By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
2023 proved to be a successful year for Forsyth baseball.
The Panthers posted a 20-8 record, falling to Licking in the Class 3 state sectional round.
“We had a very successful year,” head coach Byron Richardson said. “We tied for first in the Mid-Lakes Conference with Skyline, and we were able to win our district. In districts we beat Strafford 6-5 and then defeated Clever in the championship 9-4 with a late comeback. In sectionals we played Licking and lost 0-11 to the eventual Class 3 state champs.”
If Forsyth is to continue building on that success, Richardson must find replacements for a talented graduated class, including all-state honoree Aaron Gross.
“Aaron was a great leader,” Richardson said. “He was an absolute competitor on the mound, and always gave us a chance to win the game. It will be tough to replace his toughness on the mound and behind the plate.”
Stockton’s baseball team has been no stranger to the postseason, with the Tigers having won six district titles in eight seasons. Last year’s 22-5 campaign ended in the quarterfinals against Licking, the eventual Class 3 champion.
From that team, Stockton graduated players like Wyatt Downs, an honorable mention All-State outfielder who was first team in the Southwest Conference, and Cade Mehl, an honorable mention All-Conference pitcher. Downs clubbed a team-high 12 doubles and five triples and was second on the team with 34 runs scored and Mehl pitched 18.2 innings with a 3-0 record and 21 strikeouts.
As the Tigers hope for another shot at postseason play this spring, they return seven players with starting experience from last year’s team, including several who earned postseason honors. But head coach Darin Henderson said this year’s team might still look a little different.
“You think you have an idea of what’s going to happen and almost always it changes on you and goes in a different direction, but I think we’ve got a chance to really score some runs and hit the ball well,” he said. “Typically, we’re a pitching and defense team but I really think we have the opportunity to put some runs on the board, which is a little different mindset for us. That’s kind of the direction I think we’ll excel in.”
The two seniors this spring are Kolten Goodman, who played third base last season and will play first or third this year; and Sayge Painter, a move-in last spring who earned the job at second base. Goodman, a first team All-Conference utility/DH, batted. 367 with six doubles and a triple and drove in 26 runs while scoring 20. He was a perfect 11-for-11 on steals. Painter, a second team All-Conference infielder, was a .375 hitter with three doubles and a triple, 13 RBI’s and 28 runs scored. He stole 15 bases.
This year’s junior class is highlighted by a pair of All-State performers in catcher Cale Johnson (1st team) and DH/utility player Easton Hubbard (2nd team). Johnson started every game as a freshman, and as a sophomore he batted .481 with an OPS of 1.198; he led the team in hits (38), runs (41), walks (22) and tied for the lead with 23 steals. He was second on the team with 29 runs driven in.
“He’s really good defensively and he’s got great bat to ball skills,” Henderson said. “He doesn’t strike out a lot. He’s a top of the order guy who gets us going.”
Hubbard, the team’s shortstop and top pitcher, is a “really athletic, hard-working kid” who batted .402 with an OPS of 1.075 and was second in hits (35) with seven doubles and two home runs. He led the team with 39 RBI’s, was third with 33 runs scored, and tied for the lead with 23 stolen bases.
Other returning juniors include Preston Rains, a middle-of-the-order hitter and another pitcher. He was a .365 hitter (1.051 OPS) who also hit seven doubles, drove in 23, scored 26 runs, drew 21 walks and stole 18 bases. He figures to move around in the field when he’s not pitching. Jack Rickman started in left field last year and will move to center this year, in addition to pitching. He scored 29 runs, hit two triples and stole 16 bases while batting .269. And Layne Cahill was a spot starter who appeared in 12 games and will likely take over in right field; he batted .333 last season.
Varsity newcomers like juniors Bowen Bird and Chris Rogers will also be competing for an outfield spot.
Sophomore Colter Woods returns after playing as a utility guy last spring and seeing time at second, short and third. His role will increase this spring, and he should see more time at shortstop. And freshmen like Trevor Swaggerty, Wesston Garver and Justus King will be pushing for varsity time.
“We don’t know who’s going to fill our left field spot right now,” Henderson said. “It could be a couple of those freshmen, a couple of those juniors. Other than that, I think we’ve got a pretty good idea who’s going to be out there. They’ll probably move around a little bit. There’s going to be a lot of competition for that spot, though. Our young kids are good, too. We’re going to have competition to keep your spot and stay there.”
Henderson said the team’s pitching staff should have at least six or seven players who can compete at the varsity level. Hubbard is by far the most experienced of the group; he threw 58 of the team’s 162 innings and finished 8-2 with a 1.69 ERA with 95 strikeouts to 19 walks. Rains was second on the team with 25.1 innings pitched and he went 4-1 with 32 strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA. Rickman is a left-handed pitcher who pitched five innings, Cahill is another lefty who pitched 12.1 innings with 22 strikeouts, and Goodman is a righty who pitched 21.1 innings with 22 strikeouts.
Stockton has added several quality opponents to its schedule, including Class 4 schools Blair Oaks and Fatima, and the Tigers will play in the Lebanon/Camdenton Wood Bat Tournament in April.
“We’re trying to beef up our schedule now that we have some arms to compete with some of those guys,” Henderson said. “Hopefully to get us more prepared to make a run at the end of the year.”
Stockton will host a March 9 jamboree with Weaubleau, El Dorado Springs and Lockwood. The regular season begins March 16 with the Stockton Tournament.
