By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
A new face will patrol the Buffalo dugout this season, as Aaron Alexander takes over the program.
After finishing with a single win in each of the past two seasons, Alexander will look to provide stability and player development for the Bison.
“My expectations and goals have been to win 10+ games this season,” Alexander said. “I think if this group of boys buys into the change and demands more of themselves as well as their teammates, they can rise to the bar that I’ve set for them. My goals for this group have little to do with districts and everything to do with building a winning mentality, seeing personal growth and building better young men.”
Buffalo returns seven players to its lineup this season, including junior all-conference shortstop/pitcher Isaiah Young, sophomore utility/pitcher Paxton Weaver, junior infielder Bryce Blakenship, junior infielder/pitcher Waylon Claunch, junior outfielder Brenden McGregor, junior CIP Tylar Jones and sophomore pitcher/infielder Liam Redd.
Alexander on Young: “Isaiah is the best athlete in Buffalo according to many of his peers. He’s definitely the best hitter on the team and I hope to see him become a dominant force on the mound. His ability to lead with a positive mindset as well as his work ethic will be a big factor in our success. Isaiah has the tools to be a college level baseball player and his ceiling is as high as he is willing to reach.
Alexander on Weaver: “Paxton will take the majority of the catching duties this year and likely be our ace on the mound. Paxton is bought in 100 percent and is quickly emerging as a leader of this young group. He’s a fantastic athlete and has all the tools to be a college level baseball player.”
Alexander on Blakenship: “Bryce set the school record for hit-by-pitch last season and that mental and physical toughness is what sets him apart. Having an upper classman that can bring that tough guy mentality to a young group is a huge asset. Physically I think he’s the strongest kid on the team and has the ability to be a big bat for us.”
Alexander on Claunch: “Waylon has the best music taste on the team hands down. As a baseball player he has the natural ability to be really good at the game of baseball, he just has to decide on how hard he is willing to work. I think Waylon could be a force on the mound for the Bison for the next two years.”
Alexander on McGregor: “‘Bit’ is a good athlete that really helps keep the mood light and fun. He had a tough 2025 season but is already making adjustments and putting in the work to turn that around. It’s early to tell but I hope to see him really own the outfield for us on defense.”
Alexander on Jones: “Tylar is a kid that is definitely dedicated to getting better. He showed up to every offseason practice and shows promise as a leader for this young group. If he learns the ins and outs of being a vocal leader, he will absolutely be an asset to this group.”
Alexander on Redd: “Liam is a kid that absolutely loves baseball and has the dedication to show up day after day. I think he will pitch against many of the tougher teams we play and use his ability of deception to generate a lot of weak contact.”
Alexander also believes a host of varsity newcomers could step in and compete for innings this season, including freshman Eli Marsala, freshman Paul Jones, freshman Cameron Bennett, freshman Ty Earls, freshman Levi Popejoy and junior Isaac Jones.
Alexander on Marsala: “Eli comes to us this year and shows that he can make an immediate impact in the lineup. His eye-hand coordination and quick athleticism shows that physically he can play this game. I think he is an immediate impact guy at the varsity level. Eli grew up playing highly competitive travel ball and his father, Paul, holds many records at Buffalo. As a legacy player, I’m excited to see how he steps up.”
Alexander on Paul Jones: “Paul is another freshman that shows very high promise. His love for the game doesn’t go unnoticed and he hates losing. I think he’s got the physical and mental tools to make an impact immediately but will have to beat some guys and prove he’s ready.”
Alexander on Bennett: “Cameron, although not super physical yet, shows that he has a good level of baseball IQ and I think will be a great player as he grows older. I see him doing some catching at the varsity level and being a leader on the JV.”
Alexander on Earls: “Ty is another freshman with a bright future. I see him handling the majority of JV innings behind the plate and if his bat shows promise, he could find himself in a varsity role.”
Alexander on Popejoy: “Levi is a kid I am very excited to see on the mound. He has a whippy arm, and I think will pitch some varsity innings this year. He is very athletic and I hope to see him emerge as a leader on the JV infield.”
Alexander on Isaac Jones: “Isaac is Paul’s older brother and after a couple years away from baseball after an accident, he is reigniting his love of the game. Isaac grew up playing competitive baseball and after 2 years away, has shown he still has tools that will help this team win ball games. I’m excited to watch him find the level of success he was accustomed to and spread that energy amongst his teammates.”
Heading into his rookie season, Alexander is determined to put his stamp on a program desperate to find success and improvement.
“Our biggest strength is that we are young and hungry,” Alexander said. “There hasn’t been any success recently, so these boys have a prime opportunity to decide how they are viewed in the community and on the ball field. I love being an underdog, it always gives an opportunity to play with a chip on your shoulder because there is nothing to lose.”
On the mound, Buffalo will look to Weaver to anchor a young and relatively inexperienced staff of arms.
“Our pitching, like our team, will be young,” Alexander said. “I don’t see many guys pitching deep into games and, instead, we will be using an ‘all hands on deck’ approach. We have one guy in Paxton Weaver who I believe will be our ace and will have to be the dude when it comes to winning games.”
At the plate, Alexander believes his team will be a work in progress as the season progresses and players adjust to their roles and spots in the lineup.
“Like many young teams, the lineup is tough to predict,” Alexander said. “While there are several kids with good attributes, hitting is the toughest thing to do in sports. Seeing how this young group handles adversity and handles the mental aspect of the game will be what makes or breaks our ability to score runs.”
While Buffalo requires considerable development to achieve its goals, Alexander believes the pieces are in place to build a foundation for the program and learn the tools to become consistent and competitive throughout the season.
“We need to improve in every aspect of the game and quickly,” Alexander said. “Being young is an awesome opportunity for the future, but in a world that demands instant gratification; we will need to out work everybody to even be close to where we want when the season wraps up. Myself and Coach Overton are going to bring an energy and level of relentless effort that these boys are not used to. The way they respond will not only set up their high school careers, but also reflect who they are as men.
“The biggest X-factor is we are on nobody’s radar,” Alexander said. “Baseball is a funny game that the most talented team doesn’t always win. Anybody on the right day can be beaten and if we just do our jobs every pitch, we may just be that team that upsets somebody when it matters most.
Following a March 13 jamboree at Miller, Buffalo opens its season March 20 at Wheatland.
