26 strikeouts per game), a sophomore from Pittsburg, who "has improved a lot on the mound. He hit well last year (.358) and will hit well again this year, but he has a chance to be one of the dominant closers in the conference this year."
Josh Griffith, a sophomore from Pleasant Hill, Mo., played almost every game for Fort Scott last year at first base, but didn't necessarily put up typical first base offensive numbers. Hill expects a big year from Griffith with the bat and another good year on the mound for him (4-3, 3.79 ERA).
"We feel all our sophomores have improved since last year. Zach Taylor (Denver, Colo.) and Parker O'Dell (Branson, Mo.) didn't play a whole lot last year but both will factor heavily into our success this year," Hill says. "John Lynch (4-2, 3.15, Tulsa, Okla.) had a solid freshman year and we expect him to improve on that."
Hill feels that outfielder Lance Barkley (.305 BA, .464 SP, .957 FA, Topeka) has a chance to be the conference player of the year.
"He is that talented and can legitimately put up numbers to be that good," Hill says.
Pitcher Landon Holifield (Fort Worth, Texas) only threw three innings last year, but has really made strides recently and could be a surprise on the mound, according to Hill. Ethan Peacock (Lees Summit, Mo.) saw significant innings early last year and has continued to show progression on the mound.
"Our coaching staff is very pleased with all our sophomores and their continued work ethic and commitment to improving," Hill says.
The Greyhounds will have a new face in Austin Oakes from Dallas, only the second time during Hill's tenure that the school has accepted a mid-year transfer.
"He hit leadoff and played outfield and catcher for West Texas last year," Hill said. "We had numerous injuries this fall to our outfield and felt like we needed more depth with only three outfielders remaining. He has inserted himself well with his teammates."
Hill's squad will also rely on first-year players..
"All our freshmen pitchers will contribute. I see Kaden Shaffer, a third basemen from Ottawa, Kan., making a big impact in our lineup this year," he said.
The likely starters at this point are Griffith at first base, Dalton Rook (Olathe) at second, Taylor at shortstop, and Kaden Shaffer (Ottawa) at third. Copeland will be the catcher. Oakes will split time in left field with O'Dell and in right with Gilbert while Barkley will be in center.
Hill said he expects the starting pitching to come from Mason, Lynch, Griffith, and Nate Westfahl (Olathe). Barkley, Gilbert, Cody Tolbert (Tulsa), and Miles Wagner (Granberry, Texas) will come out of the bullpen.
Other players on the team include Jacob Boling (P-OF, St. Joseph, Mo.), Danny Garrett (LHP, Dallas), Kolby Greenslade (IF, Norwalk, Iowa), Jake Harvey (C, Kansas City, Kan.), Brendan Janes (RHP, Kansas City, Kan.), Doug Jenkins (IF, Wichita), Matt Peterson (RHP, Kansas City, Kan.), Bobby Pierce, (LHP, Oklahoma City) and Mike Sielinski (C, Saginaw, Mich).
Four players who are injured at this point are expected to redshirt.
Peyton Logan, a sophomore pitcher from Jefferson City, Mo., had Tommy John surgery from an injury suffered last summer. Mike Baxter, a freshman outfielder from Kansas City, suffered nerve tissue damage resulting from a collision at second base this fall. Max Bergman, a freshman pitcher and outfielder/infielder from Kansas City, underwent elbow surgery for ulnar nerve damage suffered last summer. Matt Hicks, a freshman right-hander from Dallas, underwent elbow surgery for a hairline fracture suffered last summer.
The Greyhounds will face a challenging schedule. Defending KJCCC-East champion Cowley is ranked No. 13 in the NJCAA pre-season poll and Neosho County is No. 15. Crowder College, a non-conference opponent on Fort Scott's schedule, is ranked No. 20.
"The entire conference is tough," said Hill. "Last year we beat Cowley when they were ranked second in the nation. We beat Neosho when they were ranked sixth in the nation. Coffeyville was only one game behind us in the standings. But after seeing both Cowley and Coffeyville this fall, I think those are the two teams with the most talent besides us in the conference this year.
"Neosho has been to two straight (Junior College) World Series so they have the power of expectation on their side, which will carry them a long way."
For his team to continue its winning ways and advance to post season again, Hill said several things have to happen.
"We always need to avoid injuries. And we have to handle adversity and success with class and consistency."
All events listed are doubleheaders unless noted.
First pitch of first game is 1 p.m. unless noted.
Saturday..vs. North Central Missouri at Pittsburg
Sunday....vs. North Central Missouri at Pittsburg
Feb. 19..............at Evangel JV, Noon (one game)
Feb. 22.................MUSCATINE, Iowa
Feb. 23...MUSCATINE, Iowa, 11 a.m.
Feb. 25.......at Ottawa JV (one game)
Feb. 27..........at Kansas City Kansas
Mar. 1............KANSAS CITY KANSAS
Mar. 4.....at Wentworth Military, Mo.
Mar. 6..................JOHNSON COUNTY
Mar. 8...................at Johnson County
Mar. 13.....................COWLEY
Mar. 15...................at Cowley
Mar. 18..................at Baker JV, 2:30 (one game)
Mar. 20..............at Coffeyvile, 2 p.m.
Mar. 22............................COFFEYVILLE
Mar. 27......at Independence, 2 p.m.
Mar. 29.......................INDEPENDENCE
April 1..................CROWDER, 2 p.m. (one game)
April 3......................................LABETTE
April 5....................................at Labette
April 10...............................HIGHLAND
April 12..............................at Highland
April 17........................................ALLEN
April 19.....................................at Allen
April 24.................at Neosho County
April 26.................NEOSHO COUNTY
April 30..............at Crowder, 2 p.m. (one game)
May 3-4..Region VI Super Regionals
May 9-13......Region VI Tournament at Wichita