By Derek Shore (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Neosho baseball improved to 17-14 in 2023, which marked the program’s winningest campaign since the 2015 team went 19-10.
The Wildcats look to continue that upward momentum in 2024 as Bo Helsel embarks on his third season at the helm.
Leading Neosho will be seniors Quenton Hughes (pitcher/shortstop) and Colton Southern (infielder) as well as sophomore Brody Crane (pitcher/utility). Hughes compiled a 3-1 record with a 2.47 ERA on the mound last season and hit .271 with 20 RBI and 15 stolen bases, while Southern batted .279 with a dozen driven in and Crane registered a .311 average with 17 RBI as a freshman.
“Quenton is a three-year letter winner for Neosho,” Helsel said. “He got good experience as a freshman then started at third base both his sophomore and junior seasons. With over 54 innings pitched, he is our top returning pitcher. With his 170 at-bats the last two seasons, he is also our most experienced position player coming into the season. Q will drive in runs, steal bases and make solid contact while hitting in the middle of our lineup.
“Colton started at second base in 2023 and will look to move around to different positions for us this season. Very capable with the glove. We will look to utilize him as a do-it-all utility player for the upcoming season.
“Brody received lots of varsity at-bats as a freshman with great success. His transition to a pitcher this year only helps our program with a legit No. 1 type arm and one of our few with over 60 at-bats of varsity experience.”
Senior Drake Swift (outfielder) and juniors Kanten Smith (catcher/utility), Cade Spiva (utility) and Hudson Williams (infielder/pitcher) round out the Wildcats’ returnees.
“Drake is a senior who saw important at-bats for us late in the 2023 season with some game-saving success,” Helsel said. “He has improved at the plate and as an outfielder but will be invaluable as a leader for the younger guys this year. Kanten is a grinder who will be one of our only three-sport varsity athletes. We are looking for him to help lead our pitching staff as a catcher and be a vocal presence in our infield.
“Cade is a strong kid with big upside in his bat. He saw some innings as a sophomore last year and has a knack for getting on base with a .429 on-base percentage in his varsity at-bats.
Hudson was a part-time player for us as a sophomore, and we are looking at him to expand his role this year. His dedication in the weight room and on his craft should help him become a staple in the infield.”
Neosho’s top newcomers include four juniors in Denver Welch (outfielder/pitcher), Finn Versluis (outfielder/pitcher), Brodie Arthur (outfielder/pitcher) and Liam McInturff (pitcher/third baseman).
“Denver is a tremendous athlete who was our starting running back in the fall,” Helsel said. “He is a competitor and will be fighting for a spot in our pitching and outfield rotation. Finn has the natural skills and ability to become one of the best outfielders our program has seen the last few years.
“Brodie has some big upside as a lefty pitcher and outfielder with great bat-to-ball skills at the plate. He should look to crack the lineup in some capacity this year. Liam was statistically our top JV pitcher last spring and our best overall pitcher in the summer games. We look forward to seeing him compete for a job in the pitching rotation.”
Helsel said his team has what it takes to compete in the ever-challenging Central Ozark Conference. In fact, improving on success in conference play is one of Neosho’s top goals entering this spring.
The Wildcats finished eighth with a 2-7 mark in the league last year.
“We can improve on our conference totals, and I believe a tough 2024 schedule will have us ready to go for conference play,” Helsel said. “Our philosophy at Neosho is to constantly throw strikes and put the ball in play offensively. Strikeouts kill a team in high school baseball, so we want teams to earn their way on base and we want to earn our own way on base offensively. Defense has been a very strong suit for us the past two years, and I don’t expect anything different this year. The conference is a dogfight every year, but I believe we have the talent to compete on the pitching side, defensively and with our bats.”
Neosho plays in the Seneca jamboree with McAuley Catholic and Lamar on March 9. The Wildcats open the season at Bentonville West on March 15.
