Muskingum baseball gaining valuable experience

NEW CONCORD – There have been growing pains for a young Muskingum baseball squad.

The Muskies are off to a 6-10 start without a senior on the roster and only five juniors, including pitcher Dylan Davy, a Sheridan graduate.

Head coach Gregg Thompson, in his 19th season, has seen positives, but the schedule will gets more challenging starting this weekend when the Muskies host nationally ranked Heidelberg in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader.

The OAC features five teams either ranked in the Top 25 or receiving votes.

"I was worried, when we went to Florida, we wouldn't fit against our competition, but we did," Thompson said. "This is an energetic group who will have to learn how to win. We won't be able to bide our time in the OAC. We will have to grow up in a hurry."

The offense has produced early, averaging seven runs per game. Freshman Vayden Wood has stepped in right away, hitting .421 with six doubles, 14 runs scored and five RBI, and sophomore catcher A.J. Kazmierczak has a .404 average, five doubles and nine RBI.

Three returnees — juniors Brett Robberts and Christian Leitenberger and sophomore Matt Lynn from Zanesville — have started to find their swing. Robberts is hitting .291 with 11 RBI, Leitenberger has a .254 with 11 RBI and 11 runs scored and Lynn is batting .241 with 17 runs scored and seven RBI.

"On paper, we have good components, but there have been some struggles," Thompson said. "We know guys hitting .400 now aren't going to keep that up, and some guys who started slow are showing signs of life. It's about finding a consistent mix."

The pitching hasn't matched the offensive production. Six players have started a game, and 12 players — including Davy, Lynn and sophomore Brandon Bush, a Maysville alum — have pitched in some capacity.

Yet the Muskies' rotation sports a 6.96 ERA and has given up 135 runs, 108 earned, on 202 hits with nine of those being home runs.

Derrick Barker is the lone starter with an ERA below 4.00 at 3.78, while Bush has thrived in the bullpen, allowing eight runs, four earned, on 24 hits and striking out nine in 15 innings.

"We're scoring enough to win games, but we have to get better on the mound," Thompson said. "We have to consistently throw strikes and not let hitters get into hitters' counts."

Three area players will play key roles for the Muskies. Thompson, who coached John Glenn coach Brad Barclay and Maysville coach Nathan Prati, hopes the program can continue bringing in area talent.

"It can be tough for a player to wait because there are a limited number of at-bats or innings," Thompson said. "If players bide their time and get themselves ready physically and mentally, there will be chances. We want players to buy into our program and help us compete each day."

bhannahs@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

740-450-6763

Twitter: @brandonhannahs