The man who last coached Carl Junction when the Bulldogs were in the state championship in 2000—Phil Cook—is back in charge of the CJHS program for the 2023 season.
Cook, who has been the Carl Junction superintendent for the last 18 years, is back in the dugout after last coaching CJHS from 1997-2000, amassing a 57-16 record while at the helm.
“This is my first time back on the diamond at the high school level since 2000, where we lost to Helias in the state championship game,” Cook said to SoMo Sports. “I see a great amount of potential with this team and I see us getting better as the year goes on. … This team is going to focus on the basics and the fundamentals. As the players progress as students of the game, we will move to be more dynamic. We plan to swing at strikes and put the ball in play. We will throw strikes and play good defense. Finally, we will use our God-given skills to put pressure on the opposing team. Pretty simple.”
The Bulldogs lost six seniors to graduation from a year ago. However, Carl Junction returns a solid core of players to help anchor every phase of the game for the upcoming season. Four seniors highlight the list of returners for the Bulldogs—INF/P Lucas Vanlanduit (), OF Arlen Wakefield, OF/P Logan Eck and INF/P Drew Massey. Also back with varsity experience is C/P Bentley Rowden.
“I am extremely pleased with the players’ attitudes and efforts to this point,” Cook said. “They have put in a lot of time and are improving every day. We are ready to see how all of our work pays off.”
As far as the lineup goes, Coach Cook has an idea what the top half of the batting order will look like, while the bottom half is up for grabs. Wakefield, who hit .329 with 10 RBI, figures to lead off while playing center field, with Vanlanduit, who hit .329 with 10 RBI last year, figures to hit second at the shortstop position. Massey (.246, 15 RBI) and Rowden (.261, four RBI) , who will catch, will hit third and fourth, with Eck (.292, 12 RBI), senior IF Jacob Ford, junior OF Johnny Stark, sophomore OF Wyatt McAfee, junior IF Cody Hollingsworth and others in the mix to fill out the lineup.
Junior 1B Jace Buffer, junior OF Grady Goddard, sophomore IF Braxton Jones and sophomore C Gabe Sitton also figure to be in the mix.
Vanlanduit, an all-conference and district selection last year, brings back a 2.53 ERA to the pitching staff, while Eck returns with a 5.39 ERA as key returning hurlers for the Bulldogs. Eck, senior Gaige Carson, senior Mekhi McGarry, Ford and Massey all figure to be in the mix for starts on the mound as well.
Carl Junction opens the season against Neosho at home in non-conference action on Saturday.
