Seven starters return for A-J baseball team

With seven starters returning from last year’s 10-13 squad, Aaron Roberts is looking for success for the 2018 season.

“We’ve looked pretty good  in practice the last couple weeks,” Roberts said. “This will be the year to make things happen.”

Two of the seven senior starters, Hunter Ralls and Bryce Osman, have already committed to continue playing after they graduate and are returning Southern Illinois Coaches Association All-South selections as well. 

Pitcher/first baseman Ralls will play at John A. Logan College and pitcher/center fielder Osman will be at Millikin University.

The other senior starters returning are senior pitcher/third baseman Ethan Krumrey, shortstop Ross Pinnon, catcher Dalton Goddard and juniors second baseman Conner Jeralds and outfielder/pitcher Damian Chrisp.

Other senior hopefuls are pitcher/outfielder Kyle Clover and outfielder Sheldon McGrath.

Other junior candidates are outfielder Wyatt Johnson, first baseman Jackson Laster and catcher/infielder Carson Reynolds. Reynolds is nursing an injury and won’t play right away.

A sophomore hopeful is outfielder Blake Pena.

“The thing I like most about us is that we’ve got some pitching this season,” Roberts said. “I’m very excited about all the guys we got back. It’s definitely a group that has potential.”

Roberts is looking at Pinckneyville, Nashville and Carterville as top teams again in the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference Mississippi Division race.

“We’ll have our work cut out for us,” Roberts said. “It should be a pretty competitive conference.”

The Wildcats are scheduled to open the season Friday at home against Monticello and play Saturday at Marion.