Just , the Gators’ baseball team is hoping to build on last year’s trip to the regional semifinals.
And fueled by their pitching, Perry Hall coach Shawn Berkeridge feels the Gators, who are 3-1 so far, are capable of doing just that.
While it is forced to replace four of its top five hitters from last year’s team, including Jake Gannon (team-best .450 batting average) and Kodi Beckwith (.407), Perry Hall does return its top two starters from last season’s pitching staff—seniors Andy Placek and Justin Zeglin.
Placek posted a 3.10 ERA in 10 appearances, including seven starts, while Zeglin finished with a 5-2 record.
Berkeridge will also be counting on Placek and Zeglin to be key contributors in the Gators’ lineup, along with senior catcher Steven Kerns.
Kerns (.350 batting average), Zeglin (.318) and Placek (.304) are Perry Hall’s leading returning hitters. Kerns was also second on the team in runs scored (17) while Placek was tied for fifth with 11 RBI.
The Gators ended last year 14-8.
“We will beat some teams this year,” said Berkeridge, in his first season as Perry Hall’s varsity head coach after spending four years leading the junior varsity squad.
“We just need to stay focused on the task at hand, but we should do very well this year. We have pitching, defense and more [middle of the lineup bats] than most other teams. We look forward to, hopefully, a great seed in the state tournament.”
