Jonathan Alder’s varsity baseball team is pictured from left, front row, Vladimir Price, Tyler Barton, Isak Long, Chase Chopin, Cam Potter, Mason Keaton, Brennan Nichols, Andrew Evans, Hank Shoemaker, Andrew Duffield, Christian Dellapina, Jace Schrock and Grant Horne; second row, Andrew Harp, Greg Kennedy, Owen Larison, Zach Gantz, Chase Maynard, Garrett Roach, Pryce Watson, Greg Nussbaum, Doug Nussbaum, Ashton Martin, Andy Yoder and Maksim Price; third row, Caleb Miller, Cooper Dickey, Nick Sowers, Jackson Bennett, coach Chris Herring, coach Vince Graber, head coach Craig Kyle, coach Zach Jester, coach Tyler Hill, Ty Moore, Owen Braithwait, Blake Adkins and Jonathan Keith. Not pictured, coach Luke Nees. (Photo submitted)
Jonathan Alder’s baseball squad has several lettermen back from a 2021 squad that posted an 18-10 record.
The Pioneers placed third (10-6) in the Central Buckeye Conference and bowed out of the post-season during the Division II sectional finals.
Veterans for Alder include infielder-pitcher Owen Braithwaite, infielder-pitcher Pryce Watson, pitcher-infielder Jonathan Keith, catcher Jackson Bennett, outfielder Chase Maynard, infielder-pitcher Hank Shoemaker and outfielder-designated hitter Ty Moore.
The veteran pitchers bring mound depth as the Pioneers look to return to the top of the CBC’s Kenton Trail Division.
The lettermen will be joined by varsity newcomers Nick Sowers (pitcher-first base), Brennan Nichols (catcher-pitcher), Andrew Harp (infielder-outfielder), Caleb Miller (infielder-pitcher), Andrew Duffield (pitcher-first base), Garrett Roach (pitcher-infielder), Greg Kennedy (pitcher-outfielder) and Ashton Martin (pitcher-infielder).
Alder head coach Craig Kyle feels pitching depth won’t be the only strength for the Pioneers.
“We’re going to have solid defense and team speed,” he said. “We have solid lettermen, but also talented youth coming to the team.
“Our focus in the 2021 season is to develop a cohesive unit where our returning veteran starters gel with the talented youth.
“The success of our season will be determined by whether we can all buy into the mindset of what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.”
Kyle knows a return to the top of the Central Buckeye Conference’s Kenton Trail Division will not be an easy journey.
Kenton Ridge (13-3) and Springfield Shawnee (12-4) respectively placed first and second within the division during the 2021 season.
Tecumseh (9-7) finished a game behind the Pioneers in fourth place and tallied an overall winning record of 17-10.
Those three squads should once again contend in the Kenton Trail Division.
“The Central Buckeye Conference is loaded with talent this year,” said Kyle. “There are a lot of good teams that are well-coached.”