The Fairbanks High School varsity boys baseball team is pictured from left, front row, Taylor Andrews, Evan Blumenschein, Mason Cushman, Alex Blumenschein, Ethan Kise and Brice Phelps; back row, head coach Josh Rine, CJ Swartz, Nathan Combs, Ryker Beaty, Noah Rausch, Grant Rausch and assistant coach Nick Blakely. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Members of the Fairbanks JV baseball team are from left, front row, Nick Welch, Drew Rausch, Zavier Payne, Chase Shope, Hayden Queen, Jaycer Blevins, Madden Ungerer, and Cody Reames; back row, coach David Grant, Nick Rhea, Raffi Stauffer, Ethan Hoffman, Eli Thrush, Max Snyder, Jake Stewart, Cole Justus, Neil Kohls and coach Scott Thrush. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Fairbanks High School’s baseball team has only three lettermen returning from the 2019 squad.
The Panthers’ 2020 campaign was nixed due to COVID-19.
Those lettermen are senior pitcher-infielder Mason Cushman, senior infielder-pitcher Alex Blumenschein and junior outfielder Grant Rausch.
Fairbanks finished the 2019 campaign with an overall record of 18-9.
The Panthers placed second in the Ohio Heritage Conference North Division race to West Jefferson (23-4).
Newcomers to the team are as follows:
-Ryker Beaty: junior pitcher, infielder;
-Noah Rausch: junior first baseman;
-Brice Phelps: junior outfielder, second baseman;
-Evan Blumenschein: sophomore catcher;
-CJ Swartz: sophomore pitcher, third baseman;
-Taylor Andrews: sophomore pitcher, utility player;
-Nathan Combs: sophomore outfielder;
-Ethan Kise: sophomore outfielder, catcher.
“We only have three guys with much varsity experience and we only have two seniors,” said FHS coach Josh Rine. “Our overall youth and inexperience will be a concern in all areas of the game.
“Pitching will be a question mark for us, mainly because we only have one – Mason Cushman – with any varsity experience,” he said.
“We are relying on so many kids who have not played much (if any) high school baseball before this year,” said the coach. “I feel we have a few guys capable of doing a good job, but they will need to continue to improve and show consistency with their command in order for us to reach our potential.”
Rine said the Panthers should be able to move the ball with the bat.
Cushman batted .305 two years ago, while Blumenschein hit .364 and Rausch finished with a .258 batting average.
“I feel our offense will be a team strength,” said Rine. “We have several players who have worked hard and improved.
“We have looked good hitting the ball in practice,” said the coach. “As a team, we also have more speed and athleticism from top to bottom than we have had in the past.
“We hope to be able to put some pressure on opposing pitchers and defenses.”
The lack of a 2020 campaign leaves Rine, along with other coaches, wondering how the OHC season will play out this spring.
“With no baseball season last year, I don’t know a whole lot about the other side of the OHC,” said the coach. “I am more familiar with the teams on our side of the league.
“West Jefferson, Triad and Mechanicsburg all have multiple pitchers who are very talented and all three teams have several seniors who played as sophomores.
“Northeastern and West Liberty will both have several new faces like us, but they are traditionally strong baseball programs,” said Rine. “I expect them to be solid teams.
“Our side of the league will be very competitive as it seems to be every season,” he said. “In order to win games, we will need to play well in all phases.
“There are some very good coaches in the OHC North and I know that each team will be prepared and ready to compete.
“Our goal every year is to be 1-0 at the end of each game,” said Rine. “We want to improve throughout the season and compete for an OHC title while having a strong postseason performance.”