When Lake baseball coach Jake Nester says he doesn’t know what to expect from this year’s team, it’s not just coach speak.
LAKE'S BASEBALL SCHEDULE
The Hornets are coming off a strong season that saw them go 22-9 last year and advance to the Class 2A North State finals, losing to eventual champion Calhoun City in two games.
And while the Hornets return one of the Class 2A’s top players in sophomore Brady McGee, it’s what’s after that that concern Nester. The Hornets lost their No. 2, 3 and 4 pitchers, who were also the No. 2, 3 and 4 hitters in the lineup.
“We made a really good run last year and have six players back from that team,” Nester said. “But we lost two of our best pitchers and the middle of our lineup. So I don’t really know what to expect. We have some big holes to fill there, that’s for sure. We return six starters, and you would think we would be competitive. But the ones we lost were big losses, so we have to get some guys to step up after Brady.”
McGee had a monster season for the Hornets where he hit .505, scored 51 runs and had 25 RBIs along with 26 stolen bases. On the mound, McGee was 8-2 with a 2.22 ERA in 60 innings pitched with 82 strikeouts. Gone is senior Seth Harrison (32 2/3 IP) and Noah Essary (57 IP).
Coming back for the Hornets at catcher is Ben Moore (.273), who won the team’s defensive MVP award last year. At first base, Will Geter (.231) returns while Nathon Lott (.341) returns at second and will also see time on the mound.
McGee will be the starting shortstop, Easton Tune will start the season at third and Carroll Harrison will also see some playing time at third. In the outfield, Noah Thornton will move to left field after starting in right field last year. Logan Palmer returns in center field while Kenny Ray Hanna and Riley Bell are competing for the right field spot.
“I think our work ethic is going to be the strength of this team,” Nester said. “I think that’s one of the things that took us as far as we got last year. We worked hard and never gave up. I think this group is going to work hard and will work to get better.”
On the mound, Nester said McGee is his No. 1 while he’s looking for major innings out of Logan Palmer. Also, Nester said Jeter, Bell, Hanna and transfer Jacob Lanier will all be called on to eat some innings.
“We’ve been really blessed to have some guys who could eat some innings for us the last couple of years,” Nester said. “After Brady, I don’t know if we really have that. We don’t have that luxury this year. It’s going to be more pitching by committee. We will have to piece together some games, that’s for sure.”
The Hornets will compete in Division 6-2A with Newton, Union, Scott Central and Philadelphia. The Hornets went 7-1 in division play last year, splitting with Union as the lost 15-12 but won 5-0 to take the division championship.
“I would like to think we could compete for the division,” Nester said. “I know Union has some good talent coming back. Scott Central seems to be getting better every year, and you never know about Philadelphia. I know Philadelphia has one of the best throwers in the district. He will bump mid 80s. So it will be a tough district.”
