Highland Bulldogs summer senior baseball team anxious to get season started

COVID-19 stole American Legion baseball from Illinois teams this summer.

But the team usually known as the Highland Post 439 Senior Legion club will play this summer as an independent team called the Highland Bulldogs.

“It was an easy choice since the Bulldogs are our high school mascot, so (with us being from Highland) it was just easy to just call ourselves the Highland Bulldogs,” Highland coach Kyle Schmitt said.

Schmitt has six returning senior legion players for the Bulldogs this summer including centerfielder Landon Oestringer and right fielder Carter Wiegman, who will both play at Lewis and Clark College next year.

“I’m excited to see what their future’s hold,” Schmitt said.

Other key returners include ace pitcher/third baseman Kolby Frey, shortstop Jack Korte, left fielder Logan Dahl from Greenville, and first baseman/catcher J.B. Barnes from Greenville.

“It’s a pretty solid returning group,” Schmitt said.

The infield will feature Frey at third base when he is not pitching, Korte will handle shortstop, Tyler Werner will handle second base and Barnes will split time at first base with Chad Barker.

Behind the plate, the Bulldogs will have flexibility as Johnny Walker Jr., Barnes, and Wiegman will all be available to catch and handle the Highland pitching staff.

“Most of the innings will go to Johnny Walker Jr.,” Schmitt said. “We’ll probably try to give Barnes a little time back there and then Carter also has some experience catching, so we may try to get him some innings back there.”

The outfield will be crowded, as Schmitt has seven capable players to distribute time for this season.

“There’s seven outfielders so it’s going to be interesting trying to mix and match (positions) for games,” Schmitt said.

Speedy Chase Wilson, Dahl, and Bryce Siebert are all expected to work in left field. Oestringer will hold down centerfield. Wiegman and Alex Buchmiller and Reid Thole will share the time right field.

Frey and Werner will lead the pitching staff and will be counted on for quality starts this summer.

Schmitt believes hitting and defense are team strengths.

“I think our strength will be hitting and our defense is really solid,“ Schmitt said. “With them not having a spring and everything it’s kind of hard to tell because guys may not be in as good of shape as previously. It’s going to be interesting.”

The Bulldogs hope to start the season the weekend of June 5 or June 12.

Schmitt is amid trying to nail down some games with St. Louis area teams already in tournaments those weekends.

“We’re trying to figure out a schedule and see what tournaments are open and what teams are available to play, etc.,” Schmitt said.

Highland still hopes to have some home games, ready to get started

Bulldogs still hope to play some games at Optimist Field in Highland.

“We’re shooting to schedule some games in Highland for the month of July hoping and assuming everything goes along and we go into Phase 4 (in Illinois) and everything (works out),” Schmitt said.

Highland has been practicing the past two weeks and is anxious to get back to playing baseball soon.

“I feel confident with my team. I’ve coached them (at the junior level) the last three or four years and I know almost all the boys and a couple of new kids I haven’t coached before, but I’m excited to get out there, watch them play and hopefully win some games,” Schmitt said.