The Emmett High baseball team is not deep with power or blazing speed. It’s not real deep overall. But a handful of veterans with a lot of baseball savvy look to lead a talented young core into league action.
“We’re not hitting well yet but we are starting to find ways to manufacture runs,” Huskie head coach Shad Larson said. “We are playing pretty solid defense and getting some timely hitting if not a lot of it.”
Emmett opened its Southern Idaho Conference season on the road last Friday, posting a 3-2 win over Ridgevue. The win was the second in a row for the Huskies who picked up a 5-1 home win over Ontario earlier in the week.
Larson saw three cogs of his four man pitching rotation contribute in the wins. Conner Gibson struck six and gave up a single hit in the win over Ontario. Teague Gregory went the final three innings against the Tigers and started the SIC game at Ridgevue. The junior struck out six in relief against Ontario and then got four more strikeouts in five innings of work against the Warhawks.
It was senior Chase Clayton who got the fireman award against Ridgevue. He entered the game with the bases loaded and no one out, Emmett leading 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth. A strikeout and a double-play ball erased the threat.
That trio of hurlers is joined on the mound by Boone Bade, a sophomore, who is expected back from injury when spring break is over.
Larson expects the hitting to pick up as the season gets into full swing in the coming weeks.
“We have some pretty solid hitters, not a lot of power, but we should hit for better averages than we are doing right now.” he said. “Gibson, Gregory and Bade are leading us at the plate as well as on the mound currently.”
The veteran experience that’s helping the team make the most out of its opportunities to this point in the season is led by Gibson and his fellow seniors Clayton, Colton Watts and Trevor Williams. Gregory is a junior but seeing varsity action for the third season.
The juniors expected to continue to anchor the defense and step it up at the plate are Markus Joyce, Jake Silkwood, Andrew Brown and Kaleb Muffley.
Bade is joined by sophomore classmate Jake Brennan. Freshmen stepping right into varsity play are catcher Timmy Williams and infielder Gage Larson.
Gibson went four for five at the plate in the two wins last week. Muffley got only a single hit for the week but drove in two runs with it and a sacrifice fly against Ridgevue.
The win in the league opener on the road was a big plus for the Huskies. Skyview, Vallivue, Bishop Kelly and Middleton are tabbed as the teams to beat for one of three State playoff berths. The Huskies are in the pool with Ridgevue, Caldwell and Mountain Home as the sleepers in the race.
“If we can keep playing smart baseball, be consistent pitching, and get the batting averages up a bit we could surprise some folks,” Larson said.
Emmett returns to post-spring break action April 2 at home against Vallivue before two road games later that week.
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Huskie baseball looking to manufacture wins"
Post a Comment