By Amanda Perkins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Fordland Eagles may lack numbers, but they’ve already had a winning season this fall, going 9-6 with new coach Sam Waterman at the helm. Now they will work to carry their success into the spring season.
Coach Waterman served as an assistant with the Fordland program for the past three years, helping the Eagles to a 12-8 record last spring before they lost to Norwood in the semi-finals of district play. He previously assisted at Branson High.
Fordland made do in the fall after graduating four key players: Michael Hart, Ethan Grandel, Noah Sparks, and Cole Watson. Hart was a second team all-conference player and the team ace (2.82 ERA) who pitched 67 innings and had 53 strikeouts and only 9 walks. He also added 9 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. While Grandel was injured for much of the year, he had previously started on the mound and at first base. Sparks was a centerfielder who batted in the middle of the order and had 14 stolen bases and 10 RBIs. Cole Watson, .356, was a left fielder and leadoff hitter for the Eagles who also had 14 stolen bases and 9 RBIs.
“The spring will have many challenges for the Eagles,” said Coach Waterman. “With only nine kids in the program, keeping everybody healthy and playing every day will be of utmost importance.”
But Fordland’s nine are a talented crew. Corey Sampaio, senior, is a first team all-conference pitcher who has started there since his sophomore year. He bats in the middle of the order with a .367 average and had 13 RBIs last year.
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Skyler Grandel is another senior pitcher who has emerged as the staff ace. He rarely walks a batter and has a 1.16 ERA. In the fall, he went 6-1 in 50 innings of work and only walked 3 batters, and also beat Mansfield with a 65 pitch complete game. He also slugged in 16 RBIs with a .345 average and will play first base.
Tyler Cass, senior, will start at second base. He finished strong at the plate this fall and looks to build on that success. Senior Jerrod Cass will start in left field and has been working hard to increase offensive production.
Brett Hyder is one of the team’s top pitchers (1.38) and will be called upon in tough match-ups. The junior is a true utility player, a particular asset to the Eagles.
Hunter Burks, junior, is a skilled defensive third baseman and had multiple games with double digit assists there. He will be asked to be a top of the order hitter (.250), and will continue to develop as a pitcher out of the bullpen.
Starting shortstop and pitcher Joe Hart is a sophomore who is defensively skilled and has worked in the offseason to improve hitting.
Newcomers Skyler Jacobsen and Graham Brooks aren’t really so new, as the freshmen competed in the fall. Skyler had a .316 average with 12 hits and 13 stolen bases. “Skyler made an immediate impact in the varsity lineup,” said Coach Waterman. He will play centerfield and pitch. Graham will return to the outfield.
The team makes it work with nine players because many can play multiple positions defensively. “On any given day, our defensive lineup changes based on who is pitching,” said Coach Waterman. “Having versatile kids makes it work.”
Of course, assessing pitching duties will be more difficult in weeks with multiple games.
Offensively, Fordland will play small ball. “We won and were in many close games in the fall because we were able to manufacture runs by bunting guys over and hitting them in,” said Coach Waterman.
“We look to build off our success and continue to develop our younger players for the future,” he added. “We have several players who are capable of being all-conference selections. We hope to be able to compete for a top spot in the Summit conference as well as be able to make a strong showing in the district tournament.”
Fordland will compete in the Pleasant Hope Tournament March 16 and will host Sparta for their home opener March 26.
