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Tigers look to reload after key departures
On the heels of a borderline dream-season, the Nevada Tiger high school baseball team returns to the diamond Tuesday with an almost entirely different look.
After capturing their first district championship since 2003, Nevada was upended in the Missouri Class 4 sectionals by defending, and eventual state-champion, Aurora — 6-5, in extra innings.
With a number of major contributors graduating, seventh-year head coach Danny Penn and his club will almost certainly face obstacles in duplicating last season’s success.
Penn is tasked with replacing top of the rotation pitchers Braeden Hinton and Branden Harder.
Hinton, the staff ace, spent additional time at the hot corner and catcher. Hinton was also Nevada’s top power hitter, and has continued his baseball career at the collegiate-level with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.
Harder, a current West Point Military Academy cadet, was also the Tigers’ starting shortstop, and one of their best hitters.
Nevada’s infield was further decimated as starters Logan Armstrong (3B/SS) and Jarrett Owen (C/2B) departed via graduation. Armstrong was also frequently utilized out of the bullpen in high-leverage situations, while Owen slotted into the starting rotation as the Tigers’ No. 3 pitcher.
The defections continued with the loss of starting left fielder Trent Ellis and designated hitter Clay Gayman, leaving additional holes in the batting order.
“We graduated over 90 percent of our varsity innings last year,” noted Penn. “All six of our departed seniors played a significant role — both at the plate, and in the field. While it may not necessarily be a negative in the long-run, a definite question mark will be who steps up to fill those roles, not only on the field, but also from a leadership perspective.”
Added Penn: “We think the guys who will be major components of our pitching staff have the talent and ability to be successful. We just have to see how they perform, and adjust when the games count.”
Nevada returns a trio of varsity starters from the 2018 squad: senior first baseman Peyton Denney, and juniors Dalton Gayman (CF/P) and Grant Miller (RF/P). Gayman, and Denney, both southpaws, are expected to be integral to Penn’s rotation this season. Miller, meanwhile, is a new addition to the Tiger staff.
“We’re going to ask them to really step up and be leaders,” concluded Penn. “On the field and off, vocally, and with their play. All three will likely log major innings on the mound, and be vital to our team being successful.”
Penn indicated that he has a full complement of arms outside of those three. “We have a number of arms that we feel can give us quality innings at the varsity level,” he said.
A pair of players who received moderate playing time at the varsity level a season ago, Jonah Brus and Jayden Ast, will begin the 2019 campaign with much larger roles. Brus was strong in a reserve role last season as a defensive specialist, with his primary position at second base. Ast, an outfielder with good range, was also heavily utilized as a pinch-runner last year.
“We think our outfield defense will be extremely solid,” said Penn. “We return three upperclassmen in Jayden, Dalton, and Grant, who have great range and strong arms in the outfield. We also think our infield defense will be solid once we iron out who is going to play where. The versatility of our guys means it may take us a couple weeks of games to see how the puzzle pieces best fit together.”
Penn is high on his sophomore class, which includes potential varsity starters Lane and Logan McNeley, strong-armed outfielder Elijah Nadurata and several more potential contributors.
“We feel that our sophomore class is very athletic, and a number of those guys will push for playing time,” summed up Penn.
Penn said he anticipates seniors Bradley (3B/P), Trent Pryor (SS/2B), and Ethan Couch (IF) to be varsity mainstays.
“While they’re not newcomers to our program, they will be new to the varsity level,” explained Penn. “They have not played extensively at the varsity level, so they will be asked to step up.”
Penn further elaborated on the lineup overhaul.
“We hope to have a relatively firm idea of who will man our normal starting infield within the first couple weeks of the season,” he said. “While the junior varsity season is always important, it will be even more important this year — because the guys who don’t play in the varsity game will definitely get reps in the JV game. And that is where they will have the opportunity to grow, and show the coaching staff they’re ready for the next level.”
Penn said several players have made significant strides during the off-season and preseason portion of the schedule.
“Dalton and Jayden both look much stronger than last year,” said Penn. “Trent Pryor has worked hard on his swing, and has performed well in practices so far. Logan Bradley has worked hard to shorten his swing and control his barrel more. A lot of guys look much improved from last year.”
Said Penn of his keys to a successful season. “We have to pitch ahead in the count, so we can use our entire repertoire. Offensively, we need to be disciplined at the plate and take our walks, then be productive in moving runners and not wasting at-bats.”
After competing in the West Central Conference the previous four seasons, Penn and company are set to embark upon their first season in the Big 8 Conference, West division.
“I’m looking forward to being a part of the Big 8, and playing some new schools,” said Penn, a former star player for Nevada High. “I grew up playing against Lamar, Seneca, and McDonald County. So it’ll be fun playing those teams regularly again.”
Continued Penn: “Monett is always solid, both in conference and in district-play. Aurora, in the East division, is likely going to be state-ranked all season. (District opponent) Carl Junction was relatively young last season, and we expect them to be better this year.”
Nevada’s season-opener is slated for Tuesday, as the Tigers play host to the Clinton Cardinals. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. from Lyons Stadium.
2019 home slate
• Tuesday: Clinton, 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday: Joplin High, 4:30
• Friday: Carthage, 4:30
• March 26: Smith-Cotton, 5
• March 28: Carl Junction, 4:30
• April 9: Seneca, 4:30
• April 15: Bolivar, 4:30
• April 18: East Newton, 4:30
• April 24: Sherwood, 4:30
• April 30: McDonald County, 4:30
• May 2: TBA