By Chad Hayworth (for OzarksSportsZone.com)
A trio of pitchers destined to play at the next level will anchor a Seneca Indian staff expected to be one of the best in the region in 2026.
Seniors Drew Sherwood and Ian Heffren, along with junior Jagger Wilson, figure to take most of the starts for the Indians this spring. But that doesn’t mean coach Chris Yust isn’t looking for other arms to fill in as needed.
“You can never have too much pitching,” he said. “We consider everyone who comes into the program a potential pitcher. Everyone gets a chance to throw and develop.”
Sherwood and Wilson both amassed an 8-2 record last season, with Wilson adding a three saves. Sherwood, who has signed to play next year at Conners State University in Oklahoma, had a 1.48 ERA, while also batting .409 and swiping 29 bases.
Wilson, who is committed to the University of Oklahoma, had a 1.17 ERA, while batting .333 and also stealing 29 bases.
Heffren, who’s signed with Frontier Community College in Illinois, led the team in relief appearances in 20205, going 1-2 with a pair of saves and a 2.82 ERA.
“We need to find a fourth starter and a guy that can come in off the bench and finish games,” Yust said.
Junior Silas Ball will handle the catching duties, after starting every game a season ago. Ball hit .347 with 20 RBI as a sophomore.
But his biggest contribution could well be handling a staff built around college-level talent.
“It’s not easy to receive a top-end guy with movement and velocity on the ball if you aren’t used to it,” Yust said. “Silas does a great job handling a tough assignment.”
Defensively, the Indians will be solid up the middle, with Wilson playing short stop when he’s not on the mound and Sherwood patrolling center field when he’s not pitching.
Sophomore Asher Prater figures to be the odds-on favorite to take over at first base, after a freshman year backing up four-year starter Hagen Ginger.
“There is going to be opportunity for some young guys to play bigger roles for us,” Yust said. “We have to figure out who is going to take those corner outfield spots and play second and third.”
Senior catcher/pitcher Logan Pennington, juniors Remington Albrecht and Ryder Owens, along with sophomores Jaxon Yoakam, Paxtyn Ray, Blake McKinney and Carson Curtis will all be in the mix for new or expanded varsity roles this spring, Yust said.
And there is a group of freshmen expected to come out for baseball that are getting varsity playing time during basketball season, a baptism by fire that Yust expects will put them ahead of the normal first-year curve.
“The cupboard is not bare,” he said.
The Indians finished 21-10 a year ago, defeating East Newton 8-0 and Aurora 7-2 en route to winning the Class 4, District 11 title, their first district crown since 2021.
“Our pitching gives us a chance every time we go out there,” Yust said. “We want to be a team that is tough to get past.”
