Triad’s baseball team is pictured from left, front row, Alfred Johnson, Wyatt Smith, Duncan Funderbugh, J.J. Roberts, Waylin Holtsberry, and Connor Hayes; second row, Jayden Blackburn, Russell House, Braydan Hoffman, Blayk Thomas, Brant Bollack, Brodey Deam and Gage Heitman; back row, head coach Jon Roberts, Larry Lease, Hayden Beswick, Colton Thomas, Adler Perry, Noah Meadows, Dylan Warner and Jake Kohler.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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Triad’s varsity baseball team expects to be competitive this year despite having a young cast of new players.
The biggest change to this year’s Cardinal team is the slew of freshmen for which head Coach Jon Roberts has been waiting.
With nine freshmen looking to make their impact, he’s eager to see what they will bring to the diamond.
“I’ve been coaching them since they were all little,” he said. “As far as understanding my program, there is not much instruction and these kids are ready to play.”
Roberts said he feels more at ease coming into this season than he did in 2023.
“There were a lot of question marks last year because of our varsity experience,” he said.
Gage Heitman is the lone senior on the team and is expected to be a player to watch out for this spring.
Roberts pointed to West Liberty-Salem transfer Brodey Deam as a player who will support the Cardinals’ efforts this season.
Roberts also noted J.J. Roberts, Blayk Thomas and catcher Hayden Beswick as players to watch out for this season.
As far as the regular season is concerned, Roberts seeks to be competitive against all teams.
With no junior varsity team this spring, everyone will have a chance to play at the varsity level.
“We have our sights set on really focusing on the Ohio Heritage Conference this year,” he said. “As far as the non-conference games, that’s when I am going to play most of the guys who would normally play junior varsity.”
The Cardinals’ pitching staff will include Heitman, Roberts, Thomas, Colton Thomas, Braydan Hoffman and Russell House.
“It is going to be freshman-heavy,” Roberts said, adding the first-year players will have to get used to the physicality of the game at the high school level.
“They are going to have to prove themselves a little bit, but from what I am seeing so far, they can handle themselves.”
When it comes to starting spots, Roberts did not commit to any positions that will be filled by regular starters.
The Cardinal head coach expects West Jefferson to be the conference’s strongest opponent this season.
“They were young last year and played pretty well,” Roberts said. “I have a feeling they will be the team to beat and everybody else will be down to some degree.”
Triad was placed in Division IV last year. As far the postseason hopes are concerned, Roberts believes his team will be competitive in the Southwest District.
The Cardinals hope their offensive capability will lead to more wins.
Last season, the Cardinals produced a 3-19 overall record, while going 3-13 in conference matchups.
“We are going to play very aggressively and you are going to see a lot of small ball out of us,” Roberts said. “We are going to run the bases and are going to implement the bunt a lot more this year.”