By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Hartville baseball notched a successful campaign in 2021.
The Eagles posted a gaudy 22-5 record, falling to Forsyth in the district championship.
Head coach Clint Horn was pleased with his team’s effort and development throughout the season.
“Last year was a team with high expectations and fell just short,” Horn said. “We had a solid nucleus of upperclassmen and younger guys and just competed everyday.”
A trio of talented graduates are set to continue their respective collegiate careers this season, including Eli Cook (Evangel University), Ryce Piper (Drury University basketball) and Braden Branstetter (Baptist Bible College basketball).
All three players were all-district and all-conference selections, while Cook also earned all-state honors.
“Our three seniors all were four-year starters and one of the better classes to come through our program in recent memory,” Horn said. “They competed every day and were great leaders. They showed everyone how to go about their business and left a huge staple on our program with expectations and work ethic.”
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Despite the graduation losses, the Hartville cupboard is far from barren.
Junior pitcher/first baseman Brody McNiel (.394 BA, 38 RBI, 7 SB, 3-1, 0.56 ERA) returns to lead the Eagles this season.
The 6-foot-3 McNiel earned all-state, all-conference and all-district honors in 2021.
“One of the top players in the area and a Missouri State Bear commit,” Horn said of McNeil. “He will be our go to guy on the mound and hit at the top of the order – he will lead us.”
McNiel will be joined by returning seniors Eric Wilson, Justin Parker (.197 BA, 11 RBI, 6 SB, 3-1-3, 1.05 ERA), Isaac Boyer (.225 BA, 9 RBI, 11 SB) and Hunter Lowery (.164 BA, 7 RBI, 3 SB, 4-0-1, 1.75 ERA).
Wilson, a 6-foot utility player, missed most of the 2021 season due to injury.
“Eric is a senior that has played all over the diamond for us,” Horn said. “He was injured last year early in the season and worked his way back this fall. He will be our leadoff hitter and play multiple spots defensively.”
Parker, a 6-foot pitcher/infielder, earned all-conference honors last season.
“Justin will be our No. 2 arm and play shortstop when not pitching,” Horn said. “He will eat up lots of innings on the mound and be a middle-of-the-order bat.”
Boyer, a 5-foot-10 outfielder, will help set the tone for the Eagles on the basepaths and in the outfield.
“Isaac is one of the fastest players I have coached,” Horn said “He is a great defensive center fielder and has high upside with his speed, offensively.”
Lowery, a 5-foot-11 pitcher/infielder, will once again assume a prominent role with the pitching staff.
“Hunter will man a middle infield spot when not pitching and will be one of our top arms,” Horn said.
Sophomores Grant Culver and Kolton Cogdill also return for the Eagles.
“Grant started as a freshman in the outfield and will be our utility man depending upon who is pitching,” Horn said. “Kolton was a starter in the outfield last year and is expected to take over the catching position.”
Hartville also welcomes a host of varsity newcomers this season, including junior Ethan McDaris, junior Dakota Stigall, freshman Hunter Delcour, sophomore Jalon Cryer and sophomore Archer McDaris.
“This group is very athletic,” Horn said. “We won’t have a lot of power but our speed will hopefully make up for that. We expect our pitching and defense to carry us and find a way to string a few big innings together.”
With plenty of returning experience on the mound, Horn believes it will definitely be a team strength heading into the spring campaign.
“If our pitching can stay healthy, we feel like we have a shot,” Horn said. “We have two left-handed starters and three righties who will eat up most of our innings. They throw strikes well and will give us a chance to compete without allowing a lot of free passes to hitters.”
Hartville opens up its season March 19 in the Purdy Tournament.
