By Amanda Perkins/For OzarksSportsZone.com
The Eminence Redwings lost just one player, all-conference third baseman Destin Henry, to graduation after they claimed the Big Springs Conference championship in the fall of 2015.
The Redwings ended their spring season with a 14-10 record as the runners-up to Dora in district play, then returned eight starters this fall for an 11-6 finish. Having finished second in the district for three out of the last five seasons, head coach J. C. Hoagland said he believes his team is ready for the postseason.
“I do not have any stars,” he said, “as we have a different player step up for us every day.”
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TJ Rolen is one who will be expected to step up. Having earned all-state honors as a sophomore, Rolen battled through a shoulder issue his junior year. He came roaring back for his senior year, blasting 7 home runs in the fall. The pitcher has been working to improve his ERA, which was 4.46 in the spring but dropped to the low threes in the fall.
Classmate Denton White plays centerfield. “He’s a defensive guy, that’s his game,” said Hoagland. “He’s very fast, and not a lot of balls get down in the gaps around him.”
The .250 hitter bats out of the nine hole and is an effective bunter and base stealer. Parker Matteson rounds out the senior class. According to his coach, he will platoon in the outfield and bats between .220 and .250.
Junior Robert Keeling was an all-conference player for the past two seasons. The second baseman and lead-off hitter has an on-base percentage over .500 and hit .337 last spring and .406 in the fall.
Taylon Jenkins is also a junior and a defensive player with a good arm who will be found in the outfield.
The bulk of the team is made up of sophomores who were a key part of last year’s conference victory. Morgan Odell is a versatile player who can catch and pitch and hits out of the two spot. He leads the team in sac bunts and hits .340.
Catcher Wyatt Spurgin had a .476 average, led the team in RBIs, and was named to the all-district team as a freshman.
Standing at 6’6”, Trent McBride makes for a formidable opponent. The lefty pitcher and first baseman earned all-conference honors in 2016 and hit .367.
He and Rolen will be Eminence’s top two pitchers. Grant Dyer will DH and play the outfield.
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He was responsible for two big game-winning hits last year, including the tying run in the conference championship game.
Dyer drove in 14 runs his freshman season and batted .294. Sophomore Reece Parrish is a quick shortstop and a skilled base stealer with a .260 average.
Hoagland said his team obviously aims at the postseason, but the Redwings have higher goals.
“Purpose-wise, we are teaching young men how to play the game,” he said. “We are also working on character development. We have a group of sophomores where three or four of them could end up playing college baseball. So we’re teaching them the game and giving them the chance to get a quality education.”
The Redwings will start the spring season by hosting a two-day tourney, the Dos Rios Wood Bat Weekend, beginning March 18. The tournament is in its fifth year and will feature 15-20 teams, including Plato, Bell City, Greenville, East Carter, Van Buren, and Doniphan.
