By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
While last season’s cancellations threw baseball programs for a loop, Mansfield head coach Joe Garrison takes solace in the fact that all schools are dealing with the same issues heading into 2021.
“Losing the ’20 spring season was a terrible experience that I pray we don’t have to go through again,” Garrison said. “I hate it most for last year’s seniors who weren’t able to have a senior season. With everyone losing the year of experience the effects are something we all have to deal with in order to catch up to where we want to be.”
Six key Lions graduated from the program including Arly Miller, Hesston Gray, Holden Dennis, Dawson Barnett, Wyatt Kendall and Cade Miller.
Arly Miller (North Arkansas College) and Gray (Jefferson College) will continue their respective baseball careers at the next level this season.
“The senior class of 2020 will be missed here at Mansfield,” Garrison said. “Each of them worked very hard to get where they were and were ready to showcase their abilities. My hope is they work as hard and have great success in their adult lives as well.”
While Mansfield hasn’t played a spring season since 2019, the Lions participate in MSHSAA’s fall season, as well, which has been a huge blessing amidst the Covid-related cancellations, according to Garrison.
“Being able to play a fall season this year was so very crucial to getting back on track,” Garrison said. “The road proved to be a very rocky start; however, we toughened up as we went along and began to compete. We were able to see our areas of strength and areas where we must work harder in.”
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The Lions return six lettermen to the roster and will be led by senior outfielder/pitcher Kile Gray (.295 BA, 8 RBI, 4 SB).
“I look for Kile to make a big impact in all aspects of the game for us this spring,” Garrison said. “Being one of only a couple seniors on the team, his leadership and love for the game is something we will draw from daily.”
Gray will be joined by junior outfielder/pitcher Brayden Barnett (21 IP, 2.33 ERA, .304 BA, 10 RBI, 6 SB), junior catcher Carter Brooke (.263 BA, 11 RBI, 4 SB), junior pitcher/outfielder Dylan Robertson (4.20 ERA, .226 BA, 4 RBI), sophomore pitcher/third baseman Chade Noble (3-0, 1.64 ERA, .350 BA, 10 RBI, 6 SB) and senior outfielder Kyle Buchanan.
Garrison also expects a host of varsity newcomers to step in and compete for playing time this season including Trevor Williams, Jack Grubbs, Madix Gray, Ryin Long, Dylan Henry, London Dennis, Tanner Indendi, Kellar Davis, Kaden Coble, Brock Gray, Carter Garrison and Ashton Pierson.
Mansfield’s fall season allowed the team to develop and identify a solid rotation on the mound, which Garrison hopes will continue to progress throughout the spring, as well.
“Our pitching this fall proved to be our overwhelming team strength,” Garrison said. “Our pitching gave us many chances at winning more games but we simply couldn’t score enough runs. We had five pitchers carry the brunt of the load, and each of them are capable of keeping us in ball games on the varsity level.”
With a promising pitching staff heading into the spring campaign, Garrison is hopeful his team can produce similar results at the plate.
“Our lineup this fall underperformed in my opinion,” Garrison said. “Every day I felt like we were capable of so much more offensively. When as a group you are hitting in only 26.5% of your at-bats, then you are not stringing hits together allowing for very few opportunities to score. I looked — and will be looking — for the best combinations to give us our greatest opportunities to succeed.”
Mansfield opens its season at home March 19 against Strafford.
