By Angie Brushwood (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Urbana, MO – Experience and teamwork mark the Skyline Tigers baseball team this season. As he starts his sixth season as coach, Brett Bybee knows this year’s team is something special.
Falling short of a district title last season, the Skyline Tigers return to the field with all except one of their starters.
“We fell a little short of our goal of a district title. These seniors have one more opportunity to make this happen, and I know they will give it their best,” said Bybee. “They are a bunch of good young men who have the same goal in mind. That is a powerful thing to have on the field. We have all but one starter coming back and many young players who are fighting for a shot to showcase their skills.”
With no losses to graduation, the Skyline Tigers have eight returning starters. Three of the four returning senior starters received post-season honors. Mason Lile earned 2nd team All-Mid Lakes Conference as infielder and pitcher, as well as 1st team All-District. Lile is signed to play at Evangel University.
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Lile led the Tigers on the mound last year with a 2.51 ERA in 10 games pitched. At bat, 6’1” Lile averaged .467, with 26 runs and 29 RBIs. Lile also plays first base and fills the third spot in the lineup.
“Lile plays a very good first base and drives in the runs in the three-spot in the lineup,” said Bybee. “He is a large young man who moves well and can hit. As pitcher, he has a very good curveball and deceptive changeup.”
Pitcher and middle infielder Brant Gideon (sr.) made honorable mention as utility All-Mid Lakes Conference. Gideon also earned 1st team All-District. Gideon hit 22 runs and 17 RBIs last season, averaging .376 at bat and a 3.14 ERA.
“Brant is a special player who has a lot of knowledge about the game. As long as we can keep him fresh and not overuse him, he will be one of our top pitchers,” said Bybee.
Senior Shane Crawford averaged .320, with 25 runs and 22 RBIs. Crawford plays left and center. Brydon Carter (sr.) comes in as utility and also pitches.
Junior Paden Hodges made honorable mention catcher All-Mid Lakes Conference. Hodges knocked in 29 runs and had an ERA of 1.22. Junior Trevor Russell earned 2nd team outfield All-Mid Lakes Conference and honorable mention pitcher All-Conference, averaging .438 at bat and 3.71 ERA.
The Tigers’ other returning starters are Bryndon Carter, Shane Crawford, Gage Gunter, and Dax Beem. Gunter earned 1st team All-District. Deem stepped into the role of catcher last season as a freshman and will continue in that position along with middle infielder.
Gunter has caught the eye of Skyline fans.
“The name that kept coming up with the fans who would talk with me was Gage,” said Bybee. “Gage played pitcher, catcher, and shortstop as a freshman. I call him the Hustle, after Pete Rose. Gage plays hard, and we all think he will put up big numbers this year.”
Rounding out the varsity lineup are Zach McClurg, Travis Johnson, Jaxon Berry, Ethan Edwards, and Rhett Glor. Several freshmen will work for varsity playing time as well.
Bybee expects the Tigers’ strength on the mound to be their ticket to a winning season.
“It will all come down to our pitching this season as it does for many teams. I think we are going to be a team capable of putting several runs on the board each game, and we will be very solid in the field,” said Bybee.
Skyline’s season opener will be at Lebanon on March 23.
