By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline Trojan baseball team has been rolling in 2021, and with just one doubleheader remaining on the schedule has just one regular season loss at 17-1.
The team has been putting up unreal numbers throughout the course of the season, with a team batting average of .388 and a team ERA of just 2.73.
“Our pitching has done a really good job of minimizing walks and that’s the first step in playing good defense,” Trojan head coach Mike Garretson said. “Our fielding has been solid all around and with pitching and defense playing well you’re going to be in every game.”
SES has been near unhittable this season, allowing just 58 runs in 18 games. Evan Nickelson, Eli Harris, Bryant Banks and Landen Allen have formed a rotation that rivals any in the state, striking out a combined 89 hitters while allowing just 25 walks all season.
The Trojans have been extremely dangerous at bat as well, putting up a staggering 186 runs and winning nine of their 17 victories by mercy rule.
Even when Southeast has been held in check, the team has thrived in high pressure situations, winning six of the teams seven games decided by two or fewer runs.
“We’ve had pitchers who have given us a tough time but a few times through the lineup we’ve always been able to solve them,” Garretson said. “We always keep our composure and in the close games that’s made all the difference.”
SES has gotten monstrous production from their top five in the order, with Nickelson, Allen, Harris, and Jackson Gebhardt all batting over .400 this year.
Younger bats like Luke Gebhardt, who has slotted in as the DH after sitting out the front half of the season with a shoulder injury, have had a major impact as well following the long, Covid-induced offseason.
“I’m not surprised by the success that we’ve found,” he said. “I knew we had a lot of talent at every position coming into the season. We’ve had some younger guys really step up and everyone has chipped in in a big way this year.”
The Trojans will wrap up their regular season on Friday when the team hosts the Russell Broncos looking for wins number 18 and 19 on the year.
Following that, the team will head to regionals seeking their first state tournament berth in a very long time.
“If you wrote down the 8-10 best teams in 3A everyone would have us on that list,” Garretson said. “You have to win the games on the right day and there’s some good competition in our regional but if everyone plays up to their potential this team can compete for a state title.”
Stay tuned to the Salina Post for continuing coverage of the 2021 Trojan baseball season.