The Loudonville baseball team is looking to repeat as Mid-Buckeye Conference champions this year, with seniors Matt Sprang and Baylor Weiser, and junior Judah Layton, leading the Redbirds after first team All-MBC seasons last year.
The Redbird were 7-1 in conference play and went 13-13 overall. They entered the sectional tournament as the number four seed facing No. 5 Rittman, but lost 8-6 in the 10th inning off a two-run single. The team brings back an experienced squad with nine seniors, but also has a strong mix of juniors and sophomores to fill out what is a solid lineup.
Sprang is a pitcher and infielder, who was first team All-District, and batted .365 last season. He was also a main run producer, knocking in 20 RBIs. Weiser plays centerfield was a beast at the plate, hitting .397 on the year to lead the team. Layton had a stellar sophomore year pitching and playing third. He was just behind the team lead with a .390 average, and drove in 18 runs.
The team also has four senior lettermen returning including second baseman Corbin Donaldson; utility player Kiefer Rhodes; pitcher and outfielder Easton Edwards; and outfielder and pitcher Hunter polen. Dilan Wade returns to play shortstop and pitch in his junior season, and Caden Donaldson will pitch and be a utility player in his sophomore year.
Coach Matt Rucki is in his fourth season as the head coach, and said as a program they try to focus on the two areas that win close games: pitching and defense.
“Defense and pitching should be strengths for us,” Rucki said. “We need to improve on having consistent, competitive at-bats throughout the season. Cutting down our strikeouts will be a major focus. We have nine seniors that we need to provide steady leadership if we are to meet our regular season and postseason goals.”
This is especially true when it comes to the playoffs. Rucki likes to play old school baseball, putting runners in motion and being aggressive to pressure the defense to have to make the play.
“With a lot of experience returning and some underclassmen that are ready to make an impact, we have the potential to have a solid season,” said Rucki. “We’ll need contributions from our whole roster and our seniors to take charge and be good role models if we are to achieve the goals that we have.”
Loudonville Redbirds roster
Coach: Matt Rucki
Assistants: Jim Baum, Matt Cottrill, John Curtis
Trainer: Ashley Gorman
#1 Caden Donaldson, C/SS/P sophomore
#2 Corbin Donaldson 2B senior
#3 Dilan Wade P/INF junior
#4 Matt Sprang P/IF senior
#5 Baylor Weiser P/OF/C senior
#7 Caleb Hammitt OF junior
#8 Josh Serrato senior
#10 Kiefer Rhodes OF/2B senior
#11 Hunter Polen P/UTI senior
#15 Judah Layton p/3B junior
#18 Kayden Cabral 1B junior
#20 Dakota Wright 1B/p sophomore
#22 Logan Hollinger 3B/OF senior
Haeden Santiz 24 P/UTI senior
Easton Edwards 25 OF senior
2024 Schedule:
3/23 Fredericktown 11 a.m.
3/25 Rootstown @ Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 6:30 p.m.
3/26 Friends Central (pA) @ Myrtle Beach 6:30 p.m.
3/27 West Geauga @ Myrtle Beach, 11 a.m.
3/30 Double header @ Northmor 11a.m. /1 p.m.
4/1 @ Lucas 5 p.m.
4/2 Lucas 5:00 p.m.
4/4 @ Hiland 5:00 p.m.
4/5 Smithville 5:00 p.m.
4/9 @ Mansfield Christian 5:00 p.m.
4/junior East Knox 5:00 p.m.
4/senior Mansfield Christian 5:00 p.m.
4/13 @ Hillsdale 3:00 p.m.
4/13 @ Orrville 7:00 p.m.
4/15 @ Central Christian 5:00 p.m.
4/16 Central Christian 5:00 p.m.
4/18 Mount Gilead 5:00 p.m.
4/19 @ Waynedale 5:00 p.m.
4/26 Clear Fork 5:00 p.m.
4/27 Chippewa @ Wooster, 10 a.m.
4/29 Crestline 5:00 p.m.
4/30 @ Crestline 5:00 p.m.
5/3 @ Triway 5:00 p.m.
5/9 @ Mapleton 5:00 p.m.
5/10 South Central 5:30 p.m.
