The Highland Fighting Scots are coming off one of the best seasons in school history, one in which the baseball club dominated on the diamond, racking up a school-record 29 wins with only three losses to be KMAC co-champions as well as sectional and district champs.
The Fighting Scots are moving to the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference this season, which provides new teams and talent to square off against. However, as the team shined last season and was one of the top eight teams remaining in the Division 2 playoffs, the players and coach know that they have the talent to compete and understand that last year is behind them and 2022 starts from scratch.
“After a successful year, it is important that our guys understand that this is a new year, with new players, and a new chemistry,” coach Donnie Kline said. “Others will see us as that same 29-3 team – so we will see everyone’s best.”
Kline has baseball experience going back to his time playing at Mansfield Madison between 1993-1995. He then coached at Gahanna High School from 2001-2003, Springfield Catholic Central from 2004-2006, Cardington-Lincoln in 2013 and Highland since 2014. He said that when coaching at the high school level, it is important to have a flexible philosophy since the roster is constantly changing and the program is centered around its culture.
Kline said defense and pitching are key points to winning on the diamond, while offensively, he wants the team to be able to score in a variety of ways. He has modeled his coaching strategy after some of his fellow coaches and some who he has played with, but his philosophy is ever-changing.
“I love the challenge of learning new concepts or techniques,” Kline said.
This season, the team returns 10 letter-winners, so there is plenty of experience on the team to kick off the season. Senior Rider Minnick batted .426 and tied the school record with 49 hits, and he also had 40 runs and 21 RBI. The infielder was Central District first team and KMAC first team. Kline said that Minnick has the potential to be one of the best Highland players ever. He has committed to playing baseball in college at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and Kline called him “an elite-level defender and offensive player.”
Kline has coached top talent in the past, including Mack Anglin of Clemson, who was drafted by the Washington Nationals; Dalton Stambaugh, who is in the Orioles' system; and Max Schreiber, who had a successful career pitching for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Senior Blake Jodrey is one player to keep an eye on, whether he is toeing the rubber or playing infield, with Kline expecting him to be the pitching staff’s ace. Last year, Jodrey posted an 8-1 record and a 1.16 ERA and was no slouch in the batter’s box either, with a .307 batting average.
Senior Luke Cain hit .348 with 26 RBI and 30 runs scored last year and was first-team KMAC and second-team All-League. Zach Pinkerton, also a senior, is a top defensive center fielder who hits for power and average. He batted .337 with a team-high two homers, 10 doubles, 32 runs and 26 RBI. He was also the team’s closing pitcher and was second-team KMAC. Senior infielder and pitcher Cooper Merckling has a strong arm and posted a 3-0 record with a 3.06 ERA. He can also rake in the batter’s box, batting .341.
Sophomore Hayden Kline will pitch and play outfield and is coming off a freshman year in which he hit .440. Senior catcher and utility player Jon Jensen should bring some power to the lineup and nail down runners trying to swipe bases. Last year, he hit .375 with nine doubles, 20 RBI and 29 runs. Junior Zachary Schmidt hit .333 last year and will see some time in outfield and on the mound. Junior Brock Church, who can play multiple positions, hit .379 and had 21 RBI last year.
Juniors Layton Shaffer and Zach Schmidt will be in the outfield, and both come off a season batting .333.
Other players expected to contribute include Adi Karya, Jace Brooks, Evan Johnson and Kort Sears.
Kline said that the team understands its team’s history and what it has to live up to.
“We are blessed to have a rich history, and we consistently remind the boys of past championships and player success,” Kline said. “They have the responsibility of protecting a culture forged by those who have played in these uniforms before us."
The Fighting Scots open up the season against St. Francis Desales at home March 28, with first pitch at 5 p.m.
