By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When a new coach takes the reins of a high school baseball team for the first time, it’s easy for their mind to run through a list of possible scenarios of what they’ll encounter during Year One.
Losing the season to a pandemic was beyond anyone’s imagination.
Yet that’s the situation that Parkview coach Bret Gallion found himself in a year ago. He just had given the Vikings the weekend off after a successful jamboree when he received the news that schools were closing and spring sports were on hold due to growing concerns about COVID-19.
“I thought we were going to lose a week or two,” he said. “I figured we would come up with modifications to procedures and get back out on the field. Obviously, that wasn’t the case.”
But one of the first things Gallion did at Parkview, before the season was called off, was work to instill a culture of choice. The team might not be able to control what happens on the field — or in the world — but players can always choose how they respond. The shutdown was a real-world example of this, albeit an extreme one, and all Parkview could do was adapt and move forward.
Now, a year behind schedule, the Vikings are finally ready to begin the Gallion era.
The Parkview alumnus takes control of a program that went 3-24 overall and 3-6 in the Ozark Conference in 2019, when Gallion was in his eighth year as an assistant coach with the Vikings.
“With last year stripped away, I am looking to have the same focus,” said Gallion, who played college baseball at Drury. “The main focus will be on character and effort both on and off the field. On the field, this translates to maintaining composure and persevering through adversity regardless of the obstacles placed in front of us. Can’t think of a more appropriate focus to the current times. We will be focusing on the process throughout. Working hard in the classroom, during practice and during games; this is a choice every player must make every day.”
CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF THE SPRING SPORTS PREVIEWS
Parkview graduated at least seven total players in the classes of 2019 and 2020, including all-conference honorees Memphys Starks and Zach Young, leaving the Vikings with a roster that is short on varsity experience and depth. Experience will come naturally as the Vikings work through their schedule, but Gallion views adding depth as one of their biggest challenges.
“We have struggled to get numbers up in the program for several years now,” Gallion said. “There are multiple factors that play into this, but a lot can improve with more bodies. Our biggest strength moving forward will be the work ethic we bring to every aspect of the game.”
Parkview’s most experienced returning players include seniors Trenton Viviano and Zane Englind and junior Cabett Altis, who all saw varsity time as sophomores and freshmen.
Viviano went 0-1 with a 1.31 ERA in 2019 and looks to be one of the team’s strongest arms.
“We look for Trenton to assume a player leader role in every aspect of the team this year,” Gallion said. We plan to give him a lot of innings on the mound and fill in at shortstop when he is not pitching.”
Englind, who hit .230 two seasons ago, will be a key bat in Parkview’s lineup, see significant time in the outfield and help on the mound. Altis, who hit .280, will likely be the team’s catcher.
“We look for Cabett to be a foundation of the team behind the plate,” Gallion said. “He is a leader by example who will challenge his teammates to improve through his work ethic.”
Gallion said Parkview’s projected lineup and rotation won’t come into focus until after the team’s first few practices of the season, but he’s expecting senior Daniel Zhogan, junior Hunter Meek, and sophomores Ethan Walker, Delton Orcutt and Trenton Zarechi to make a push for key roles.
“We also have a decent class of freshmen this year and we look for them to step up and challenge our upperclassmen for starting roles,” the coach added.
Parkview opens the season on March 20 in Joplin with games against the Eagles and Hollister.
“Honestly, COVID has changed a lot of things,” Gallion said. “As far as preparedness, we are prepared but it is simply just a completely different situation we find ourselves in this year. I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily more or less prepared. I’m just prepared.”
