A strong senior class and a deep pitching staff will lead the way for the Webb City High School baseball team this spring.
Seniors Eric Fitch, Cade Wilson, Brantley Carter, Kolton Eilenstein, Aidan Brock, Cooper Crouch, Gavin Stowell and Jeremiah Leaming are expected to play key roles this spring.
Most of this year’s seniors played meaningful roles on last year’s squad that went 26-6 and reached a district championship game.
“We’ve got eight seniors this spring and they were all on the freshmen team when I first started here,” Cardinals coach Flave Darnell said. “I’ve coached them since they were freshmen and it’s been awesome to watch those guys grow up and mature as people and as players. We’re depending on those guys to lead the way.”
In 2021, Webb City once again put together a stellar season. The Cardinals won 12 straight games at the end of the campaign until a 2-0 setback to Glendale in the district title game. The team’s six losses were by a combined 12 runs.
The Cardinals must overcome the loss of a talented senior class that included Missouri Southern recruits Treghan Parker and Cole Gayman. Parker was last year’s Central Ozark Conference Player of the Year.
Darnell, in his third season at the helm, noted there’s a lot to like about this year’s group.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who have played a lot of baseball,” Darnell said. “And we have a lot of guys who are eager to prove themselves. When you graduate a senior class like we did, a lot of these guys have a chip on their shoulders and they’re ready to prove themselves. They’re ready to step in and fill those gaps. Their work ethic has been great. They have been a pleasure to coach. They’re a fun group to be around. Our winter offseason and the first week of practice have been real enjoyable.”
AROUND THE HORN
Possible starters on the infield include junior Kenley Hood at first base, Fitch at second, junior Cy Darnell at shortstop, junior Kaylor Darnell at third base and Carter behind the plate.
Fitch hit .417 with 16 RBIs last year, earning first-team all-Central Ozark Conference honors.
Carter is a returning starter behind the plate. Hood and both Darnells stood out on the JV squad last year.
Junior Landon Johnson is also expected to see plenty of playing time on the infield.
Eilenstein is another option on the infield.
As far as possible starting outfielders, Wilson is a likely starter in left or center field.
Leaming and Stowell and juniors Walker Sweet and William Hayes are candidates for the other starting outfield spots.
“We feel good about several guys who are battling for the outfield spots,” Coach Darnell said. “A lot of those guys are pitchers, too.”
Leaming is an Evangel signee who hit .300 with 10 RBIs last season.
Brock returns as the team’s designated hitter after batting .270 with 16 RBIs last season.
Fitch and Wilson are likely top of the order hitters.
Other juniors on the roster are Evan Freeman, Eli Miller, Tyler Marbut and Mcquade Eilenstein.
Sophomores on the roster are Drew Vonder Haar, Brett Korth, Payton Marshall, Hunter Shull, Christian Brock, Sam Weller and Shaun Hunt.
PITCHING STAFF
Webb City has plenty of options on the mound.
A State Fair commit, the right-handed Fitch is a possible No. 1 starting pitcher after going 6-1 with a 1.85 ERA on the mound last spring.
A hard-throwing Crowder College recruit, Crouch also returns with plenty of experience on the mound. Crouch posted a 2.03 ERA last year. The right-handed Crouch can start or come out of the bullpen.
A lefty who has signed with Highland CC, Stowell is also expected to play a big role on the pitching staff.
Kaylor Darnell, Sweet, Leaming and junior Gage Chapman are other players who should see time on the mound.
“It’s going to be hard to replace Cole Gayman, but from top to bottom, we feel like our pitching depth is going to keep us in a lot of ballgames,” Coach Darnell said.
EXPANDED SCHEDULE
Webb City’s expanded regular season schedule features 33 regular season games this spring. The Cardinals played 29 regular-season games last year.
“The state of Missouri will now allow teams to play 36 games,” Darnell said. “It used to be 18 dates and two tournaments. Last year they said we can play 36 games, however you want to do it. We’ve got 33 games on our schedule this spring and we feel like we have a tough schedule that hopefully prepares us for May.”
Webb City will host a jamboree with Carl Junction and Republic at 4 on Monday at Chuck Barnes Field.
The Cardinals will host Verdigris on March 18 in the season opener.
“We really only have a few more practices left before we hit the ground running,” Darnell noted. “We’re excited to get going.”
TEAM SCHEDULE: MSHSAA Webb City High School Spring Season Baseball Schedule
