Jonathan Alder’s varsity baseball squad is pictured from left, front row, Garrett Roach, Brooks Pierce, Blake Adkins, Garrett Bauer, Zach Gantz and Tyler Barton; second row, Grant Horne, Cashton Wheeler, Greg Kennedy, Mason Keaton, Andy Yoder, Cam Potter and Chase Chopin; third row, head coach Craig Kyle, assistant coach Luke Nees, Jace Schrock, Ashton Martin and assistant coaches Devin VanWinkle and Bret Yutzy.
(Photo submitted)
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In a way, you could say the Jonathan Alder baseball team had another “ho-hum” season a year ago.
That, however, in no way should be considered even remotely a putdown.
It’s just that these guys are so good that numbers which would be impressive for other programs have become downright common place for the Pioneers.
They posted a 26-2 record and won yet another Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division title (16-0 in conference games).
This will be the seventh season for JA as a member of the CBC.
During the last five baseball seasons (the 2020 campaign was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic), Alder has won the conference three times, placed as runner-up once and finished third one time.
During that stretch, the Pioneers have compiled a conference mark of 62-15 and an overall record of 97-23.
These guys have been so good for so long, it’s hard for another team to take a shot at a championship.
If folks in Pioneer Nation thought the team was stellar in 2023, they haven’t seen anything yet.
“We return a number of starters from last year’s team that advanced to the (Division II) district finals,” said veteran head coach Craig Kyle. “Our entire pitching staff that finished with a 0.89 ERA returns.
“We also return our entire infield and some very talented bats in our line-up,” he said. “This experience should allow us to compete at a very high level against a competitive schedule.”
Returning lettermen include seniors Garrett Roach (pitcher-infield), Greg Kennedy (pitcher-outfield), Chase Chopin (outfield), Andy Yoder (infield-pitcher), Mason Keaton (pitcher-outfield) and jack-of-all-trades Cam Potter (pitcher, catcher, infield and outfield).
Junior veterans are Ashton Martin (infield-pitcher), Grant Horne (infield-outfield) and Tyler Barton (pitcher-infield).
There are some impressive batting averages in that group, including Martin (.422), Kennedy (.338) and Roach (.326).
Martin, who is an Ohio State recruit, posted an 8-0 record on the mound and did not permit an earned run in 51 innings.
Kennedy went unbeaten in six decisions with a 1.12 ERA and Roach was 5-0 (1.23).
The returning lettermen will be joined by a trio of juniors.
They are Jace Schrock (catcher-infield-outfield), Zach Gantz (catcher-first base-designated hitter) and Blake Atkins (pitcher-first base).
The program’s goals have been the same for a long time.
The first is to win the Central Buckeye Conference Kenton Trail Division championship and the second is to finish the season with at least 20 victories.
The third is to capture a Central District crown.
“The CBC is always a very strong baseball conference,” said Kyle. “Last year was the most competitive the conference has been from top to bottom since we entered it.”
Kenton Ridge was the divisional runner-up with a mark of 14-4.
The Cougars were followed by Bellefontaine (9-7), Springfield Shawnee (6-10), Tecumseh (6-10) and London (5-11).
“I expect this year for it (the CBC) to be even more competitive with a lot of very talented players returning,” said Kyle.