By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
With the circumstances surrounding the 2021 high school baseball season, players with varsity experience are harder to find than a roll of toilet paper was back in March 2020.
Because last season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams have lost two full graduating classes since they last took the field in 2019. Current juniors and seniors were freshmen and sophomores two years ago — and those players tend to have limited roles.
But when Ava coach Rex Sawyer fills out his first lineup card of the year, he’ll be able to choose from several players who played key roles on the 2019 team that won the SCA with an unbeaten record, added a district title and advanced to the state quarterfinals.
Eight players who would have had starting roles for the Bears in 2020 are back in the fold, including a trio of pitchers who combined to record 10 of Ava’s 18 wins two seasons ago. Five of his likely starters drove in a combined 47 runs in their freshman or sophomore years.
“We are basically a veteran team,” Sawyer said.
Sawyer knows a thing or two about experience, as he’s spent 25 years with the Bears and amassed a 325-199 record. In addition to the eight returning starters, three more Ava players won varsity letters — giving the Bears plenty of firepower in the race for the SCA title.
Ava’s most notable departure is pitcher/outfielder Carter Campbell, who hit .323 and drove in 15 runs en route to a spot on the all-conference and all-district teams. But the senior class is loaded with talent, led by fellow postseason honorees Zack Miller and Bryse Dodson.
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Dodson went 5-1 with a 1.22 ERA as a sophomore and can also play both corner infield positions, though the Bears will be counting him to go deeper into games this year. Miller started at third base, hit .308 and drove in 13 runs but will be asked to pitch more this year.
“I am really looking forward to this season,” Miller said. “We have a great group of guys who love baseball.”
Another key senior will be Zach Mendel, who hit .268 with 11 RBI as a sophomore and was an all-district honorable mention. He has primarily played first base, but is a utility infielder. Classmates Payton Evans and Quntion Donley will be tasked with contributing on the hill.
“We will need great pitching, timely hitting and errorless baseball to be successful,” Sawyer said. “I’ve always told my teams play hard and good things will happen.”
Juniors Andrew Dalton and Zach Richards earned honorable mentions on the all-district team after solid showings as freshmen. Dalton, an outfielder/pitcher, hit .237 and batted in seven runs, he also went 2-1 in limited pitching action. Richards, who played second base and pitched, was 3-1 on the mound with a 1.75 ERA and hit .250 with six RBI.
Classmate Spencer Skyles was another all-conference, all-district selection after he drove in eight runs and hit .297 as a freshman. Sawyer said the center fielder brought “excellent speed” and the team was working on developing him into another arm to use on the mound.
Sawyer said there would be a battle for the starting catching position, with senior Colton Marler and newcomer Reese Adams the top candidates for the job. Marler spent some time behind the plate as a sophomore; Adams is a junior who can also play the outfield.
The coach spoke highly of Adams and fellow newcomers Corey Heinlein, a junior who will challenge for time at shortstop, and Creighton Regennitter, a senior infielder.
“They all have excellent baseball skills and knowledge of the game,” Sawyer said.
Ava opens regular-season play with a home game against Hollister on March 23. With the amount of returning talent the Bears have, they could be playing for a long time this spring.
“Hard work has been an understatement for this team, especially after coming just short of going to (the Final Four) two years ago.” Miller said. “We have a deep roster with a bunch of versatile guys. If all of our hard work and passion prevails, I believe we will be fun to watch.”
