New Faces Throughout Eagles Baseball Roster

The last vestiges of Sullivan’s 2015 Class 4 baseball runner-up graduated last year and with it, created an opportunity for the current group to make their mark.

Sullivan had 14 seniors on last season’s roster and just 14 players total entering Friday’s opener at MICDS.

Eagles head coach Jason Harbour enters his third season leading the program. Harbour and his staff must replace players across the diamond.

“It’s going to depend on who is hot,” Harbour said about his lineup, which could change depending on who is pitching that particular day. “We’ll evaluate every day at practice.”

Sullivan was 13-8 last season and tied for the Four Rivers Conference championship with St. James.

Despite that, the Eagles were seeded sixth — second from bottom — in the Class 4 District 9 tournament and given a quarterfinal matchup against Blair Oaks. The Falcons won 4-0.

“I always feel we’re in the mix,” Harbour said about a possible district championship. “Helias is probably the favorite to win. We’ll probably have to go through them. If we do things on our end, maybe we’ll be there.”

Pitching

Rare is the team that wins districts or makes a deep run to state without frontline starting pitching. Since MSHSAA implemented pitch count rules last season, teams must rely on quantity to get through the schedule.

In 2017, the Eagles had a serendipitous transfer in Mitchell Craft, who came over from Bourbon. Craft made his debut in the season opener against MICDS, then went on to become the ace of the staff. He threw 47 innings, compiled a 2.23 ERA and struck out 61 batters to just six walks.

The Eagles complemented Craft with fellow seniors Ryan McKinney (3-2, 3.68 ERA) and Jared Woodcock (2-3, 1.71 ERA). Seniors Devin Payne and Jett Young also contributed innings.

All but six of those innings graduated, leaving Mike Kraus as the holdover. Harbour said they will look to seniors Dalton Englert, Wyatt Schmidt and Ty Wheeler, juniors Garrett Juergens and Austin Frye and possibly sophomores Josh Wiese and Logan McCummiskey.

Juergens was a star for the Post 18 freshman legion team last summer. A hard-throwing righty, Harbour said he brings three pitches and a smooth delivery.

Frye and Schmidt, Harbour said, are strike throwers who can keep the ball down in the zone. Wheeler, who has been catching the last two seasons, will get an opportunity on the mound.

Harbour has been pleased with the bullpen sessions each of the pitchers have had.

Defense

The infield will be reinvented. Sullivan had seniors across the diamond last season.

Cody McKinney is set to take the reigns at shortstop and could see time at third base along with Frye. Derek Evans and Schmidt will be competing at second base. Kraus will go to first base.

Since weather has been favorable, the group has had opportunities to get infield work in, Harbour said.

“I think we can be good,” he said about the team’s defensive potential. “We may not have quite the arm strength from last year.”

When Wheeler pitches, junior Tanner Jackson will move behind the plate.

The outfield will shuffle as well. Landon Hoffman, Jacob Miller, Will Allen, Lucas Cottrell and Englert are in the mix.

Offense

Harbour believes there’s a good mix on offense. He likes his teams to run and envisions the speedy Miller at the top of the lineup. Overall, Harbour wants his hitters to think damage.

“Working in our open gyms over the winter, we talked about swinging with intent,” he said. “Do damage. Hit a double, not just singles up the middle.”