By Brock Sisney (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
SENECA — The Seneca Indians return three starters from two seasons ago and they have eight more players (including seven seniors) with varsity experience.
That means the Indians have one of the most experienced teams around for the 2021 season, because there were no spring sports last year due to the COVID pandemic.
“Our strengths are our number of seniors and the experience they have had playing together,” 15-year Seneca head coach Chris Yust said, “and weakness would be the factor of not getting to have a full season to develop and grow together as a team. The players did get to play in games during the summer, including an 8 vs. 8 league and a few tournaments. This group of seniors has done a good job (with leadership) so far. Their attitude and work and willingness to do whatever is needed for the team. Our goals are to compete in every game, getting better each day, and giving ourselves the opportunity to win conference and districts.”
The Indians officially open their 2021 season on Mar. 20 with the Wyandotte (Okla.) Festival and games against Kansas schools Riverton and Columbus. Seneca plays Neosho and Nevada in a jamboree eight days earlier.
“Enjoy and take advantage of every time we get to step on the field,” Yust said. “You never know when it might be the last time. Everyone is excited about being able to return to the field and competing again, especially since we didn’t even get to play in a jamboree last year.”
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Seneca’s returning starters are senior first baseman and pitcher Titus Atkins, senior third baseman and pitcher Lance Stephens, and senior infielder Sebastian Meddick. The eight additional returning varsity lettermen are senior infielder and pitcher Lucas Marrs, senior utility and pitcher Austin Furgerson, senior outfielder and pitcher Treigh Ruark, senior outfielder and pitcher Drew Sampson, senior outfielder Alex Stephens, senior infielder and pitcher Calvin DePriest, and junior catcher and pitcher Tanner Nesvold.
Yust said that four sophomore players have a chance to crack the varsity lineup — outfielder Conner Ackerson, utility and pitcher Cooper Long, utility and pitcher Lincoln Renfro, and outfielder and pitcher Cade Galindo.
The left-handed batting and right-handed throwing Atkins signed with NAIA school College of the Ozarks in the early signing period in November.
“It’s been on my mind for a long time,” Atkins told reporters. “Where am I going to play? What’s going to happen? Am I even going to make it to the next level? Signing that dotted line, it’s going to set in stone where I’m going to be playing for the next four years. I went to a camp there, and it just happened to be a perfect place. Coach (Neale) Richardson and the atmosphere around it. I knew it was home for the next four years.”
Atkins and the other returning Indian players contributed to Seneca’s 14-12 season in 2019, the Indians’ first winning season since the 22-5 district championship team in 2013.
The Indians step outside the Big 8 for games against Purdy, Skyline, Diamond, Carl Junction, and Neosho. They also play in tournaments hosted by Cassville and Carthage.
