Individual goals to motivate Beavers
Before the season starts, head coach Joe Lewallen sits down with his players and helps them set individual goals for the new year.
“That way they can check their progress and see how they are doing,” said Lewallen, who is in his second year at Glen Rose. “If they are meeting their individual goals, then we are going to be successful as a team.”
The Beavers finished 12-9 last year, losing 11-1 in the first round of the regional tournament to Bald Knob High School.
“It is important for us to play together as a team from the first game on,” Lewallen said. “As long as we understand the importance of the team concept and work together, we should make it back to regionals and even to state.”
Injuries plagued Glen Rose last year, when the team lost its senior catcher to a shoulder injury halfway through the season. Noah Lankford was able to move to catcher to replace the loss, but it cost Lewallen a pitcher in Lankford.
“When you lose a solid guy behind a plate, it affects you,” Lewallen said. “I wasn’t able to use [Lankford as a pitcher] because I didn’t have any young guys to put behind the plate.
“That affected us.”
Lankford pitched 24 innings in 2017 with a 4-0 record with 30 strikeouts, 11 walks and a .58 ERA. Lewallen said Lankford will continue to catch this season, but the coach has been working with sophomore Gavin Chaney to be Lankford’s back-up.
“Because I still need to be able to utilize [Lankford] and his arm,” Lewallen said.
Lankford is one of five seniors returning this season.
“We have seven starters returning all together,” Lewallen said. “So we have a good nucleus to build off from last year, but we don’t have a lot of depth, as we only have 15 kids this year.”
Lewallen said Lankford struggled offensively last year — batting just .116 with 1 home run and 7 RBIs — but he has been working on his mechanics this offseason.
“We need his bat in the lineup,” Lewallen said.
Senior Jarred Rogers led the team last year with a .400 batting average with 22 hits, including 4 triples and 1 home run; 10 RBIs; 18 runs; and 14 stolen bases.
“He is a solid all-around ballplayer,” Lewallen said. “He brings so much speed and has such a strong arm, so outfield is his natural position.
“He anchors center field for us. He can run a ball down and cover some ground.
“He is a tough guy to get out and has shown a little bit of pop, too. He even hit one out last year. He is a good allaround player both offensively and defensively.”
Senior second baseman Adam Day batted .300 with 15 hits, 7 RBIs, 10 runs and 8 stolen bases. Sophomore Trey McKim batted .373 with 22 hits, 14 RBIs, 12 runs and 6 stolen bases.
“Trey started at first last year, and as the year went on, we moved him over to third,” Lewallen said. “He has a really strong glove and swings the bat well.
“He was just competing from day 1 and had that position sewed up. He is a good ballplayer.”
Day also pitched 11 1/3 innings last year with a 3.70 ERA. He also recorded 1 save, 10 strikeouts and 2 walks.
“Adam hasn’t reached his full potential,” Lewallen said. “He has a solid glove at second base and can make some plays. “He is just athletic.” Senior Carson Fite pitched 28 2/3 innings last year with a record of 3-3 and an ERA of 3.41. He also struck out 23 and walked 8.
“He just grinds it out every day,” Lewallen said. “He gives it everything he’s got. We are going to get some good innings out of him.”
Senior Logan Taylor batted .206 with 7 hits, including 4 triples; 8 RBIs; and 8 runs scored.
“Offensively, he has some pop,” coach said. “He struggled last year at times, but we have been working on his swing and mechanics.
“I expect things from him as well.”
Taylor also pitched 27 innings with 39 strikeouts and 26 walks.
“We have been working on his location and getting the ball down in the zone,” Lewallen said. “He has struggled with walks, but he also led the team with strikeouts as well.
“As a lefty, his stuff is pretty nasty, so he should see quite a few innings.”
Glen Rose’s next game is scheduled for March 26 at home against Gurdon.