H-M-S baseball preview: The fundamentals still apply
Pitching, defense key ingredients for Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn baseball team
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MIKE PETERSEN/SENTINEL-NEWS
Members of the 2023 Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn baseball team are front row, from left to right: Ricky Smith, Jonah Moore, Jafet Ortiz, Josh Cruz, Alex Billings and Jackson Brower. Second row: Dominic Tripp, Lawton Schiphoff, Jack Mastbergen, Aiden Bush, Ben Waddell, Blake Meendering and Damion Hansen. Third row: Assistant Coach Dawson Schiphoff, Ethan Diehm, Bradley Van Beek, Evan Eilers, Trenton Vollink, Tanner Tesch, Tyson Tessum, Jacob Cates and Head Coach Jeremy Gloden. Not pictured: Austin Smith.
Twenty-one athletes, including eight letter winners and six returning starters, are on the roster of the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn baseball team, and Hawk coach Jeremy Gloden is happy with their approach to preparing for the season.
"I have been very pleased with the attitudes and how hard guys are working," he said. "We had a lot of guys put a lot of time in this offseason and it has shown so far."
Gloden feels there are two areas which are important to the Hawks' success.
"Two things we have been emphasizing are defense and being more consistent on the mound," he said. "When looking at the stats from last year, errors and free baserunners – walks and hit batters – really hurt us. We have been really focusing on trying to cut these numbers down significantly. If we can do that, I feel like we will give ourselves a better chance."
H-M-S must replace the 55 innings that 2022 seniors Jordan Ortega and Nick Bronstad contributed on the mound. Junior Jacob Cates is the most experienced in terms of innings pitched and is the "top guy" of the staff. Seniors Tyson Tessum and Tanner Tesch, along with junior Evan Eilers will have larger pitching roles.
"After that, it might be by committee to see who can step up and help throw strikes for us," Gloden noted.
The fourth-year coach also identified two areas which appear to be strengths.
"So far I have been very pleased with what I have seen from our defense," he said. "I have already seen improvement and I hope to see this continue into the season."
Cates, a first-team all-War Eagle Conference selection in 2022, will catch. Gloden feels he has great command behind the plate and can limit opponents' running games.
Tesch and Tessum will cover the left side of the infield, with Tesch moving to shortstop when Tessum is pitching.
Junior Bradley Van Beek and Eilers can fill in at the infield corner positions. The only open spot is at second base, which Gloden said could be "an ongoing battle" to fill. Sophomore Ben Waddell started the first two games at second.
Seniors Ethan Diehm and Trenton Vollink [honorable mention WEC] return to the outfield, joined by sophomore Jack Mastbergen. Sophomore Aiden Bush will add depth.
Gloden also likes what he sees of the Hawks' hitting potential.
"I feel the top half of our batting order will be really strong with the returning upperclassmen we have," he said. "I have seen some good things from the new guys in our lineup, and I'm looking to see them add some depth to our batting order."
Team speed is another asset that Gloden hopes to utilize.
Season goals include improving on last year's 5-15 record and ninth-place finish in the War Eagle Conference. Accomplishing them will be a challenge.
"I would put Remsen St. Mary's [1A No. 1] down as the favorite. They are returning eight players from a team that was the runner-up in 1A last year," Gloden observed. "Gehlen Catholic [1A No. 8] and Akron-Westfield also return most of their players from last year and should be up towards the top as well. Top to bottom, I expect every night in the War Eagle to be a battle and we will have to come ready to play.
"My main goal is to see us compete night in and night out," he added. "No matter who we are playing or what the score is, I want us to go out and compete. If we can do that, I think we will see positive results."
