By Kary Booher (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
His team won a Class 5 district championship and yet must replace seven players, five who earned postseason honors. Which, naturally, would lead anyone to assume that coach Bryce Durnin has concerns as the Camdenton High School baseball team hits the field this spring.
Well, sure, he has some. But the outlook is hardly bleak, as an improving Camdenton program is giving its coach reason for optimism.
“We have rattled off two winning seasons in a row. The seniors are ready to continue the winning ways in Camdenton and try to get themselves back in the district title game,” Durnin said.
He soon added, “Now that we have been able to flip our record, we need to prove that we can do three things: (1) compete in the top half of the Ozark Conference, (2) win more than we lose and (3) finish the season getting better. Getting better as the season goes along way is a true indicator of the health of our program.”
The Lakers won 17 games last season, including 13 of their final 15, as they captured the Class 5 District 9 championship. It was the second consecutive year Camdenton had earned 17 wins.
This year’s team features seniors Brandon, Drake Miller, Andrew DiBello, Jack Welsh, Jaden Younker and junior Ethan Truesdell.
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Pasley, who was all-district and a Second-Team All-Ozark Conference, has been the Lakers’ starting shortstop the past three seasons, playing in 90 varsity games. He is a two-time All-Ozark Conference selection. He batted better than .400.
A year ago, Miller batted third and played first base. He earned first-team all-district and All-Ozark Conference honors as he batted better than .500 in the district tournament.
“No one was surprised by the season Drake put up last year,” Durnin said. “He is very athletic and can play anywhere.”
DiBello was the starting center fielder two years ago and moved to second base to help the team last year. He is returning to the outfield and will bat atop the lineup.
Welsh has pitched 60 innings the past two seasons and will be expected to provide leadership, considering Conner Miller and Mitch Orozco – both sophomores – are moving into larger roles. Welsh started in the district championship game last year. Younker also is expected to see time on the mound.
“Jack has command of several pitches which makes him very effective,” Durnin said.
Miller pitched the final inning of the district championship game.
“He is a gifted athlete, and I need to find ways to get him in the lineup,” Durnin said.
Orozco pitched on the junior varsity last year but has a big arm with “nasty breaking stuff,” Durnin added.
Look for Truesdell, an outfielder, to bat in the middle of the order.
“He can do a lot of things and is a player that helps us continue to stay in the top half of the Ozark Conference,” Durnin said. “We need Ethan to make an even bigger commitment to our team this year, and I need to make sure he understands his impact and role on this team.”
Juniors are Chance Rhoades, Riley Carpenter, Cody Hendrix, Cesar Chaparro and Brady Ford. Ford played in every varsity game last year as either a courtesy or pinch runner.
Fortunately for the Lakers, trying to continue success is not new to Durnin.
“In 2002 I was able to be a part of the state championship Liberty Blue Jays team,” Durnin said. “We had the same team returning in 2003 and were poised for a repeat. That 2003 year was the hardest year. Teams just flat came after us. I am curious how teams will approach us now after a little success and further, how our players and coaches will respond.”
