By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
It’ll be a season of change for the West Plains baseball program.
Gone is the 10-member Class of 2024 who led the Zizzers to their best season in recent memory, one that began with a 17-game win streak en route to a 24-5 overall record.
While there are plenty of new faces – as many as 12 newcomers could crack the varsity lineup – and emerging rivalries as the Zizzers move to the Ozark Mountain Conference, coach James Sharp emphasized that expectations aren’t changing.
“Our team will look completely different this year, but our goals are always the same,” Sharp said. “We want to compete every day and give ourselves a chance to win a district championship, something that has not been done here in a very long time.”
And while last year’s Zizzers were celebrated for their bats – they averaged 8.7 runs per game – three of its top pitchers were underclassmen. As the team searches for new forces to emerge at the plate, they’ll rely on the arms of Hunter Roberts, Ethan Tuma and Landon Montgomery, who went a combined 14-4.
“Pitching will be our strong suit this year with our top three arms coming back from last year,” Montgomery said. “I am excited to become one of the leaders of this team and show the younger guys how we do things at Zizzer baseball.”
Montgomery, a junior, finished 3-0 in an injury-plagued season that limited him to just 20 innings pitched. But he didn’t allow an earned run during that time, earning him a place on the all-conference team. His bat has also improved considerably since his sophomore season.
“After a good summer we believe he will have a great spring,” Sharp said. “We are hoping to see him somewhere in the middle of our lineup this season.”
Roberts, a senior, earned all-conference and all-district honors after going 8-1 with a 2.50 earned-run average. The Zizzers expect him to move to shortstop when he’s not pitching — and anticipate he’ll also improve on his .389 batting average.
“Hunter had a great year for us last year,” Sharp said. “Offensively, he was a great on base guy and put pressure on the defense. He started to swing with a little more authority towards the end of the season.”
Tuma, a senior, is the team’s top returning hitter. He batted .407 while playing left field last season, and also went a commendable 3-3 as a pitcher. Those numbers earned him a spot on the all-conference team.
“We expect him to have a huge year on the mound for us this season,” Sharp said. “He had some of the toughest starts throughout the season last year and always competes. Ethan will be a big part of our success this season.”
The only other returning player with significant varsity experience is junior Ethan Miller, who stole six bases and scored 24 runs. He’ll become an even bigger part of the team this year.
“Ethan was a fill-in infielder last year and did a great job defensively,” Sharp said. “He also was also our go–to baserunner.”
Junior Keenan Holloway is one of the most notable additions to the West Plains lineup.
“Keenan could be a big part of our team this year,” Sharp said. “He has put on some muscle and is moving better. He will be trying to solidify a spot for himself in the lineup, but could see himself catching, playing first base or possibly third. He also has good command and might throw a few varsity innings as well.”
Seniors Hoyt Wisebrod, Avery Miller and Isaiah Jones, juniors Josiah Long and Zeke Cunningham and sophomores Kamden Ernst, Sawyer Reid, Tayt Duggins, Ean Cunningham and Cole Talburt are all potential newcomers who can see the field for the Zizzers.
“This year will be fun,” Sharp said. “There are a lot of guys that have been waiting to see the field for a couple years and it will be interesting to see which ones come out and earn those vacated spots.”
Sharp is also intrigued by the program’s move to the OMC, especially at this point.
The Zizzers, Logan-Rogersville (26), Branson (26) and Marshfield (23) all won at least 23 games last season, meaning the majority of the conference’s founding members are coming off strong years. And the Pirates ended West Plains’ season in the district semifinals.
“It will be interesting to see how the conference shakes out,” Sharp said.
West Plains will host Ava and Mountain Grove for a March 17 jamboree. The Zizzers will open the regular season at the Harrison (Arkansas) Tournament on March 21.
“We will strive to compete at the plate, put pressure on the defense, throw strikes and make the routine plays,” Sharp said. “If we can do those things consistently, we will win quite a few games.”
