With the loss of eight graduates, including district MVP Caleb Koedyker, the Indian baseball team looks for new leadership and places for underclassmen to step up for the season which begins with a home scrimmage versus Permian and Pecos at noon tomorrow.
“It’s tough to lose some great leaders,” senior infielder Jacob Tonini said. “Our senior class has some guys that will step up, and hopefully the underclassmen will step up and fill the shoes.”
The Indians return first team all district selections in sophomore pitcher Jesse Alonzo, Tonini and senior shortstop Roman Ruiz.
“Jacob and Roman are showing potential and stepping up,” senior infielder Andy Luna said. “They are always working hard on the field and telling people what’s wrong and what’s right.”
Luna tore his medial collateral ligament in football and should be released to practice this week according to Coach Mike Browning.
“It’s going to be a whole new level of baseball,” Ruiz said. “The teams are more baseball-oriented but we are going to do our job and play baseball. First [my goal is] to get my knee better and have a better batting average than last year.”
Last year Alonzo pitched a win in the playoffs and hopes for that kind of intensity this season.
“We will need to focus more in practice,” Alonzo said. “We shouldn’t play around and need to work to get the leadership that we need to have.”
The Indians were 21-7-1 and took the district championship from Andrews last year which is the goal this season as well.
“We always put the district championship in [as a goal],” Browning said. “This district is a good one, but the district championship is goal number one.”
Browning said the team needed to continue improving this year and not peak too early and get stagnant.
From last year’s District 2-3A, Cooper could return four first team players and one second team player; Estacado could return two first team players and two second team players; Levelland could return two first team players; and Shallowater could return one first team player. From district 4-3A, Andrews could bring back four first team players.
“There will be challenges,” Tonini said. “Our schedule won’t be as soft, but we will try to do our best.”
The competition level in District 4-4A will be high. Cooper, who was ranked 10th in the state by 254sports.com in preseason polls, defeated the Indians 9-0 in 2012. The Indians beat Shallowater 7-6 in their 2012 meeting, while they split with Andrews in district play. Levelland was the last team the Indians faced in 2012 as the Lobos eliminated the Indians in the area championship.
“It seems like it is the best district in the region,” Browning said. “I like to think of us as part of that reason, too.”
Indian players set individual marks in hopes of playing in the post season.
“I want to try to hit .500 in one season,” senior Rafael Wiebe said. “I will feel like I accomplished something. I’m going to try to make all district again and hopefully an appearance in the playoffs for us,” Tonini said. “I’m going to practice every day with the mind set that every day is game day. Practice like you play.”
The Indians see the first regular season game on Feb. 18 at Robert Ryan Field against Monahans.
“So far the players are working really hard to get ready,” Browning said. “This season the work ethic will be good. We have a lot of big gaps to fill but some guys are anxious to fill them. It’s time to start practice.”