By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Galena baseball enjoyed a successful run in 2022.
The Bears finished with an 18-5 record, falling to Purdy in the district semifinal.
Head coach Derwin McGownd was pleased with his team’s focus and drive throughout the season.
“Last year’s team was one of the better teams that I have had at Galena,” McGownd said. “We had five seniors that played the game with intent and purpose.”
With Galena’s graduated seniors moved on, a new quartet of varsity returnees steps into leadership roles in Chase Robertson, Wyatt Doak, Bryce Wall and Garret Lewallen.
Robertson, a junior catcher, finished with a .367 average and 24 runs batted in last season. He received both all-conference and all-district honors.
“Chase will be the leader of this year’s team,” McGownd said. “He will be the player with the most experience, and we will look to him to play several spots defensively. He will also be our 3- or 4-hole hitter.”
Doak, a sophomore outfielder and pitcher, recorded a .298 average with 24 runs batted in during an all-conference freshman season.
“Wyatt will step into the outfield as our center fielder,” McGownd said. “He will also need to fill the role of a starting pitcher. He has worked hard in the off season on his control and speed.”
Wall, a sophomore catcher, posted a .256 average with 14 runs batted in last season.
“Bryce will be our catcher this year,” McGownd said. “He will have to control the running game and learn to call the game for our young pitching staff.”
Lewallen, a junior infielder, finished with a .180 average and 13 runs batted in last season.
“Garret will be our returning third baseman,” McGownd said. “He had been away from the game for a couple of years but last year saw his hard work begin to pay off at the end of the year. We will look for him to continue the progress.”
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McGownd also expects a host of varsity newcomers to compete for playing time this season including sophomore outfielder/pitcher Lincoln Hickman, sophomore outfielder/pitcher Austin Baker, sophomore infielder Blake Wall, senior designated hitter/outfielder Cooper Sartin, junior infielder Tray Murphy, senior infielder Brayden Sartin and senior infielder/designated hitter Nathan Dinger.
“This year’s team will be a very young and inexperienced team,” McGownd said. “We will have to rely on the few upperclassmen that we have playing to try and lead us through the season.”
With Galena’s youth extending to the mound, as well, the Bears will rely on a pair of experienced arms to anchor the staff.
“The pitching staff will be young with only Chase Robertson and Wyatt Doak having any varsity experience,” McGownd said. “Last year’s team, at this time, was already able to go out and compete at a high level from our first game on. This year we are just going to have to see how our arms develop and our bat swings come along so we can see where we need to improve.
“We will have several sophomores and freshmen that will have to give us innings and our success will be dependent on their willingness to learn and make adjustments when asked to.”
At the plate, Galena will look to quickly develop consistency as players learn and settle into their respective roles this season. Early on, McGown expects that development to be a work in progress.
“To be honest, our lineup will be ever changing until we can prove that we are able to hit and produce at the varsity level,” McGownd said. “Our challenge will be our youth and inexperience and how we handle the grind of the season. I feel that we should be able to compete at the varsity level.”
Following a March 10 home jamboree with Hurley and Blue Eye, Galena will host Wheaton on March 17 to open the regular season.
