The Utica baseball team bring back a strong core including 10 seniors, including Roman Gamble who was the Licking County Player of the Year, who hope to win the league and make a strong push into the playoffs.
This is the first year at the helm for Coach Tyler Keith, but he has been with Utica for the past four years. When asked what the team’s strengths are he said, “Depth and Defense,” noting that this senior group has plenty of experience.
"As a new coach I'm looking forward to building a strong program and always competing," said Keith. "Some challenges are getting everyone to buy into what I'm selling and learning all the ins and outs of what a varsity coach does."
Last year the Redskins went 13-14 and were 7-8 in conference play. They upset No. 2 Worthington in 2-0 extra inning thriller as a No. 9 seed in the first round of the Division III playoffs, and their season ended with a 2-0 loss to No. 3 Columbus.
This year’s squad is led by senior captain Roman Gamble, who is coming off a season where he batted .393 with a .959 OPS and was named Licking County Player of the Year. He tallied a team high 22 hits and 17 runs, and also knocked in six runs. He also had three doubles and a triple. Gamble has started all four years and should be a major piece to the puzzle this spring.
Gamble will also be heavily relied on pitching, and is coming off a solid season where he went 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA and a team high 19 strikeouts over 20 innings.
Tyler Collura is also a senior captain who has started all four years, and last year was first team All-LCL. He batted .256 and had an OPS of .847, while smashing a pair of homers and three doubles. His 14 RBIs led the team, and he also crossed the plate 10 times.
Junior Aydian Burgess enters his third year of varsity action, and is coming off a season where he had a .244 average, three doubles, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored. On the mound led the team with a 0.93 ERA and 10 strikeouts over 22.2 innings, while going 0-1. He was second team all conference.
Other key players who are returning include junior Gavin Tussey, and seniors Jarrett Hill (All-LCL honorable mention), Connor Whisner (second team All-LCL), Gavin Chinn (second team All-LCL), Chase Bennett, Isaak Wogan, and Connor Staugh.
Newcomers include Dylan Cooperider, Dylan Yates and Gage Spray.
Whisner should be a key part of the pitching staff, and is coming off a season where he had a 2.84 ERA and nine strikeouts in 12.1 innings.
"Goals and expectations would be to win the league and make a strong push in the playoffs," Keith said. "I believe this team has a good chance of winning this season, with all the experience and seniors. As long as they can play as one, this can be a special season."
Utica travels to Mount Gilead for a double-header on March 30 starting at 11 a.m. Their first league game comes at home on April 1 at 5 p.m. against Heath.
Roster:
1 Connor Garee IF/P
2 Connor Whisner IF/P
4 Jarrett Hill C/P
5 Isaak Wogan 1B/OF
6 Braxton Fisher OF/P
8 Chase Benett SS/P
9 Dylan Yates OF
10 Aidyn Burgess C/P
13 Connor Staugh P
16 Gavin Tussey OF
18 Gavin Chinn IF/OF/P
21 Gage Spray C
24 Roman Gamble OF/P
33 Dylan Cooperider 1B
34 Tyler Collura 3B
