Park Hill baseball hopes to build on stellar 2010

After coming off the school’s best baseball season in history where their 17-6 record advanced them to the state quarterfinals for the first time, Park Hill returns just two starters and a handful of lettermen to the 2011 squad. While this year’s team will have a lot of new faces, the Trojans and coach Greg Reynolds know in order to build a program it requires successful seasons every year.

“Last year was great, but this year we have a chance to put our program where we want it to be,” Reynolds said. “Coming back after losing 11 seniors, playing well, putting together a record we want and getting back to the playoffs, now that would put our program where we want it.”

The three most experienced players returning include first baseman and slugger Adam Vanderpool, second baseman and pitcher Nathan Shores, and pitcher Luke Burnidge. These three will serve as the most experienced of their fellow teammates, but Reynolds believes there are several advantages to having a young team with positions up for grabs and players needing to prove themselves.

“One of their strengths is they are understanding things a little quicker than some of the more experienced teams we’ve had around,” Reynolds said. “We’ve got a lot of options for the things we consider holes right now and fighting for varsity jobs which will make us better, the competition will help.”

The firepower that came with last year’s team will be substituted for the Trojans’ focus on sound strategy and basics which thankfully cater to some of their emerging strong points.

“We’ve got some guys that can put the ball in play, but not with the power we did last year,” Reynolds said. “We’re going to have to play more small ball this year.”

There are a handful of players Reynolds will seek additional support from. Zach Thompson (SS), Zach Anderson(C), Jake Jones (3B), and Adam Fossett (2B/OF) will contribute to what will likely be a strong infield. While Jones and Fosdick will be interchangeable at the lead-off and middle lineup slots in the order at first, Reynolds says Thompson is baseball savvy and Anderson can play just about any position he’s needed at, creating a well-rounded group of athletes.

Reynolds sees two keys to this year’s squad. The first is the amount of walks his pitchers give up. Secondly, being able to bat around .300 as a team or slightly below means they won’t have to rely on the long-ball as in the past.

A young team will be paired with a difficult schedule featuring district or conference implications almost every time they step on the field. The untested Trojans hope to use it as a challenge.

“Every game will be very important. I don’t see a lot of games where it won’t mean very much,” Reynolds said. “Plus, with our kids wanting to prove themselves in a fighting battle for every game, I’m thinking we’ll take each pitch a little more seriously.”