By Chris Parker
Mansfield is poised for a big season with seven starters and eight lettermen returning this season.
The Lions won nine games last spring but had a strong fall season with an 11-6 record.
“I really can’t single out any one player that has improved the most,” Mansfield head coach Joe Garrison said. “As a unit, we showed many signs of getting better this fall, and we realize that there are several aspects of our game that we can still improve on to become a really tough team. The potential is there and we are ‘All In’ to get there.”
Seniors John Roberts (1B) and Bryston Kingery (P/SS) will lead the team. Roberts had a .344 on-base percentage with 3 doubles and 12 RBI in the fall. Kingery contributed a .433 batting average with a home run and 18 RBI.
“Our seniors John Roberts and Bryston Kingery are the team leaders for the Lions,” Garrison said. “The experience they both have is crucial in tough situations. They have both battled many times in the past on the varsity level and know what it takes to win. They lead by example and encourage each other when it counts the most.”
Brayden Stuart (junior), Aiden Garrison (junior), Fisher Croney (junior), Cole Whorton (junior), Jaxon Clark (freshman) and Kingery will make up the pitching staff.
“Our team strength will be our depth in pitching,” Garrison said. “We won 11 games this fall and we had six different pitchers that recorded a win on the mound. Each of them compete and can keep us in a game.”
Stuart led the group in the fall with a 3-2 record covering 37.1 innings with 33 strikeouts and a 2.63 ERA.
Parker Moody (sophomore catcher), Easton Thompson (sophomore 2B), Whorton (3B/2B) and Croney (3B/SS) will all be on the infield. Moody hit .397 with 21 RBI in the fall. Thompson had a .407 on-base percentage with a double and 8 RBI. Whorton had a double and 8 RBI in the fall. Croney had a .574 on-base percentage 3 doubles, 1 triple and 11 RBI.
Croney, Garrison, Stuart and Clark are all options in the outfield. Garrison was an on-base machine in the fall at .574 with 11 RBI. Clark hit .33 with 2 doubles and 7 RBI.
Also watch out for senior Malachi Ussery. He is playing baseball for the first time in high school. He is also an all-state long jumper on the track.
“I want our team’s identity to be a unified group that is ‘All In,” Coach Garrison said. “‘All In’ as in having the approach as a teammate of what do I need to do today in order to help the Lions win. We are a Lion Pride that works together to achieve one goal: win.”
Mansfield was also all in on playing a tough schedule that includes the Willard Tournament where the Lions will see the likes of Springfield Catholic, Valle Catholic and Glendale. They will also get the chance to face Spokane at Hammons Field on Apr. 22.
Mansfield opens the season on Mar. 19 at home against Thayer.
“At Mansfield, the expectations are always high,” Coach Garrison said. “We have for many years set high standards for ourselves and have a great desire to be performing at our best when it comes to the postseason. We want to win a district championship and make a deep run in the postseason. We know we have a long way to go, and nobody is going to make it easy for us but that is and will continue to be our goal.”
