By Chris Parker
Licking baseball is looking for a fourth consecutive district title coming off a 22-9 season with five starters returning.
If the Wildcats are to make it four district titles in a row, pitching and defense will be at the forefront.
“Pitching and defense are our calling cards,” Licking head coach Cole Roark said. “We fielded .955 this fall through 24 games. Our staff ERA was 2.24. We force teams to earn their way on base and do a good job of limiting extra bases. Another strength will be our schedule, which is loaded with larger schools and we play often. By the time we get to district play, we should know a lot about ourselves.”
That stout pitching staff features Isaac Rinne (senior), Conway Adey (junior), Trent Wood (sophomore) and Isaac Running Horse (sophomore).
Wood was 7-0 in the fall with a 0.61 ERA and a WHIP of .786.
Jason Ingram (sophomore) will handle the catching duties. He hit .443 with six doubles and two home runs in the fall.
The infield lineup will feature Colin Kuhn (sophomore first base), Easton Stoops (sophomore second base), Karson Walker (senior third base) and Logan Buckner (sophomore third base).
In the outfield, look for Adey in left field, Jett Sullins (sophomore in centerfield) and sophomores Parker Huff and Wood in right field.
Roark expects Walker and Ingram to shoulder leadership duties.
Roark on Walker: “Karson Walker is our primary senior leader. He is our shortstop and hits leadoff. Karson has been part of a state championship in 2023, a Final Four appearance in 2024, and a district title in 2025. He has had a role to play since his freshman year and is a steady presence at shortstop. Additionally, he is our lone returning All-State player from last year. He may have a legitimate shot to break the single season stolen bases record this spring.”
Walker had 33 stolen bases and a 100% success rate.
Roark on Ingram: “Jason Ingram is a young leader, but he had a great freshman campaign last spring and a strong fall season this year. Jason is talented behind the plate, but also at it. He will look to continue to improve his power numbers this spring, and will hit in the heart of the lineup.”
Adey, Wood and Stoops have been among the most improved players.
“Conway Adey has grown tremendously as an offensive threat and has taken on a larger load on the mound. Trent Wood took the opportunity this fall to become a regular starting pitcher and posted a sub-1 ERA after limited varsity experience last year as a freshman. Easton Stoops had virtually zero varsity experience prior to the fall, where he earned the second base job as he was part of 12 double plays,” Roark said.
Licking opens its challenging schedule with a trip to Logan-Rogersville on Mar. 19 to open the season.
“I want us to be relentless, almost machine-like. Our players have seen success in the program in recent years, and we want to continue to build on that tradition. If each of us does our job, it will be very hard for the other team to beat us,” Roark said. “I expect to be competitive at the district level. Class 3 can be very tough, so first and foremost we need to find a way to win a district, which is no easy feat. We want to get to the Final Four.”
