By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After a stellar 21-2 campaign in 2021, the Southeast of Saline baseball team will look to reload and run it back with one of the biggest rosters in recent memory.
This year’s Trojan team will be loaded with returners and newcomers alike with a total of 30 players out for baseball this time around.
“It’s always exciting to start a new season with a new team,” SES head coach Mike Garretson said. “Interest across the board in sports at SES is up and that’s been great to see.”
The Trojan lineup that outscored their opponents by over 150 runs last year will return five seniors in outfielders Bryce Cooper and Hart Nurnberg, infielders Evan Nickelson and Jaython Mathis and catcher Clayton Meier.
Southeast will bolster that core with a trio of juniors who saw a ton of varsity innings last year in DH Luke Gebhardt, and infielders Drew Richardson and Landen Allen.
In addition to the hitting prowess, this year’s Trojan team will look to once again play some of the soundest defense in the state after a relatively error-free 2021 campaign.
“We’ll put the bat on the ball and we play very good defense,” Garretson said. “I don’t think we’re going to hit a lot of bombs but I think we’ll get quality at-bats and defensively I really like the way we play.”
On the bump, Southeast returns a majority of their pitching from last season, most notably the dynamic duo of Evan Nickelson and Landen Allen, who combined for a 13-0 record and an ERA just north of 2.0.
Jaython Mathis, Drew Richardson, and Jake Gebhardt will round out the top of the pitching staff for the Trojans as the team looks to settle in during their first few doubleheaders.
“Most of our question marks come down to pitching,” he said. “The guys all have to break through that first wall of throwing in a live game and our hitters will also have to adjust to live pitching with an umpire but that’s where the fun starts.”
While on paper, SES is primed for another big season and deep playoff run, many of their opponents will be eager to avenge sweeps from last season with returning veterans of their own.
“Our schedule is really tough and a lot of the people that we played last year are on their way up,” Garretson said. “It may look like we ran through them last year but we were 5-2 in one-run games and if you turn those into losses that record isn’t as shiny.”
While the Trojans will be challenged, the team’s end goal remains the same, and entering the new year Southeast of Saline possesses the talent to achieve its lofty goals.
“When we step on the field we want to win that game whether it’s the first or last game of the season,” he said. “Only one team gets to win the last game of the year and we want to be that team. We want to go to the dance and come home with the trophy.”
The Trojans will host the Kingman Eagles for an opening day doubleheader beginning at 3 pm on Tuesday, March 29th.
For continuing coverage of SES baseball in 2022 stay tuned to the Salina Post.