By Chris Parker
The 2021 spring season has been a longtime coming for Lockwood baseball head coach Adam Grisham after his first season as head coach was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I grew up in Lockwood, I graduated in 2007. I came over as the junior high coach for the 2019 season and was moved up to the varsity job last year. I was finally able to coach the sport I love at my alma mater, and it was crushing when it never happened. So I am excited to get started,” Grisham said. “For my players, they are so ready. We’ve lost some amazing athletes and leaders but a year with no baseball, and just a few scrimmages in the summer they are all really excited to get out there to prove something.”
Senior Dylan Gallup will be the team’s leader as a pitcher, shortstop and first base.
“Dylan is the team’s leader. He’s such a smart baseball player, he knows the game in and out. He can play all the positions in the field as good as anyone and knows how to put the ball in play,” Grisham said. “He will be pitching at Evangel next year. Dylan has a great mound presence. He’s got the velocity and control that should make every batter scared.”
Fellow senior Jamie Kramer will also be looked to for leadership. He is slated to play pitcher and centerfield with some time at shortstop.
“Jamie is a lightning fast athlete that loves the game, and has a great bat. He has the speed that can challenge every catcher,” Grisham said. “Jamie didn’t more than 10 innings his sophomore year, but he will need to step up this year and find his way into the rotation. He’s got great velocity.”
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Juniors Landon Stump and Kane Cooper will also bring experience to Lockwood. Cooper will play the corner infield positions and pitch. Stump will rotate through the outfield and middle infield positions.
“Kane was in Lockwood as a freshman, moved and came back. We are excited to see him out there. He’s a big framed athlete with a rocket for an arm. Landon is a versatile athlete that will rotate in the outfield and middle infield positions,” Grisham said. “Neither has much varsity pitching experience but they will need to step up to help their team. Both have varsity level arms and should translate well to the mound.”
Catcher Elijah Kerr and pitcher/utility Dylan Snider will be two sophomores who will be looked to for big contributions.
“We will rely on both these sophomores to step up this year after not having their freshman year,” Grisham said. “Snider will be thrown into an immediate varsity role on the mound after missing freshman year experience. Snider is calm on the mound and has shown excellent control.”
Freshman Skylar Weimer will be expected to contribute varsity innings right away.
Sophomore Rayder Boyd will play third base. Cody Oeltjen will play right field in his junior year.
“Last year we had a big philosophy change from their previous year. It’s all about doing the tiniest things perfect. Playing catch. We worked hard on that at practice last year, in the summer, and off-season,” Grisham said. “We need kids to step up and take innings on the mound. Gallup is the only pitcher on the roster with varsity experience. He can’t throw them all.”
Lockwood will open the season Mar. 19-23 at the Lamar Tournament.
“The biggest difference I see in this squad from the 2020 and now is youth,” Grisham said. “We have 15-plus players that are freshman, newcomers, or sophomores that didn’t have a freshman season. We are going to be young, but we have great leadership in house with our junior and seniors that are multi-sport athletes and leaders. We may be young but we are not lacking in talent. We lost three pitchers to graduation and pitching depth will be our challenge this year. So we have to have guys step up and take command of some innings, hit spots and control the game. Every pitch, everyone needs to focus on the job they need to do for that pitch. We have to play the game one pitch at a time and do the tiniest things perfect.”
