The Republic baseball team enters the new season with a roster full of experienced upperclassmen, despite losing five starters from last year. Head coach Curt Plotner is optimistic, with seniors filling most of the vacant spots and a strong sense of togetherness among the players who have grown up playing together.
“I think the good thing is we’re replacing most of those guys with seniors that have been in the program for four years,” Plotner said. “And then we’ve got some experienced guys that are going to fill some of those other spots as well. I think we’re in a good spot. We’ve had that kind of team in the past, and we’ve had some success.”
“We have 10 seniors that have played together for a long time,” Plotner continued. “And we’ve done a pretty good job in practice up to this point. That’s not to say that those guys last year weren’t together, because they were, and we had a really good year. But these kids have grown up together and they seem to really care about each other and putting the team first. And I think that will serve us well.”
The Tigers’ experienced pitching staff, including hard-throwing right-hander Caide White, is a key asset this season. “Caide’s been as good as he’s ever been in the offseason from what I’ve seen,” Plotner said. “He set some goals for himself that he wants to meet. And if he meets those goals, which he’s capable of, he’s going to have a really good year.”
Alongside White, the Tigers will turn to the reliable Myles Lozano, who Plotner described as a strike-thrower and ground-ball inducer. Lozano led the team in earned run average last season. “Myles is Myles,” Plotner said. “He’s going to throw a lot of strikes and get a lot of ground balls. And we’re hopefully going to pick them up and throw them to first base.” Lozano’s performance last year earned him all-conference and all-district honors, and he’s poised to build on that success this season.
The Tigers also have a strong arm in the bullpen with senior Ethan Anderson. “He’s been up in the mid-80s with a really good slider and done a good job in the offseason, so he should have a chance to help us,” Plotner said.
Beyond White, Lozano, and Anderson, the Tigers’ pitching staff features a deep talent pool. One pitcher who could make a significant impact is Preston McCracken, who’s been fighting an injury during the preseason, but could return later in the year. McCracken had been penciled in near the top of the rotation, and Plotner hopes he can return to that rule before the season is too far along. “Hopefully, by the time we get to postseason play, he’s back and healthy, and we’ll have three really good starting pitchers to try to win a district tournament.”
Trace Harrington and Garrett Lester may also step into starting roles this season. Ryder Davis is also in the conversation for starting duties, as the Tigers will need to rely on their pitching depth early in the season due to a compressed schedule. “We’re going to play so many games early that we’re going to have to use five or six different guys,” Plotner explained.
Other pitchers who could see time on the mound include Jackson Overstreet, Devon Hughes, and Cannon Ellison.
The Tigers boast a strong defense behind their pitchers. The middle infield, featuring Devon Hughes at shortstop and Ryder Davis at second base, is expected to be a strength. “Honestly, those guys in the middle with Devon and Ryder probably are the best double play combination that we’ve had in quite a while,” coach Curt Plotner said.
Garrett Lester will cover plenty of ground in center field, providing excellent range and a reliable glove. Wyatt Woods, a returning all-state selection, will handle the catching duties, bringing stability and experience behind the plate. Trace Harrington is expected to see time at first base, while the third base position could be filled by a combination of Kanon Krol, Carter Nation, and Nolan Coble. Brett Hendrickson and Jackson Overstreet round out the outfield in left and right, respectively.
The Tigers will look to build on last year’s offensive success. Garrett Lester returns after posting a .457 on-base percentage (OBP) and scoring 35 runs. “Garrett is a guy who can really set the table for us at the top of the lineup,” Plotner said. “When he gets on base, good things happen.” Devon Hughes hit seven doubles and drove in 18 runs with a .378 OBP last season, batting in the bottom half of the order. He will slide up the lineup as a table-setter behind Lester this year.
All-state catcher Wyatt Woods reached base in more than half his plate appearances last season, and he returns in the heart of the order. Trace Harrington is healthy after an off-season injury and has looked good in early practices. He led the team with five homers last year, and he drove in 27 runs while slugging .500. Newcomer Jackson Overstreet could provide pop in the middle of the lineup, also. The rest of the lineup will be somewhat dependent on who is pitching and where other players have shifted defensively to account for that.
Republic’s schedule is packed with high-quality opponents, continuing a trend from the last several seasons. The Tigers face non-conference opponents like Liberty North, Kennett, Lee’s Summit West, and Oak Park before the end of March. A non-conference game in early April will also have implications for district seeding later in the year.
“The biggest thing, and you’ll see this as the year goes on, is everybody’s going to be really good,” Plotner said. “I think there’s five or six teams that can win our league and five or six teams that can win our district. It’s going to be a dogfight every night.”