Beginning his seventh season for the Fordland Eagles, head coach Garret Keith has a number of players returning and looks to improve on a 9-15 record from last year.
Fortunately, experience should not be a problem for the Eagles, as they return a big core of players from last season.
“A lot of returning varsity experience really showed us this fall we can compete with anyone,” Keith said. “We had a few games where we flat didn’t show up, but, overall, we were able to compete at a high level.”
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Like most teams every season, however, Fordland lost a few key pieces to graduation from last, including All-Conference selection Chance Greer.
“Chance was a great example of a kid who came up in the program, played three years of junior varsity and contributed at a high level when he was called upon at the varsity level.”
While Greer led the team with a .357 average last season, Collin Kensinger and Garrett McClintock are two more key departures for the Eagles.
“Collin was a great kid, great student, and extremely hard worker on and off the field,” said Keith. “Garrett led our team in hits (22) and will be missed on the mound where he had a team high 33 innings with 32 strikeouts in nine games pitched. He was able to give us a chance to win every time he was on the mound.”
The list of returning starters for the Eagles include seniors Blake Hyder, Kyle Gann and Tyler Letterman, along with junior starters Michael Hart, Ethan Grandel, Trent Burks and Noah Sparks.
After a mid-season appendectomy last year, Hyder was unable to recover fully until after the season ended. That does not expect to be an issue this year.
“Blake worked this summer getting his arm back in shape and proved this last fall with a 3.44 ERA and three wins, but he was able to show signs of being one of the top pitchers in the conference.”
Gann and Letterman also look to play key roles for the Eagles this season but in various ways.
Kyle has speed in the outfield and on the bases, and he is one of those kids that is tough to get out,” Keith said. “Tyler has been moved from the infield, to the outfield and now back to an infield position. Last spring Tyler made some great improvements at the plate where things started to click. He will be in the middle of our lineup with hopes to drive runners in.”
As for Hart, Grandel, Sparks, Burks and Cole Watson, they look to play a major role for the Eagles this season.
“They will all be a huge part of our team,” Keith said of his five returning juniors. “Last year as sophomores, they were thrown to the wolves in a few games but have come out stronger and better players because of it. Hart and Grandel will both see a lot of varsity innings on the mound this spring.”
Ultimately, Keith knows confidence might play a big factor how far his team goes this season.
“We have potential,” Keith said. “We just need to know that we are capable of having success and confidence. It is a huge decided factor how our season will play out.”
Fordland opens their season on March 19 at the Pleasant Hope Invitational.
