SWING INTO ACTION. The Eagles will throw their first pitch of the regular season at Borgia. They duel the Knights on Thursday, Mar. 20, and play ball at 4 p.m. Sullivan will return home the following day to face Veritas Christian at 4:30 p.m. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
MAHLON FOSTER will pitch varsity this season. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
ALEX TOEWS is pictured in the catcher’s box. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
ANDEN CAREY enters his senior year at Sullivan. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
GAWER BRO POWER. Brody Gawer (left) stands alongside his brother Drake (right) on first base. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
HUNTER VAUGHN. Photo by Wyatt Hardy

Eagles Baseball Dusts Off The Plate For 2025

Wed, 03/19/2025 - 5:11pm

Wyatt Hardy

Entering his fourth year as head coach, Ian Whitson aims to lead the Eagles to another deep playoff run. But this will be his final season with the players who started when he took the helm.

“This is the first class that I’ve seen all the way through here at Sullivan,” Whitson shared. “My first year was their freshman year, and it’s been great to see them grow, mature and evolve as young men.”

Since Whitson took command, the Eagles have appeared in three consecutive district championships while winning their last two. He and his now-seniors hope to continue their success for one more ride together.

Sullivan has nine graduating players, which includes outfielders Seth Valley and Gabe Wienhoff.

Drake Gawer, Nate McReynolds and Lucas Parsons will throw their final games at Sullivan this year. Whitson described the three seniors as “dominant high school pitchers” who will be at the top of the rotation.

Four other Eagles will take their last trips to the mound: Kaden Smith, Isaiah Skaggs, Grant Halmick and Anden Carey.

Whitson will look to his nine seniors to be leaders in the dugout. The head coach explained, “They have a lot of experience playing important games. So I expect them to show the underclassmen how to prepare mentally and physically for those contests so they can thrive in them for years to come.”

He is also excited to work with his young guns and the pitching depth they will add. Whitson shared, “We have a lot of guys who can throw and take varsity innings… But we also have some other young guys who are chomping at the bit to get in games and compete as well. Our relief core is probably the deepest I’ve ever had as a coach, which is great because you can never have too much pitching.”

Sullivan’s rotation includes juniors Chase Blue and Wyatt Henricks and sophomores Raiden Redd and Mahlon Foster.

The varsity roster will have juniors Nolan Ulrich (IF), Alex Toews (C/IF), Josiah Tanner (OF), Mitchell Garner (IF/DH) and Kaedon Woodruff (OF).

Sophomore Landen Doza (OF) and freshman Brody Gawer (IF/OF) are also in the lineup, with Landen Bonney as the manager.

Whitson and the Eagles will continue using the same approach that has brought them success in the past three years. “Every time we step out on that field, our goal is to compete to the best of our abilities,” the coach stated. “Mistakes will happen; that’s baseball. But if we compete every time we have an opportunity to step on that field, we will be pretty successful.”

Home Schedule

3/18: V @ Sullivan Jamboree - 4:30 p.m.

3/21: V/JV vs. Veritas Christian - 4:30/6:30 p.m.

3/28: JV @ SHS Round Robin - 3/7 p.m.

3/29: V @ SHS Round Robin - 11 a.m./3 p.m.

3/31: V/JV vs. Pacific - 4:30/6:30 p.m. (Doubleheader)

4/7: V/JV vs. Steelville - 4:30/6:30 p.m.

4/10: V/JV vs. Union - 4:30/6:30 p.m.

4/17: V vs. St. Clair - 4:30 p.m.

4/28: V vs. New Haven - 4:30 p.m.

4/29: V/JV vs. Salem - 4:30/6:30 p.m.

5/1: V/JV vs. Owensville - 4:30/6:30 p.m. (Senior Night)