Harrison baseball excited for new season

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

The Harrison baseball team is ready to head into the new season, and they’ll be led by fourth year head coach Nick Halm. The Hornets return six players from a year ago, as they look to make gains on last year’s campaign.

“I am excited for another season with Harrison baseball,” Halm said. “This is a fun, focused group of guys, and they deserve to have a good season.”

The Hornets went 3-29 last year but competed well against some really solid opponents along the way.

“We had a pretty tough schedule, playing lots of larger schools,” Halm said. “Towards the end of the season, we had a pretty decent foundation of defensive fundamentals but couldn't string together the big innings needed to win.”

Returning to the team from last year will be Nyxon Rhodes, Matt Latunski, Evan Umphrey, Tom Hamilton, Gavin Vanburen and Kegan Chaskey. New to the team will be Kayden Hendren, Jake Gee, Kelton Carlstrom, Damien Quick, Josh O’Day and Parker Latunski.

“At this point in the season, it is too early to tell who is going to solidify any positions,” Halm said. “With today's pitch count rules, we expect three-to-four of these new arrivals to be able to pitch. All of them are expected to play outfield, and some infield as well. The attitudes are in the right place so far. Discipline and routines need to continue to improve.”

The coach added some insights on what the team has been focusing on through the first few weeks.

“Early season practices have been productive,” Halm said. “We are excited to be working on the game and making daily improvements but can't wait to compete. It doesn't matter if it's cold outside. If it's clear, we are out there. You can't get enough reps. We have been taking an extended focus on pitching and hitting more to start the season. Pitching contact and throwing strikes are the most important thing for our team to succeed. When it comes to hitting, confidence and plate approach have been a constant thing to revisit. It starts with contact.”

Harrison had two doubleheaders last week and they were scheduled to play at Ogemaw Heights on Tuesday, they are set to host Bullock Creek today (Thursday), they host Manton on Friday, and they host Meridian on Tuesday.

“We are in the smaller division of the Jack Pine Conference, considering the factors of smaller enrollment, you never know how each team is going to stack up each year in that division,” Halm said. “I am always optimistic, but I do not know where we will end up. The rest of the small division has to play the larger schools as well, so it comes down to who is pitching on what day, what team is hitting and what team is not.”