By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
A new face will patrol the Carl Junction dugout this season, as former Hillcrest assistant Brant Schaffitzel takes over.
Schaffitzel inherits a Bulldog program that went 24-10 last season before falling to Webb City in the district championship.
“Last year was another step forward for the Carl Junction baseball program,” Schaffitzel said. “2025 was a really successful season, even though it did not end how we wanted it to. I believe that the district championship result has lived in the mind of these seniors, as they have attacked their final offseason of high school baseball with additional motivation.”
A trio of all-state honorees return to lead Carl Junction this season in Brody Pant, Cooper Vediz and Deacon Endicott.
Pant, a senior infielder and pitcher, hit .406 last season with 2 home runs, 24 RBI and 21 stolen bases. On the mound, he compiled a 2-2-2 record with a 2.51 ERA.
“Brody brings great experience and leadership to our team this season,” Schaffitzel said. “He has put together a storied career at CJ, and we look forward to seeing him build on that legacy in his senior year. He is committed to play at Pittsburg State University next year.”
Vediz, a pitcher and infielder, hit .398 last season with 24 RBI and 9 stolen bases. On the mound, he finished with a 5-1 record and a 1.58 ERA.
“Cooper has been a staple in the CJ program for all four years,” Schaffitzel said. “He can impact the game in all three phases, and we are planning on Cooper having a big senior season while leading our program to new heights. He will have the opportunity to play college baseball next year.”
Endicott, a senior pitcher and first baseman, hit .327 last season with 1 home run, 26 RBI and 7 stolen bases. His pitching record was 7-1 with a 2.08 ERA.
“Deacon has been an impact player both on the mound and at the plate for four years,” Schaffitzel said. “Deacon should be one of the best arms in the area this spring, and we are excited to lean on his success both on the mound and at the plate this spring. He is committed to play at Pittsburg State University next year.”
Classmates Brayden Larery and Craig Hayes also return as starters for the Bulldogs.
Larery, a senior pitcher and outfielder, hit .380 as a junior with 21 RBI and 4 stolen bases. He recorded a 3-6-1 record on the mound with a 5.44 ERA.
“Brayden is a left-handed outfielder and pitcher that has had great success in both areas,” Schaffitzel said. “You will be hard pressed to find someone that plays harder than Brayden, and we look forward to a big senior season for him. He is committed to play at Allen County next year.”
Hayes, an infielder, hit .262 as a junior with 11 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He compiled a 1-0-2 pitching record with a 1.56 ERA.
“Craig is one of the best defenders I have coached at shortstop,” Schaffitzel said. “An injury slowed down an awesome start to his junior year, but we are excited to have a healthy Craig back as an x-factor for us during his senior year. He will have the opportunity to play college baseball next year.”
Catcher Logan Haynes, outfielder Caleb Barnard and infielder/pitcher Aidan Spencer round out Carl Junction’s returning senior class.
Schaffitzel on Haynes: “Logan is a talented player that will have the chance to impact each game both offensively and defensively at the catcher position. He had a great summer, and we look forward to an awesome senior year.”
Schaffitzel on Barnard: “Caleb is an athletic player that will compete to start full-time in the outfield this year. He has a lot of tools, and we are excited to see it come together for an awesome senior year.”
Schaffitzel on Spencer: “Aidan has continued to get better and better this offseason. We are excited to see his hard work pay off with a great senior year, both at the plate and on the mound. He is committed to play at Neosho County next year.”
Schaffitzel also expects a host of varsity newcomers to compete for innings this season in Cole Beezley, Kade Kelso, Thomas Hull, Axeton Davenport, Weston Carmean, Blayne Fleming, Burke Diskin, Tyson Massey, Caleb Taylor, Owin Walker, Tadem Jones and Nolan Bronson.
“I am incredibly excited about the 2026 team,” Schaffitzel said. “We have a lot of experienced players back, and I am lucky to get to coach this group. We will be led by our senior class, which has achieved a ton of success so far in their high school careers. The one thing they have not yet achieved is a district championship, and I know that is their first goal going into 2026.”
Pant, Vediz and Endicott will anchor a deep and talented pitching staff for the Bulldogs.
“Our pitching staff will be our biggest strength for this year,” Schaffitzel said. “We have six returning lettermen on the mound, and we will need that depth to get us through some five-to-six game weeks. We will need to throw strikes to keep pitch counts down and stay in the game as long as possible. We hope that a solid pitching staff will keep us in every game and give our offense a chance to do enough to be successful each time out.”
At the plate, Schaffitzel believes Carl Junction’s returning experience and versatility will help it execute in big situations this season.
“We plan to have on-base guys leading us at the top of the lineup, some power in the middle of the lineup to drive runs in and guys that can execute and flip the lineup at the bottom,” Schaffitzel said. “We will need to focus on putting the ball in play and scoring runners in key situations if we want to be successful offensively this year.”
If Carl Junction’s strong senior class is to make good on its preseason district title goal, Schaffitzel believes experience and chemistry will play vital roles.
“We have a lot of kids that have played together for a really long time,” Schaffitzel said. “I know that they have common goals for this season, and this is the last run at those goals for many of them. The experience and years of work together will guide this team in the right direction to have the most successful season possible.”
Following a home jamboree, Carl Junction opens its season March 19 at Webb City in a 2025 district championship rematch.
