Eighth-year coach Joey Lewis isn’t predicting championships, but he does feel the 2018 squad has the ability to be a winner.
“We’re going to play hard. We’re going to compete. I feel like we’re going to put a good product on the field,” Lewis said. “We definitely could be over .500, but we’ve got question marks that have to be answered.
“We didn’t change too much of what we do in the offseason. We did incorporate a little more fall stuff with the rule changes by the state that allow you to do instruction with up to four people at a time on site. Beyond doing that for the first time, it was our normal winter routine.”
Hamilton is 104-86 overall and 65-61 in the Greater Miami Conference during Lewis’ tenure. In GMC play, Big Blue have finished third (twice), fifth, sixth (twice), seventh and ninth.
The success of this season may depend on a pitching staff that doesn’t have a great amount of varsity experience.
Senior Gunner Kellum, the staff’s lone lefty, figures to be the ace after throwing 28.1 innings last year … he was 3-2 with a save and a 1.98 earned run average. The other four returnees with varsity mound experience (seniors Zach Bell, Eric Roberts, Matt Myers and Steven McFall) combined for 14.1 innings.
“I don’t have any flamethrowers this year, just a lot of guys that can pitch,” Lewis said. “I feel good about us catching the ball and scoring some runs. It’s just going to hinge on whether we can get that quality pitching day in and day out in the GMC schedule.”
Roberts, a returning starter at third base, said he can handle a sizable load of mound work. He totaled 5.1 innings last season.
“I’m ready for it,” Roberts said. “I wouldn’t say I’m a power guy. I’m more of a finesse guy and good with my location. I’ll hit my spots and look to get people out on ground balls.”
Lewis said he doesn’t have a rotation at this point, but Kellum, Roberts, Bell, McFall, seniors Ethan Noll and Trace Thomas, and freshman Kurtis Reid were the first group of pitchers he mentioned.
Because a number of those guys are position players, there will be plenty of mixing and matching in the field depending on who’s pitching and how much they’ve thrown.
“We’ll be juggling a lot of people,” Lewis said.
Bell is a returning starter at catcher and one of the hardest-throwing pitchers Hamilton has. Lewis said he’ll likely play more first base and outfield this year, with junior Hunter Scott and sophomore Jared Green both getting a shot behind the plate.
Junior Payton Pennington returns after hitting .358 with 14 RBIs and seven steals last season. He was Big Blue’s shortstop in 2017 and was moving to second base this season before finding out he has a labrum injury in his throwing shoulder.
Pennington will start the season as the HHS designated hitter and might be in that role all spring. Lewis said swinging a bat doesn’t affect his shoulder, but Pennington has been ordered not to throw for at least a month.
“He’s actually had trouble with it for about a year. He just played with the discomfort,” Lewis said. “We’d love to have him out there defensively, but for now, he’s a pretty good DH.”
Juniors Cole Purdy and Zach Welch are battling for the second-base job, Bell and senior Cooper Haynes are in the mix at first, and Reid is the shortstop.
Lewis isn’t worried about putting too much pressure on Reid. The ninth-grader has already verbally committed to the University of Louisville.
“He’s not overwhelmed or in awe of the situation at all,” Lewis said. “Kurtis played varsity basketball the whole season, so he knows what goes along with that. He’s been playing high-level baseball for a while, so he’s right at home there.”
Sophomore Alex Mills, Thomas and Myers all have experience in the outfield, with Mills hitting .375 in six games last year. Senior Jack Schlichter and junior Tyler Smith are also battling for outfield spots.
“I definitely expect to be better this year,” Roberts said. “We’ve got a lot of young talent, and I think we’re jelling now. I think the best thing about this team is really the environment. Our personalities are kind of fitting together.
“I think in a way last season has helped us, and we’re ready to come back better than ever. I’d say get ready for the old Big Blue baseball. We’re back.”
Hamilton will open the season at home against Lakota East on Monday.
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