By Chris Parker
New Covenant baseball returns six starters and eight lettermen from last season’s 16-win team. The Warriors have won at least 16 games in three straight seasons.
Pitching will set the tone for New Covenant.
“Our strengths will be pitching and defense,” New Covenant head coach David Anderlik said. “We have a deep staff, especially when Keilynn Armitage is fully healthy. Defensively, we are very strong, and we will have an experienced group who can make routine plays as well as the exceptional play.”
The pitching staff will feature Brighton Guisinger (junior), Evan Meadows (junior), Sam Dauber (senior), Landon Link (junior) and Keilynn Armitage (sophomore).
“Guisinger is our No. 1 coming in, with a low to mid 80’s fastball and two excellent off-speed pitches. He commands the zone very well and is poised on the mound. We will rely on him to win big games for us throughout the year,” Anderlik said. “Meadows had a dominant year last year, with a 1.74 ERA and earning first-team all-district and all-conference as a pitcher. He has improved velocity, but his ability to pound the zone and create weak contact are his best weapons. Dauber sits consistently in the mid-70’s with his fastball and has an excellent curveball. He also is a strike thrower and brings a lot of senior leadership to the group. Link has an improved fastball that sits in the mid to upper-70’s with an improving off-speed arsenal. He works the zone well and induces weak contact.”
The Warriors will have a new catcher this season after losing both catchers from last season’s roster. Armitage is out with an injury, but is expected back.
“We are developing some young catchers and are hoping they will be ready for prime time,” Anderlik said. “Sam Dauber is stepping out of his comfort zone as a middle infielder and is working hard to learn the position. Keean Fong (freshman) is talented but young, and is learning our staff. As the season progresses, we will definitely improve at this position. Sophomore Cohen Boyce has some varsity experience but will be ineligible for the first part of the season, so that is another question mark. He is talented but inexperienced. And Armitage is due back some time mid-season, and he will be a huge boost to that position.”
Guisinger (3B), Jacob Sowder (junior 3B), Landon Link (junior SS), Dauber (SS/2B), Meadows (2B) and Zach Buchanan (junior 1B) will be options on the infield. Caleb Cagle (junior LF), Sam Carmack (sophomore CF), Austin Berry (junior RF) and Jacob Burlingame (junior RF) will be in the outfield.
“We have seen huge improvement in Sam Carmack and Jacob Burlingame,” Anderlik said. “Carmack brings a ton of speed and athleticism to our lineup, and has a chance to be special at the plate. He will make the jump from part time player to starting in the outfield this year. Burlingame will pitch for us and play all over the field as well. He has had a big jump in velocity on the mound and has a chance to be a huge part of our pitching plans this year. He will see a lot of time in the field as well.”
New Covenant opens the season Mar. 26-28 at the Bill O’Dell Varsity Festival in Carthage.
“We have a district title as our primary goal, and with our depth of pitching we think we can compete with any team in Class 2,” Anderlik said. “We were young and inexperienced last year, and we were 16-14. We return a lot of talent, and our guys are motivated to compete and really get after it this season.”
