Fairbanks’ baseball squad is pictured from left, front row, Dayne Madison, Madden Ungerer and Carson Reames; second row, Chase Shope, Hayden Queen, Jacob Woody, Aidan Luellen and manager Landry Rine; back row, assistant coach Curtis Wyckoff, Zavier Payne, Max Snyder, Cole Justus, Owen Woody and head coach Josh Rine.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Bob Putman)
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It will be a young Fairbanks High School baseball squad that takes to the diamond for the 2024 campaign.
The Panthers lost seven seniors that comprised a team that went 15-10 overall and 10-5 (third place) in the Ohio Heritage Conference North Division.
Seniors Max Snyder (pitcher-first base), Cole Justus (catcher) and Hayden Queen (shortstop) are among the returning lettermen.
They are joined by junior pitcher-utility player Dayne Madison.
Snyder did not pitch during the 2023 campaign due to an elbow injury. He finished the season with a .279 batting average.
Justus hit. 208, while Queen finished with a .238 batting average.
Madison posted a 3.98 earned run average and fanned 18 in 19 1/3 innnings.
Newcomers to the varsity roster include seniors Madden Ungerer, Chase Shope, Zavier Payne and Aidan Luellen.
Ungerger can play several positions, Shope and Payne are respectively third and first basemen and Luellen pitches and plays in the outfield.
Junior Jacob Woody and freshman Owen Woody are pitchers/utility players, while freshman Carson Reames plays in the oufield and will take his turn on the pitching mound.
“Last season, we were a very experienced team and were able to defeat or compete with many of the top teams in our league and Central District,” said head coach Josh Rine. “I was very proud of our seniors and the leadership they displayed throughout the entire 2023 season.”
Rine said the Panthers will be pretty young as they compete in the OHC this spring.
“The Ohio Heritage Conference has been a very strong baseball conference the past several years,” he said. “The conference had two district championship teams a year ago and three in 2022.
“With a lot of teams returning a majority of their starters, it will continue to be very strong in 2024,” said the coach. “So far, I have liked what I have seen from our student-athletes in the weight room and at practice. I am hopeful the hard work they have put in will help us overcome some of our inexperience.”
The Panthers have also had to overcome the recent tragic loss of a teammate.
Junior Blake Gorton died from injuries he incurred during a traffic accident.
It has been a very difficult experience for the team.
“Blake was a tremendous person and student,” said Rine. “He was also a tremendous athlete and leader for our team.He was one of the hardest workers I have ever coached.
“Blake was a very talented baseball player who understood the game very well,” he said. “He did a great job of taking some of our younger players under his wing and helping them develop during weight lifting sessions, open gyms and practices. Blake left a positive impact on all of us.”