Greyhounds' Baseball Lineup Develops Ahead of Season Opener

Although the Clayton Greyhounds baseball team lost nine seniors to graduation last year, coach Craig Sucher and his team don’t like to use the term "rebuild."

“It looks like a rebuilding year,” Sucher said. “But the kids that are here don’t look as if they’re rebuilding. There out there every day competing for spots.”

The Greyhounds compiled a 16-10 record last year. Sucher expects Trevor Mills to be the No. 1 pitcher, but juniors Sam Fox and Noah Eby are pushing Mills for that spot. Jeremy Phillips, a junior, and freshman Auggie Mense might also see action on the mound. Sucher refers his pitching staff as “location pitchers.”

“They pitch to contact,” he said. “And they’re very disciplined in what we’re trying to do.”

Freddie Barnes, a junior, will play catcher this year.

“He was close to cracking the varsity lineup last year,” Sucher said. “He’s like another coach on the field. His arm strength has improved since last year.”

Sam Horn, also a junior, will play first base while Mense and senior Carter Elston are competing for a spot at second base. Fox and Eby are competing for a spot at shortstop, while Mills and Jack Licata—a transfer student from Texas—are competing for a job at third. 

Phillips will play centerfield. Sucher said he “was very solid and started as a sophomore.” Senior Dominic Mena, junior Keilen Green and sophomores Kidd Sutherun and Addison Joseph are competing for a position in left field. Seniors Meris Hoxha, Alex Breckenbridge, Jack Ellston and Dementral Cummings are competing for the right-field job.  

Sucher said the Greyhounds' defense is “tough to access” at this time. The same is true for the team's hitting: Members haven't been able to hit off of pitchers as of recently.

“Most of our workouts have been inside,” he said. “We’ve had to cope with the same weather as anyone else.”

Clayton's season opens March 30 at home against Affton.