Schools
Senior-Heavy Lions Ready to Make Noise In Conference Play
Fort Zumwalt East baseball team will rely on 12 seniors in 2011.
The baseball team enters the 2011 campaign with both an experienced team track record of success.
The Lions return 12 seniors off of a team that compiled a winning 14-12 record and a second-place in the Gateway Athletic North Conference last year. They lost just tree seniors to graduation.
“We’re pretty senior loaded,” Lions coach Russ Hill said. “The coaching staff is excited to see such team leadership and maturity. I’m happy to have coached these kids for four years. It should be a good season.”
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Hill thinks his team will do well in conference this year.
“ is a well developed program and Fort Zumwalt North won 20 games,” Hill said. “But I think we have as good as chance as anyone this year.”
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Eric Keling and Tanner Trokey will serve as East’s No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers this spring. Junior , a pitcher who hit .460 last season, won’t play this year because of a shoulder injury from basketball season.
“He was a key contributor,” Hill said on Zurweller. “He was a big hitter who could also throw, but most schools do have to deal with a key injury.”
Hill said both Keling and Trokey “pitch to contact.”
“I really think that Keling has picked up velocity in the last year,” Hill said. “He had a great strike out to walk ratio last year.”
Keling recorded 22 strikeouts and three walks last year. Hill said Trokey “mixes up speed well.”
Keling will work both sides of the plate this year, as he’ll also play catcher. Sophomore Ryan March will star in three acts, as he’ll pitch, catch and play third base. Hill said March “has good tools and potential.”
Branden Sugar will play first base. Senior Zach Hefner and junior Jacob Holtgrayewe and are fighting for playing time second and senior Clayton Meyer will play shortstop and pitch. Junior Zac Lynes will play third.
All-conference selection Brad Champman returns in center field.
“He’s a team leader with special tools,” Hill said of Chapman. “He also has a great deal of speed.”
Senior Marvin Byrd and junior Justin Pham are fighting for time in left field. Byrd, Pham and Trokey, will also play right field.
Hill feels his team’s offense is strong.
“Our hitting looks good,” he said. “The kids are stronger and bigger and they worked hard in the off-season. Offensively, I think we’ll be OK.”