The Mount Gilead baseball team is coming off a season where they went 9-18-1, but they have several players coming off solid freshmen seasons who should be difference makers this spring on the diamond.
“Our goal is to compete for the KMAC, play good defense, and improve everyday,” said Coach Mark Kennon. “We have a good sophomore class that mix well with our upperclassmen.”
The Indians have some big voids to fill with the loss of key players like Carter Kennon (first team All-KMAC shortstop and pitcher), Nick Garvey (All-Central District and KMAC honorable mention catcher) and other players like Judah Reed, Jimmy Chafin, Landon Chilcote, Graham Shelbourne and Jonny Martinez to graduation. However, there are some great young players on the squad that should make a splash this year.
Gage Baker is a sophomore who had a solid freshman campaign where he was named second team All-KMAC. He played in 28 games, batting .306 with a triple, seven doubles and 16 RBIs. His 29 runs scored led the Indians, and he was a menace on the base paths with a team high 14 steals. Baker also went 2-0 on the mound with a 4.67 ERA, with 12 strikeouts in 15 innings.
Hayden Somerlot returns for his sophomore season after putting up excellent numbers in his first season. He batted .348 with seven RBIs and nine runs over 23 games. He will be at second base and pitching.
Sophomore Cole Fricke led the team in strikeouts (30) and appearances (10) in his freshman year. While he was 1-7 with a 4.57 ERA over 38.1 innings, he has a year of varsity experience, and should be relied on this season on the mound and in the outfield.
Seniors Matt Barnum (OF/P) and Kyle St. Clair (OF/2nd) return to the team as the team’s leaders. Barnum played in all 28 games last year and had 13 RBIs. While he struggled at the dish with a .200 average, he could be due for a big year with another season under his belt.
Cam Vickers (3rd/P) and Hayden Pangborn (P/2nd) return for their junior seasons. Vickers played 25 games as a sophomore, and another year of experience should be huge. At the dish, Pangborn went 3-for-9 with two runs and an RBI and played in 10 games. He should serve as a solid option at pitcher. He had 10 appearances and 41 innings in his sophomore year, posting a 4.78 ERA and 22 strikeouts.
Newcomers include juniors Landon Riggs (2nd/OF) and Jayden Ritchey (catcher); and sophomores Wyatt Young (C/P) and Broegan Pfleiderer (P/OF).
Kennon is encouraged by the fact that they return their entire pitching staff from last year, and have strong leadership from their seniors. However, they lost their entire infield, which was made entirely of seniors who graduated.
With a talented Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, Kennon knows they have their work cut out for them.
“Our KMAC conference is tough year in and year out,” Kennon said. “In my opinion Northmor will be tough this year as they return almost every player from last season. Of course the goal every season is to win the league. We want to compete for it.”
On March 23, the Indians had a double header against Madison Plains, but it was cancelled due to weather. Their first conference matchup comes against Danville on the road, on March 26 at 5:15 p.m. They face the Blue Devils at home two days later, on March 28 at 5:15 p.m.
2024 Indians Roster:
Seniors
13 Mason Barnum P/3B
21 Kyle St. Clair OF
Juniors
24 Cameron Vickers P/1st
22 Hayden Pangborn P/2nd/OF
3 Landon Riggs P/OF/2nd
14 Jayden Ritchey C
17 Cooper Kidwell OF
Sophomores
12 Gage Baker P/SS
10 Wyatt Young P/C/OF
8 Cole Fricke P/OF
15 Ryan Sipes OF/1st
2 Hayden Somerlot P/2nd/SS
7 Lane Shrader P/1st/3rd
1 Brogan Pfleiderer P/3rd/OF
11 Dominic Vickers OF
34 Brody Martinez 3rd/1st/P
Freshmen
23 Kaden St. Clair P/C/1st/OF
20 Briggs Leffler OF/P
4 Waylon Dillon OF
5 Brent Robson 2nd/OF/P
42 Nikhil Coder 3rd/P/SS
9 Landon Spires OF/DH
32 Trent Ferguson C/P/OF
33 Eli Hanshaw 3rd/OF
28 Brenden Spurlock C/OF/P
