Whiteoak Baseball Preview: Wildcats looking to add success to experience gained
The Whiteoak Wildcats used last season as a way for their young baseball team to become accustomed to the varsity level of play. This season, the Wildcats will use not only that experience, but the experience they gained by playing summer baseball to this varsity season.
Improvement is key for the Wildcats to have success, as they are coming off a year where they finished 7-17 overall. As head coach Chris Veidt said, “We lost our share of close contests, primarily because of our youth and inexperience.”
“Our offseason was excellent with all players in the program playing summer ball,” Veidt said. “Some participated in a fall league, and some took part in an excellent fitness and weight training program that also allows us to prepare well for the season at hand.”
Seniors for the Wildcats this season include Jacob Burns, Kyle Marler, Austin Lewis and Christian Hill.
Returning starters for WHS are: Burns, Marler, Brandon Lowe, Chase Carraher, Trever Yeager and Trevor Martin, plus there are also sophomores Casey Nace and Joey Oliver, along with freshmen Traeten Hamilton and Evan Brill, who could possibly be standouts and leaders for the Wildcats in ’16.
Burns, who played in 24 games last season, returns with a .254 batting average from last season, along with a .420 on-base percentage. Marler is the second-leading batting average leader returning to the team at .224 last season, as he had a .379 slugging percentage in 20 games.
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Burns also had a solid season on the mound last year, finishing with a 2.17 ERA and a 3-5 record. He struck out 34 batters in 48.1 innings pitched (10 games). Carraher pitched in eight games last season, tallying a 3.39 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 33 innings for a 2-3 record. Martin had 30 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched, with a 3.97 ERA.
Juniors for WHS this season will be Chad Jones, Anthony Wesch and Lowe. There are seven sophomores, and they are: Martin, Tristan Kleather, Carraher, Nace, Aaron Watson, Joey Oliver and Yeager.
The freshman class for the Wildcats includes: Hamilton, Joey Graybeal, Ryan Roberts, Jacob Campbell, Brill, Evan Edingfield and Chase Butler.
WHS lost three starters from last year (third baseman Spencer Michael, second baseman Zack Taggett and right fielder Nick Wishart) and four seniors in all.
“Our team goals are to gain 15 wins, a conference championship and a sectional championship with the ability to climb the ladder at each level of the postseason after that,” Veidt said. “We had 10 kids letter for the first time last year. At any given time, we had six to seven first-year starters on the field last year. Obviously, that makes it tough to post victories on a consistent basis. This year, thus far, those trials and tribulations are paying off. We have looked better than expected in our scrimmages and in our daily practices.“
Veidt continued to talk about how he’s pleased with his baseball program.
“As a program, we are very happy about that but far from satisfied,” he said. “We remain hungry. We have some quality upperclassmen to go with our better-than-average freshmen and sophomore classes.
“Keeping in mind that returning starters Jacob Burns and Kyle Marler were members of the ‘Gold Ball’ district championship ’13 squad, that in my opinion should be an invaluable experience they can share with our underclassmen when necessary.”
The head coach of the Wildcats simply summed up what he believes his team is capable of achieving.
“If we can ‘be where our feet are’ for two hours a day, receive quality leadership from the ‘guys that have been there’ and enjoy the journey one day at a time, we can put together a nice season,” Veidt said.
WHS opens the season at South Webster this Saturday, followed with another non-conference game on Monday, March 28 at Paint Valley. Their first home game is a SHAC contest against West Union on March 29.
The non-conference slate for WHS this season includes the aforementioned South Webster and Paint Valley squads, along with Green, Felicity, Emmanuel Christian, St. Joseph, Xenia Christian, Western Latham, Georgetown, Northwest, Eastern Pike, Clay and East Clinton. The Wildcat Invitational is on April 9, where Rock Hill, McClain and Southern, along with WHS, will take part in the annual event.