By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Sports success happens year-round at Skyline High School.
In baseball, few programs can top Skyline’s recent run.
The Tigers have won three straight district championships, posted 20 or more wins each of those seasons and appeared in two state final fours.
Skyline looks to keep that standard going in 2022 with a new coach at the helm: Gavin Morris. He coached at Walnut Grove High School last season and graduated from Bolivar High School in 2016.
“Skyline has a winning culture, good students and is very competitive in every sport,” Morris said.
Morris faces a big task in Year One at Skyline: Replacing three all-state players.
“We’re going to have to work hard to fill the roles of the guys who graduated,” he said. “But we have guys who have been working very hard this offseason to put up productive numbers for us.”
With a predominantly young roster, Skyline will lean on three seniors to lead the way.
Dawson Pitts will split time at shortstop and pitcher. He hit .361 last season with eight extra-base hits, 19 RBIs and 21 runs. Pitts earned first team all-conference honors as a utility player.
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“Dawson’s quick, agile and should provide us a comfortable presence,” Morris said.
Dawson Owen will guide Skyline’s pitching staff behind the plate. He hit just over .300 last season with 16 RBIs. Owen is also one of Skyline’s most experienced pitchers (3.63 ERA in 27 innings last season).
“Dawson will have to work hard to be a defensive presence for us and consistent for our pitchers,” Morris said.
Kaine Zetner, a 6’5”, 220-pound senior, will compete for playing time at first base and on the mound. He saw action in seven games last season.
Trent Pinon and Clayton Gronniger highlight Skyline’s junior class.
Pinon, who was second team all-conference in 2021, will be Skyline’s top starting pitcher and play the outfield.
As a pitcher last season, Pinon went 5-0 and threw 46 1/3 innings with a 2.26 ERA and 58 strikeouts. He’ll look to improve on his .290 batting average at the plate.
“Trent will be a leader and competitor for us on the mound, at the plate and in the outfield,” Morris said.
Gronniger hit nearly .400 as a part-time starter last season, tallying 12 RBIs and 10 runs.
“Clayton has a good arm and helps solidify our outfield,” Morris said.
Sophomores Cohen Mashburn and Zack Kelley look to make a bigger impact after earning varsity playing time as reserves a year ago.
Mashburn, who hit .321 in 28 plate appearances, is in line to start at third base.
“He has really good hands at third base and at the plate when he’s swinging it,” Morris said.
Kelley’s contending for starting roles in Skyline’s pitching rotation and the infield.
The Tigers finished 21-4 overall last season and won their third straight district championship. They began the season on a 16-game winning streak.
Skyline fell just shy of a third straight final four appearance, falling to Linn in the Class 3 state quarterfinals.
Skyline graduated a stellar four-player senior class, three of which earned all-state honors.
Ty Pinon was an ace pitcher and a premier hitter.
On the mound, he went 10-1 overall with a 1.17 ERA and 115 strikeouts (.681 WHIP). Pinon also hit .435 with five homers, 18 RBIs and a 1.372 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Infielder Zane Kelley hit .444 (1.149 OPS) with 10 extra-base hits and 16 RBIs. Outfielder Nick Williams hit .455 (1.128 OPS) and tallied 17 RBIs and 27 runs.
The Tigers also graduated starting infielder Sam Fillipi, who hit nearly .300 with seven RBIs and eight runs.
Skyline will look for immediate production from a freshmen class that features Dakota Carlisle, Andrew Dougherty, Jayden Moppin and Davin Dahl.
Carlisle brings athleticism to the outfield and will contend there for a starting role. Dougherty and Moppin will compete for innings along the infield and at the plate.
Morris expects defense to be a team strength.
“We should be able to field our positions well and play solid baseball,” he said. “We have a few guys who will be able to start varsity for the first time and we’re hoping they find their role quickly.”
Skyline begins the regular season March 18 at Russellville.
