By Chris Parker
Halfway baseball is seeking a fifth consecutive season of double digit wins behind new head coach Eric Ingram this year.
The reason for Halfway’s sustained success?
“Players. We have had a group cycle through that loved the game of baseball. They played travel ball in the summer and spent a lot of time on the field playing the game,” Ingram said.
Halfway graduated both of its first-team all-conference selections from last year’s team, but does return two second-team all-conference selections in Blake Phillips and Trey McCarthy. Phillips, a senior, will be the ace on the mound and play first base. McCarthy will be back behind the plate at catcher.
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Trenton McCarthy should anchor the infield a shortstop and see an increased load on the mound at pitcher.
Seniors Nehemiah Porter and Hunter Blanton are coming out for baseball for the first time this season.
Sophomores Sloan Gallivan (infield), Kolton Root (infield), Travis Maggard, Avery Brown and Andy Guinn all saw varsity time last year and should see their roles expand this year. Grayson Gallivan is a freshman that should step in right away in both the outfield and at pitcher.
“We have a group that likes to compete so that will be what we plan to do,” Ingram said. “I think we will need to clean up giving free bases. Walks and errors can really hurt you and we want to limit those. Also, at the plate we have to be productive even when making outs and not striking out.”
Halfway opens the season Mar. 20-21 at the New Covenant tournament.
