Highland Junior Bulldogs 1 squad looking forward to summer season
The wait for the Highland Junior Legion 1 baseball has been a long one through the spring into summer.
Their prep and legion seasons were wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic but, as an independent, they will have a summer season very soon.
Playing under the name of the Highland Junior Bulldogs, the team will be busy with summer baseball and is stoked to be playing.
“They definitely missed having their school season and that was a huge thing for them and they are just ready to get back out on the field,” said Junior Bulldogs 1 coach Jed Eggering.
Eggering has 12 players back from last year’s club that went 17-10. Key returners include Blaine Taft, Logan Oestringer, Nathan Barnes, Luke Darling, Steven Jacke, Zachary Wilken, Chase Noeltner, Jacob Noll, Bryce Knackstedt, Tyler Griesebaum, and Brady Knackstedt.
On the infield, Luke Darling will handle third base.
“He’s a solid defender and I trust him over there,” Eggering said.
At shortstop, Mason Barnes and Aidan Duft will split time there when Barnes is not pitching. Blayne Kapp and Oestringer will platoon at second base. At first base Jacke, Bryce Knackstedt and Brady Knackstedt will all get some time there.
Eggering will have plenty of options in the outfield as Will Trame, Brady Knackstedt, Wilken, Noeltner, and Hudson Wiegman will all see action.
“Pretty much every guy I’ve got can play out there and play the outfield whether that’s their main position or not,” Eggering said.
In the pitching department, Barnes, from Greenville, will lead the Junior Bulldogs 1 staff. Jacke, Brady Knackstedt, Bryce Knackstedt, Oestringer, Darling, Kapp, and Trame will round out a fairly deep pitching rotation.
“We’ve got a lot of pitching and we’re definitely going to need it come tournament time,” Eggering said. “We’ve got guys who can play everywhere.”
Wiegman and Kapp will handle the catching duties. Trame and Jack also are expected to help out behind the plate if needed.
“Will Trame and Steven Jacke also catch and they both told me that if we need a catcher, they will gladly take up the role and be the wall behind the plate,” Eggering said.
Team will rely on flexibility, ready to take the field
As the season opens in just under two weeks, the Junior Bulldogs 1 club will lean on their flexibility to help them get rolling.
“I’d say that our biggest strength is flexibility because our guys, they want to be out there, they can play anywhere and they have been taught to play anywhere. Even if they’re not super comfortable in a position they are willing to try it and take it by the horns,” Eggering said.
Highland is set to open the season June 13 and Eggering believes his players are ready to roll.
“Every day (in practice) we’re getting better and I wouldn’t say we’re 100 percent ready but I know the guys are especially ready to get out on the field,” Eggering said.