By Chris Parker
Veteran coach Jeff Dishman takes over as head coach of the Pleasant Hope baseball program this season.
He inherits a program returning 12 lettermen from a five-win team last season.
“This group won five games last spring. We want to build on that number for sure,” Dishman said. “If the kids will buy into the throwing program, and come to practice every day and get to work, who knows what we can do. What I want is to see improvement each day. We have high expectations every day in practice. We want to get better every day in practice. Nobody has higher expectations than I have put on myself.”
A host of players including Jack Keeling (sophomore), Daylin Campbell (sophomore), Peyton Guy (junior), Tanner Horvath (junior), Bradley Jenkins (junior), Bryson Craver (senior), Mason Prince (senior) and Lane Kelly (sophomore) are slated to see innings on the mound.
Craver, Andrew Hurley (senior), Guy and Randall Kendrick Jr. (freshman) are options at catcher.
All spots around the field are an open competition.
“What we need is competition each and every day,” Dishman said. “These kids need to come in hungry and not think that they don’t have to work for a spot. Playing time is earned, not given.”
Seniors and juniors will set the tone.
“We will lean on all of our upperclassmen to be leaders,” Dishman said. “Bryson Craver will take most of that duty early on. I can see Jack Keeling being a great leader as well. We need people that will show up every day at practice, work hard, and set the example. Leadership can be very lonely.”
Dishman has seen more dedication to the weight room at Pleasant Hope than in years past.
“All of them are one year older, one year more mature and have one more year in the weight room,” Dishman said. “I know as coaches, we have made great strides here at Pleasant Hope to change the work ethic in the weight room, it might not show this year, but we have players now that are buying into the programs.”
Pleasant Hope opens the season on Mar. 20 at Oakwood Academy.
“We will put players in a position to succeed, but they will have earned that spot,” Dishman said. “Pitching is always the biggest factor to finding success, and I think we have some kids that will help us there. Our throwing program works, the players need to buy into it. Catching, you better love to catch, because you are involved in every pitch. We need a guy back there who will take command of the pitchers and handle that job every day. And as always, you better be able to score runs. We will work each day on ways to better ourselves offensively.”
