By Chris Parker
Lockwood baseball is a team on the rise with a deep squad this year.
Junior Dylan Gallup will be the team’s top pitcher after earning first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore. He was second on the team in innings pitched with 31, but led the team in both strikeouts (58) and ERA (1.58).
“Dylan is a baseball kid. He loves the game. He’s passionate about the game. When he’s on that mound he is a poised veteran,” Lockwood head coach Adam Grisham said.
Fellow junior Jamie Kramer also returns after earning second-team all-conference honors in the outfield last year. This year he will see some time all over the field including on the mound. He hit .533 in 30 at-bats last season.
Tucker Berry (outfield), Blaine Garver, Spencer Neal (first base, third base, outfield) and Quinton Raymond round out the junior class.
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Damien Jordan (catcher/outfield) and Lakin Neil (second base/pitcher) will be the senior leaders for the team.
Sophomores Cody Oeltjen (first base/right field), Gabe Price (outfield/second base/catcher), Zaide Rice (utility) and Landon Stump (utility) along with freshmen Rayder Boyd (utility), Kamon Cooper (outfield/pitcher), Blake Cossins (utility), Elijah Kerr (utility), Dylan Snider (utility) and Joel Trolinder (outfield) will all compete for varsity innings.
Much of Lockwood’s success will be determined by how quickly pitching develops.
“To be successful we will need to have players step up and command the mound. Our varsity pitching experience is lacking and we have to have guys step up,” Grisham said. “The team also needs to increase its fielding efficiency and improve the way we approach stepping up to the plate. The team fielding percentage last year of .878 will not suffice. We have to cut out errors if we are going to be successful.”
Lockwood opens the season Mar. 20-24 at the Lamar Tournament.
