By Chris Parker
Salem baseball will look for some new players to step up with just one full-time starter and four lettermen returning from last season’s 12-win team.
“This spring will be one with lots of questions,” Salem head coach Tony Edwards said. “We graduated eight seniors last season and those players will be greatly missed. Last spring we finished 12-9-1 and 6-1 in the SCA for a back-to-back co-championship. We will have huge shoes to fill this year as we lost every starting position in our lineup, except catcher Sylis DuBois, to graduation.”
Dubois, Hayden Ragsdale (senior), Dannon Berry (senior) and Kahne Barred (sophomore) are the returning varsity players.
Edwards on Dubois: “Sylis DuBois will take on the catching duties once again for us as a junior this spring. Sylis is a very versatile athlete. He could play multiple positions for us the season but his best attribute to this program will be behind the plate. Sylis is athletic and works extremely hard at his position. We are excited to see Sylis become one of our team leaders this season.”
Edwards on Ragsdale: “Hayden Ragsdale will return for his senior year, and we will be a key part to our pitching rotation. Hayden has a very strong arm but control is always been something he has been working to improve. We are hoping Hayden will be that pitcher for us that finds his control and develops those off-speed pitches to benefit his arsenal.”
Edwards on Berry: “Dannon will return for his senior season and be another key addition to the pitching rotation. Dannon has a unique delivery and can spot his pitches quite nicely. We will hope he continues to improve his pitches come this spring.”
Edwards on Barred: “Kahne will look to be our starting shortstop and pitch for us this season. Although he does have some varsity experience last year as a freshman, he does have a good glove and works hard on his fundamentals. Kahne had a few struggles last season at the plate with contact so that will be our primary focus for him this upcoming season.”
Ryan Halinar (junior), Brent Halinar (junior), Luke Christesen (sophomore), Wayne Skidmore (junior), Maison Sanders (sophomore) and Cody Lundy (junior) will be newcomers to watch.
Salem opens the season on Mar. 21 with a home doubleheader.
“This will definitely be a rebuild type season for Salem, but one we will work extremely hard towards building as the season progresses,” Edwards said. “This season’s group of players are hard workers, very coachable and will be eager to rise to the challenge.”
