By Mike Warner
For The New Era
Lebanon baseball is in full swing, but the Warriors are still trying to find theirs.
The team has not seen the success that they expected coming into the season.
Lebanon started with two encouraging wins, but then lost six in a row, four to southern Colorado teams at a tournament in Arizona during spring break.
Despite the early losses, Coach Jeff Stolsig remains very positive.
“We didn’t have the results we wanted in Arizona, but there were a lot of learning opportunities and we really laid a good foundation for the rest of the season,” he said. “The kids are working hard.”
Stolsig’s attitude is shared by his players.
“We started out pretty good with two good wins but then had some rough losses down in Arizona. However, our bats were pretty hot and we showed a lot of potential,” said senior outfielder Carson Quigley.
Senior catcher Wyatt Jenkins, knows the team pretty well. He has been the starting catcher all four years. He said that he “has a lot of hope for the rest of the season. We have great arms”.
Stolsig has great faith in the team. Its strength will be its balance, depth and experience.
After finishing eighth in the Mid-Willamette Conference last year with a 5-13 record, 10-16 overall, the Warriors graduated only one player, Zane Cox.
This year’s roster includes seven returning seniors, Niko Autry, Preston Bryan, Walker Erickson, Jenkins, Trenton Lewis, Quigley and Austin Turnidge; and five juniors, Brayden Fountain, Cole Gerig, Cohen Vandiver, Dylan Walker and Owen Wodtli; so the Warriors have plenty of returning experience.
Rounding out the varsity roster are sophomores Treyton Enright, Riley Grove, Jonah King and Lincoln Randall, and freshman Jaidyn Von Ruden.
Junior varsity team members include junior Yago Ruano Perez; sophomores Nolan Dierksen, Benjamin Duty, Zachary McQuistan, Jack Mitchell, Lincoln Randall, Casey Stutz, Brittan Stevenson, Hunter Weathers, and freshmen Aiden Anderson, August Barnes, Cooper Burian, Jacob Freeman, Logan Gibson, Issac Esqueda, Porter Kuhns, Lane Murray, Carter Reece and Winston Stuck.
Stolsig notes that the league will get four teams in the post-season playoffs and there are about six teams battling for those four positions. He believes Lebanon will be one of the six in the mix.
The Warriors finish their preseason schedule Tuesday, April 7, at Cleveland and will start MWC play Friday, April 10, at McKay. Their first home league game will be against McKay Monday, April 13.