By JOSH BURRIS
Southern Wells’ baseball team was looking to take a step forward last season after a cancelled 2020 season.
While the Raiders came up a bit short of the win total they wanted to hit with their 5-19 overall record, they were able to win one game in sectional play and have players excited about what this season could hold.
Coach Blade Rheinhart, who went through his first season as a head coach last year, said it was a learning experience for him being in charge as well, but that guys have been motivated to get better in the 2022 season. Whether it was extra time in the weight room, offseason workouts, or summer ball, Rheinhart said he has seen a lot of work being done to improve.
“To be in charge of a whole program was eye-opening, but it was everything I wanted it to be,” Rheinhart said. “We came up a little short, but the guys know the expectations. A lot of guys put in a ton of work in the offseason.”
The Raiders will not be too lacking in experience as they only had three players graduate last year and bring back seven seniors.
The Raiders will have their top hitter and pitcher back to lead the way in Evan Reynolds. At the plate, he led the Raiders with a .333 batting average. On the mound, he threw 51 strikeouts in 50 innings, leading the team in both categories.
Now a senior, Rheinhart expects Reynolds to continue to do great things for the team.
“I can’t wait to see what he does this year for us,” Rheinhart said. “We just know that he is always going to give us what we need out of him.”
Senior Owen Vickrey, who had a team-high 14 RBIs last year and was second to Reynolds in strikeouts and innings pitched, will hold the fort down at first base and pitch. Senior Branson Rheinhart will play shortstop and get time on the mound as well. Senior Dustin Woodward will return to center to lead the Raiders outfield. Junior Kedrik Sonnigsen also returns and will play around the infield.
Junior Jenson Nusbaumer will see more time on the diamond this year as a utility player. Sophomore Bryar Gearheart, who ran track last season, decided to come out for baseball this year and will be behind the plate at catcher.
Rheinhart, who has coached most of the senior class at the youth level, said the group is very close and should help with team chemistry and communication on the field.
As far as their style of play, Rheinhart said it starts on the defensive end. He said their wins are most likely going to be close, so they cannot give teams free runs.
“We want to be a strong defensive team that can chip in two, or three runs every inning or every other inning to win some close ball games,” Rheinhart said. “We are not a team that’s going to come out and put up 15 or 20 runs and 10-run some schools. We are going to win close ball games, and we are going to have to do it the right way.”
Southern Wells will not have an easy way to go through the ACAC. Rheinhart said the conference will definitely be a challenge to get through once again, with South Adams and Adams Central leading the way. He said those two schools have built their programs up the right way and are great teams to model after.
Heritage is another team that he said was big and strong last year and brings back a lot of its talent.
“The ACAC is a tough conference,” Rheinhart said. “Those big three of South Adams, Adams Central, and Heritage, those guys will be on our radar.”
The Raiders are hoping to bump up their total in the win column again this year. But besides that, Rheinhart hopes it can be a year for his seniors to enjoy as they prepare for their next stage in life.
“We want to improve from last year. We had five wins, that was two shallow of what we wanted it to be last year. So we definitely want to improve in that column. “But overall with having as many seniors as we do, it’s a leadership standpoint for them. It’s a pivotal year for them as they grow and look into their futures. The goal is essentially to get them ready for life after baseball.”
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