Defense key to baseball squad
Several all-star players missing from last year's third-place state team
BY RYAN RICHTER
sports writer
Predicting how well the Trojans will do in 2002 is about as difficult for fourth-year coach Phil Oelke as predicting the weather forecast.
Who knows exactly what will happen?
With the season opening today at Marion, Oelke's main concern lies with his team's defense.
He's got good reason to feel shaky considering the number that graduation did on last year's third-place team.
Among the missing, all-state shortstop Grant Brubacher, Jeremy Loewen, Nathan Fish, Dan Funk, and Corey Thiessen.
"We're going to be pretty inexperienced for the most part," Oelke said. "Defense is my biggest concern. If we can field the ball cleanly, I think we'll be pretty competitive."
There's more reason to worry about the Trojans' experience and their offense than there is to worry about talent.
Nobody returning this season was a permanent fixture in last year's lineup.
"The kids that are back are a year older and a year stronger than the young guys," said Oelke. "The problem is if you look at us on paper, we're a pretty talented crew if you look at terms of seniors and juniors that are on the field.
"But the number of games those guys have played in the last two years are pretty minimal. We've got some guys that have taken an at-bat, but for the most part, they haven't had a lot of playing time."
What might soothe the defensive concern comes from where it all flows from the pitcher's mound.
That will likely be the biggest strength for Hillsboro this year with top three in the rotation.
Senior Layne Frick and juniors Dustin Jost and Jerod Metcalf all had quality outings last year. The trio should make the Trojans a dangerous opponent.
With just the three, Oelke is still taking applications for a fourth pitcher.
Shawn Hughbanks could figure into that mix along with Jared Fish.
Whoever the starter is will have a solid backstop behind the plate in one of the state's premier catchers in junior James Bina.
Bina is perhaps the returning player with the most experience under his belt.
The rest of the infield will depend on who pitches for Hillsboro as the Trojans don't have a spot that has been solid the last few years.
Ben Walker will get the first look at first base with Frick likely seeing a large sum of innings.
Whichever one of the pitching trio is not on the mound stands a good chance at filling second base and shortstop.
Not being definite in the pitching rotation, Hughbanks will likely get the nod at third base.
The outfield possesses good speed with Kris Jones in center, Andy Brubacher in left, and the injured Ronn Coates in right.
The trio will be pressed for time by junior Steve Chisholm.
"He's actually looked pretty good," Oelke said of Chisholm. "He's a big, strong kid, and his hitting mechanics have changed quite a bit. He's become a lot better, and he hits a lot harder."
It's still too early to predict how Hillsboro's offense will pan out, though.
The only safe bet is that junior Graham Ratzlaff will fill the designated hitter position.
The race for the MCAA title could go one of three ways.
Along with defending Class 3A state champion Wichita Collegiate, Oelke also predicts the Nickerson Panthers to challenge for the MCAA title.
The Panthers caused a ruckus in legion baseball over the summer, advancing to the national tournament.
The Spartans' pitching staff, led by Bill Griffith, is enough to pose a threat to any opponent.
When asked if he believed his team was ready for today's season opener, Oelke gave the 'no' response that most coaches would use.
"The weather's going to be nice," he said. "At least that part's going to work out. Considering our practices have been bad, I think we look pretty good."
