The Lexington baseball team (11-18) started poorly with a 1-9 record, but the Minutemen battled and ended up winning the Sectional Finals. The team had a core group of seniors, who were recognized with a number of postseason accolades.
Senior Braden Mumaw finished out his career as a Minuteman as a second team All-Ohio selection, honorable mention for District 9 and honorable mention for all-OCC. The third baseman batted .346 with two homers, 20 RBIs, a slugging percentage of .500 and an OBP of .439.
Senior catcher Jaxon Brown was first team All-OCC, District 9 honorable mention and played in the Senior All Ohio Series. He batted .310 with seven RBIs and did a nice job getting on base with a .417 OBP.
Senior outfielder Michael Togliatti was second team All-OCC, and had a strong year at the plate batting .324 with eight RBIs. He showed off outstanding speed with 22 steals in 25 tries, and did a nice job running down fly balls. He was the team’s leadoff hitter, and set the table by getting on base at a .490 clip.
Senior second baseman Zio Rhodes was second team All-OCC, and also hit well while showing his wheels with 23 steals in 30 attempts. He batted .356 with an OBP of .474. He smashed five doubles and two triples, whole driving in 17 runs. His 28 runs scored led the squad.
Senior pitcher Colton Murfield was an honorable mention for All-OCC. He had a 1.861 ERA and went 2-2 with 35 strikeouts in 26 and one-third innings. He also hit well in limited action going 8-for-24 with seven RBIs. While arm trouble prevented him from pitching half the season, he was a great competitor on the hill. He also ended up being the team’s DH the last part of the year.
The team was competitive in nearly every game, with eight of the team’s losses by only one run. Coach Jeff Strickler was happy that the team never gave up, saying that it said a lot about their character.
“Our strengths were our running game and, over the last part of the season, the small-ball game," Strickler said. "Something we need to work on next year is getting runners in scoring position across the plate—we left way too many players on base. We were 1-8 in one run games with opportunities to get more runs in those losses. This season could have been a winning season had we been able to get those clutch hits."
The team loses 10 seniors from this past season, but there are five underclassmen who played varsity who should step up next season. Three are pitchers (junior Gage Powell, junior Max Montgomery and freshman Tyler Galownia) and they will be the core of the staff. Strickler also sees them as starters at shortstop, outfield and first base respectively. Sophomores Markale Martin and Cole Eichorn should also be difference makers. Martin had 10 hits in the last 11 games and ended with a seven game winning streak. Eichorn got some time in at catcher at the end of the season and showed what he can do for years to come.
"The general outlook for next year is the talent will be there, just not a whole lot of varsity experience," Strickler said. "However, we are looking forward to a good season."
