SD: 2017 NMCC Eagles baseball preview
Coach: Joseph McClarty
2016 record: 11-15-1
Starters lost: 3
Returning starters: N/A
Assignment: Class 4, District 1
Notes: Though they will have to find a way to replace three seniors from last year's district winning squad, New Madrid County Central's biggest opposition this season might end up being their new postseason home.
The Eagles won the Class 3, District 1 championship for the third time in four years last season, but they won't make it a fourth after a bump in classification. NMCC was pushed into Class 4, District 1 after the two-year district realignment pitting them against much bigger schools at the end of the season.
NMCC joins Dexter, Fredericktown, Kennett, Notre Dame, Perryville and Sikeston in their new district. The Eagles are part of the SEMO Conference with four of those teams so they are used to seeing much of what their district will offer.
"Getting bumped up to Class 4 with the bigger schools in the area will be a challenge, but we will accept the challenge and will compete," NMCC coach Joseph McClarty said. "We play in the SEMO Conference so we are used to playing most of the teams in the district."
The Eagles will lean on the left arm of Palmer Campbell, who pitched most of NMCC's big games the last few years. The senior finished last season with a 6-3 record with a 2.37 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 59 innings.
The new pitch count rule, however, adopted by the Missouri State High School Activities Association in December, which limits the number of pitches a player can throw based on grade and rest days, will affect Palmer's usage. That's why NMCC will be looking to Thailin Marsh, Chase Silman, Jacob Keene, Jared Reed, Brian Slyvester and Gabe York to eat up innings.
"We are looking at multiple guys to throw this year," McClarty said.
Palmer and Keene will be also be looked upon to lead NMCC's offense at the plate after Drew Pikey, Garrison Keene and Tyler Sprouse left due to graduation. Sprouse led the team last year with a .422 average, 21 RBIs and 11 doubles. Garrison Keene batted .387 with 18 RBIs and a team-high 29 hits. Pikey finished with a .320 average and scored a team-high 27 runs.
Palmer batted .329 with 18 RBIs and nine doubles last season. Keene finished .360 with 11 RBIs and two home runs.
"Offensively, we are looking to Palmer and Keene to continue the success they had last year," McClarty said. "Also, we are looking at Brian Sylvester, Chase Silman and Gabe York to pick up the slack from departed seniors Drew Pikey, Garrison Keene and Tyler Sprouse."
Roster
No. | Player | Yr. | Pos. |
0 | Jared Reed | So. | IF/P |
2 | Thailin Marsh | So. | IF/P |
3 | Christen Phillips | Fr. | IF/OF |
5 | Ethan Colbert | Fr. | OF |
6 | Jacob Keene | Jr. | OF/P |
10 | Brian Sylvester | Jr. | IF/P |
11 | Austin Davis | Fr. | OF/P |
12 | Gabe York | So. | IF/OF |
14 | Eric Humphrey | Fr. | 1B |
15 | Palmer Campbell | Sr. | P/OF |
16 | Gavin Bond | So. | IF/P |
18 | Chase Silman | Jr. | IF/P |
19 | Connor Smotherman | So. | OF |
21 | Darren Duckworth | So. | OF |
22 | Glenn Helmes | Fr. | IF/P |
23 | Caden Howell | Fr. | IF/P |
24 | Dillon Gammons | Jr. | IF |
25 | Bryshawn Williams | Fr. | OF/P |
27 | Brian Mickle | Sr. | OF |
28 | Tristan Gammons | Fr. | IF/P |
30 | Zach Stegman | So. | OF |
35 | Tripp Cravens | Jr. | IF/P |
36 | Tyler Chadd | Fr. | OF/P |
Schedule
Date | Opponent | Time |
M.20 | Sikeston | 4 p.m. |
M.21 | Caruthersville | 4:30 p.m. |
M.23 | at Kelly | 4 p.m. |
M.28 | Charleston | 6 p.m. |
A.4 | Malden | 4:30 p.m. |
A.6 | at Jackson | 4 p.m. |
A.7 | at Senath-Hornersville | 4:30 p.m. |
A.10 | Scott City | 4:30 p.m. |
A.11 | at East Prairie | 4:30 p.m. |
A.13 | at Dexter | 4 p.m. |
A.14-15 | Malden Invitational | TBA |
A.18 | Cape Central | 4 p.m. |
A.20 | Kennett | 4 p.m. |
A.24 | Notre Dame | 4 p.m. |
A.25 | at Poplar Bluff | 3 p.m. |
A.28 | SEMO Conference Tourn. | TBA |
M.2 | at Twin Rivers | 4:30 p.m. |
M.5 | at Portageville | 4:30 p.m. |
M.8 | at Perryville | 4 p.m. |