Tigers return to diamond with nice mix of veterans and newcomers
Fifth-year Nevada Tigers' head baseball coach Danny Penn is excited about the prospects for his team, as the 2017 season opener is just around the corner.
Despite losing several key players from a season ago, Nevada returns plenty of veteran experience, with a sprinkle of talented underclassmen in the mix.
"I expect us to play good baseball, and hopefully compete for a conference and district title," Penn told the Daily Mail on Tuesday. "We return some important cogs in our lineup, both offensively and defensively."
Among those key returning players is senior Tyler Ketterman, the Tigers' catcher and one of their top hitters. The versatile Ketterman, who has signed a national letter-of-intent to continue his baseball career with Crowder College, has also been utilized at shortstop and on the mound.
Penn said other key returning players include junior infielder Branden Harder and senior outfielder Myles McNeley. In addition third baseman Braeden Hinton, who missed most of the 2016 season with a shoulder injury, is back.
"We have a number of guys who played significant varsity and junior varsity innings last year that we feel confident can perform well this season," Penn noted.
Nevada finished 12-14 overall and 6-5 in the West Central Conference last season, with their defensive ability being a significant strength.
"I feel that our defense will be strong, especially on the infield," Penn said. "We'll make most of the routine plays, and some great ones now and then. In the outfield we're a little younger, so there may be some growing pains there."
Nevada's pitching staff took a major hit with the loss of their 2016 ace, Derek O'Dell. O'Dell, along with power hitting catcher Brett Mitchell, signed to play with Coffeyville Community (Kan.) College.
Penn said his starting rotation entering the season is comprised of Harder, Ketterman, and senior Payton Bright.
"Our rotation is solid," Penn said. "Payton got a lot of varsity experience last year, and we'll lean on him to give us quality innings this year. I was pleased with the results we saw from all of our pitchers at our jamboree (March 11 in Neosho)."
Penn said juniors Jarrett Owen and Logan Armstrong will add depth to Nevada's rotation.
"Both threw a lot of JV innings last year, and look to see significant varsity innings this season," he said. "Sophomores Logan Bradley and Peyton Denney also performed well at the jamboree, and will probably see a lot of time on the mound."
After losing the middle of its 2016 batting order to departing seniors (Mitchell, Trey Pritchett), Penn said his squad might be slowed offensively out of the gate.
"I think that our offense may take a little while to warm up," he said. "I feel good about the guys who have seen a lot of varsity pitching before, but it may take a few games for the rest of our lineup to catch up."
Penn continued: "That just means that our pitching and defense will be even more important in the early portion of our season. It also means we'll likely have to play some small-ball and manufacture some runs."
Penn's keys to the season
"Throw strikes, play good defense, and score more than your opponent," he said. "We need to be patient enough and mature enough to understand that we may endure some growing pains early in the season. We have to persevere and continue improving throughout the season."
KEY RETURNERS
* Tyler Ketterman, catcher, pitcher; Braeden Hinton, third base, pitcher, catcher; Branden Harder, shortstop, pitcher; Myles McNeley, OF; and Payton Bright, pitcher.
KEY LOSSES
* Brett Mitchell (C), Derek O'Dell (P), Andy Heathman (OF, P), Trey Pritchett (1B), and Bryson Leftwich (OF, P).
"These five seniors all played pivotal roles in our program over the past four years," Penn said of the departed seniors. "They afforded the coaching staff the luxury of being able to comfortably rely that certain positions would be filled well."
UNDERCLASSMEN
"Peyton Denney, Jaren Powrie, Will Johnson, and Logan Bradley are sophomores that will see major varsity innings," Penn noted. "So we hope they make a positive difference for us."
2017 NHS roster
Seniors: Tyler Ketterman, Myles McNeley, Payton Bright, Colton Shrewsbury, and Robert Hoskins. Juniors: Braeden Hinton, Branden Harder, Logan Armstrong, Myles Miller, Tayte Moore, Jarrett Owen, and Trent Ellis. Sophomores: Jaren Powrie, Will Johnson, Logan Bradley, Jayden Ast, Jonah Brus, Peyton Denney, Joe Hendrix, Ethan Couch, and Austin Griggs.
Nevada, a member of the West Central Conference, opens its season March 20, hosting WCC foe Warrensburg.