Zane Trace looks to continue winning ways
KINNIKINNICK – Zane Trace’s baseball program is looking to pick back up where it left off.
After the dust from the 2014 season settled, the Pioneers finished with a 13-12 overall record, and fell short of capturing a Division II sectional championship after an 8-7 loss, in eight innings, to Lynchburg-Clay.
“Lynchburg was a really good team,” Zane Trace coach Ron Allen said. “They won around 23 games last year and we stayed right with them until the very end. I have a lot of veterans returning this year, which is fantastic. Experience is the best teacher and I can’t wait for these guys to finally start playing and picking back up where we left off last season.”
With only two graduating seniors from last year — Tyler Hinty and Collin Swackhammer — that means this year’s core of players being a lot of valuable experience to the field, which also means more leadership in the dugout.
“Tyler Hinty was my shortstop for the last couple years,” Allen said. “Now since he’s graduated, Alex Wolff will be my shortstop this year. Alex has smoothly made the transition from second base to shortstop and I’m happy with the way he practices to get better everyday.”
“Collin was one of my top pitchers last season, so that can be a tough thing to replace. However, I’ve got some really solid kids who are ready to step into that spot and make an impact this season.”
This year’s Pioneers features four seniors, seven juniors and two sophomores.
The four seniors — Drew Barr, Ryan Park, Tyler Wood and Brice Graves — will provide senior leadership for the Pioneers, but according to Allen, everyone is a leader.
“Everything isn’t just on those four seniors.” Allen said. “Those guys are excellent players and perfect examples of leaders on and off the field. However, I expect anyone who has played for me to be a leader. Your grade level doesn’t determine who is a leader; your experience makes you a leader. There is an equal amount of respect for everyone on this team who has played and brings experience to the table.”
Juniors Trey Davis, who was all-league honorable mention last season along with Joel Dunkle will also be looked to as key contributors on both sides of the ball.
“Trey is a great player,” Allen said. “He plays hard on every single play and we’re looking for him to have an exceptional year for us and continue to grow as a player. Same qualities with Joel, I think he will have an outstanding year along with everyone else.”
However, there’s one player Coach Allen is really excited for and that’s junior Trey Rittenhouse, who hasn’t played baseball since the 6th grade.
“He’s an outstanding athlete,” Allen said. “We’ll have him playing in the outfield for us this year. He brings an element to the team that we haven’t had much of in the past few years and that’s speed.”
With all of these elements featured, the Pioneers are ready and primed to make a run at the Scioto Valley Championship, but that’s not their only goal.
“We’ve created a high standard at Zane Trace,” Allen said. “We fully expect to win at least 18-20 games every year and this year is no different. We have an excellent team who is eager to fully hit the diamond and play a game that counts. We want to get back to that standard of making deep tournament runs and I firmly believe we can do that.
Zane Trace will begin their season Saturday with a doubleheader at home, against Eastern Brown.
Pioneers’ softball program ushering in new era
In 2014, the Lady Pioneers took a further step in the right direction.
Their season ended with a 16-5 record, which included capturing a Division III sectional championship before falling short in a district championship contest to Wheelersburg, 9-4.
Now in 2015, Zane Trace welcomes in new head coach Don Kunz after a successful five year stint as the head coach of the Jackson softball program, where he’s led the Ironmen to winning three consecutive sectional titles.
“Zane Trace has had great success in the past,” Kunz said. “When I was at Jackson, we scrimmaged them almost every year so I knew what I was somewhat getting into. This is a great program with fantastic kids and we want to keep taking the program forward and to new heights that these kids haven’t experienced yet.”
With no losses to their starting lineup, the Pioneers are loaded from the front to the back.
The team’s six seniors — led by the duo of Morgan Geno and Montana Fry — will be the glue that holds the team together and provide those leadership intangibles.
“Morgan is a great leader,” Kunz said. “She understands how valuable everyone around her is and she knows that she can trust them to make the plays behind her. She’s going to throw the major bulk of our games. Montana is an outstanding athlete. I’ve been able to move her around to different positions to give us different looks and she’s been exceptional.”
Juniors D’Lani Swackhammer — who will be the team’s second pitcher — Katie Unger (SS) and Taylor Stacey (CF) will also be looked to as major contributors to fuel the Pioneers.
Sophomore Morgan Arledge returns this year after missing last season with a torn ACL and fellow sophomore Ashton Ward will play key factors for Zane Trace as well, along with junior Alli Jones, when it comes to hitting the ball.
“There’s not one player I don’t trust on this team,” Kunz said. “I could play all the girls on the team and I won’t worry about anything because I’m confident in them. These girls are wonderful players and I trust them to go out behind our two pitchers and make plays every single night we step onto the field.”
Kunz is thrilled about the team he’s inherited, but he isn’t putting any pressure or any type of expectations on them, all he wants is 100% effort.
“We want to win everyday,” Kunz said. “I’m not talking about wins and losses; I’m taking about improving every single day. We want to compete for a league title. We want to be playing our best softball possible and be able make a deep run in the OSHAA tournament.”
Zane Trace will start its season Monday, at Logan Elm.