HIGH SCHOOL

Returnees are fueling fire for Harding

Denny McPherson
Reporter
Harding tennis player Jacob Lester, left, chats with coach Russell Collins during a match this season at Pleasant.

MARION – Defense, pitching and veterans are helping fuel the Harding softball team this spring.

"Having returning players from last year's defense gets us off in the right direction," said third-year coach Rose Cunningham (20-32 entering the season). "We feel comfortable with any player in any position.

The Marion Harding 2015 softball team is, front row from left, Tyler Bivens, Logan Gross, Christina Franklin and Shania Byrne. Row two is Kaitlyn McKinniss, Jacquelynne Haycox, Alexis Jones, Taiya Jones, Sequoyah Thompson, Brittany Sterritt, Angelique Hill, coach Angela Lavery and coach Gene Crochet. Row three is coach Scott McCrery, Mickayla Edwards, Cierra Millisor, Bryanna Balliet, Hannah Jenner and Jordan Lewis. Row four is coach Rose Cunningham, Brooklyn Conrad, Aspen Backus, Maxxine Pittman, Allison Russell, Taylor Leonard, Emily Needels, N'Shay Scott, Meghan McComas, Ashly Martin, Jaycee Bentley and coach Erica Marquis.

"Our pitching is key, along with our communication behind the pitcher. We are young at the plate, but our players are ready for the challenge."

Seniors Tyler Bivens, Christina Franklin and Shania Byrne are letter-winning returnees, as are juniors Emily Needels and Taylor Leonard and sophomores Allison Russell, N'Shay Scott, Brittany Sterritt and Maxxine Pittman.

They have helped Harding to a 5-11 record through 16 games and to a 3-6 mark in their first season in the Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

Other key players are senior Logan Gross and sophomores Aspen Backus, Meghan McComas, Ashly Martin, Jaycee Bentley and Brooklyn Conrad.

Lost to graduation from last season's 11-16 team were Taylor Hancock, Brianna Pittman, Hailey Crochet, Carlee Mullins and Susan Owens.

Baseball

Things have not gone as planned for coach Brett McCrery (31-65 in four previous seasons) and his Presidents baseball team.

Near the close of the week, Harding was just 1-12 overall and 1-7 in the MOAC.

The 2015 Harding varsity baseball team is, front row from left, is Dillion Hoskins, Tyriq Harris, Austin Riegel, Cory Rice, Ryan Sayre and Ryan Adams. Back row is Nettie Borders, Donovan Bauer, Steve Meachem, Max Mitchell, Blake Hoffman, Weston Osborne and Nate Lawrence.

"We have a lot of youth and inexperience," McCrery said. "We have some potential hitting-wise, but it's unproven. We must also throw strikes and play solid defense."

Harding's returning lettermen are Dillon Hoskins, Steve Meachem, Nate Lawrence and Tauren Jolley.

Meachem hit .357 last season with eight RBIs; Hoskins was a .162 hitter; Lawrence swung the bat at a .367 clip with 11 RBIs; and Jolley batted .136.

Gone to graduation from last year's 11-14 team are Ty Endsley (.333, 3-4 pitching), Dallas Springer (.375, 2-2), Tate Morgan (.292), Wes Gherman (.462), Kobe Troutman (.271), Keyontay Rogers (.311), Nick Glass (.286. 2-0), Wliam Kincaid and Tieran Mason (.469, 27 RBIs).

"We want to get better every day and focus on discipline and fundamental baseball," McCrery said.

Tennis

Three returning letter winners are setting the stage for coach Russell Collins' tennis team.

Seniors Jacob Lester and Win Adissem are back, as is junior Trent Ramsey (6-5 a year ago).

The Harding 2015 varsity tennis team is, from left Ryder Delavern, coach Russell Collins, Cable Oldfield, Win Adissem, Jacob Lester, Cain Lackey, Parker Baird, Anne Charvin, Robby Stoneburner, Colin Hart, Trent Ramsey, Daisy Delapaz and Sara Cornely.

Collins, in his fourth year, has also been banking on Cain Lackey, Parker Baird, Robby Stoneburner and Colin Heart.

"Our goal is to improve our record from the last couple of season and compete for the MOAC championship," Collins said. "We need to improve on the fundamentals of the game, become mentally tough on the court, and close out matches."

Austin Smith was Harding's lone graduation loss in tennis.

Boys track

W. Jerome Bohanna, who has coached for 37 years, likes the look of his Harding boys squad.

"We have young sprinters, a returning regional qualifier in the pole vault, a strong distance team, and a willingness to work and have a commitment to the sport," Bohanna said.

Kyle Goings was the regional pole vault qualifier and was an indoor state qualifier as well.

The other Harding letter winners who are back are sophomore Phillip Nicol, junior Trexton Harbolt, junior Thomas Moore, sophomore Michael Freeman, sophomore T.J. Jefferson, junior Justin Adams, junior Spencer Jones, sophomore Zack Lingo, senior Martin Prude, sophomore Roberto Oswald and sophomore Joseph Tinnerello.

Prude should be strong in the 400 while Jordan Scott is a fine shot putter and Nicol runs the 1600 well.

Graduation loses were regional-qualifying speedster A.J. Jones, weight men Casey Nelson and Kier Scott, distance runner William Moody, hurdler Bud Ross and sprinter Trey Price.

Girls track

Marcia Pitts is also a veteran track coach at Harding, and the 18th-year mentor has 13 returning letter winners to help overcome the graduation loss of regional qualifier Kaitlyn Mayer.

The letter winners are senior high jump regional qualifier Olivia Davis; 4x100 relay regional qualifiers LaKaisha Wade (junior), Cloie Riedlinger (sophomore) and Kia Branstetter (sophomore); junior thrower Tessa Kohlman; sophomore throwers Lauren Ison and Justina Wallin; senior pole vaulter Kendra Fogle; high jumpers Alyssa Moodley (junior) and Rachel Ratliff (sophomore); distance runners Paige Montgomery (senior) and Olivia Brazell (sophomore); and sophomore sprinter Faith McGinn.

Other key Lady Presidents are freshmen Natalie Steven, Jade Brady, Ariyanna Reece, Mickayla Jacobs and Gwen Harris.

"Lower numbers are hurting us in depth, but our kids have a great work ethic," Pitts said. "We need to stay healthy, and we strive to improve each week."

dmcphers@nncogannett.com

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Twitter: @starsportsdenny