Edgewood returns eight starters from the team that finished 18-5 overall and 10-2 to win the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division title.
With most of the team returning, the Warriors are confident they’ll be in the mix to defend their conference championship and put together a deep run into the postseason.
“We have eight of nine starters returning from our conference championship team, so we expect to be right there fighting for another title this season,” said Edgewood coach Jeff Barger. “We have some young talent as well; we’ll see how they adapt to playing at a higher level.”
Leading the way for the Warriors is reigning CVC Valley Division MVP Logan Kray.
The junior shortstop/pitcher batted .529 last season and was 6-1 on the hill with a 0.58 earned run average with 59 strikeouts.
“He had a zero ERA in conference and hit .529 in league play as well, and was third in the state in our division with 28 stolen bases,” Barger said.
Senior Ethan Detrick also returns to the starting lineup at third base and on the hill.
Had it not been for Kray’s dominant season, Detrick may have been the conference’s player of the year as he hit .368 and posted a 1.49 ERA.
“If not for Logan’s historic season, senior Ethan Detrick would have gotten a lot more attention,” Barger said. “Ethan hit .368 and had a 1.49 ERA on the hill. Ethan was second-team all-CVC utility. He’s a steadying force on our team.”
Junior catcher Tony Hall returns as a steadying force behind the plate and another strong hitter in the batter’s box.
“Tony Hall is an outstanding backstop,” Barger said. “Tony hit .338 on the year and is a wall behind the dish, and is growing into a team leader. Tony has been honorable mention All-CVC two years in a row.”
Edgewood’s other returning starters include junior second baseman Brady Andrejack, junior left fielder Drew Hlavtur, senior center fielder Zack Vencill, sophomore right fielder Zane Naylor, and sophomore DH Caleb Johnson.
Freshman second baseman Alex Sperduto is the lone newcomer to the starting lineup.
Naylor (0-0, 11 Ks), Andrejack (2-1, 3.13, 17 Ks), and freshman Riley Baldwin and Sperduto also will see time on the hill.
“The number of guys I have with high baseball IQ is very helpful for me as a coach,” Barger said. “Not having to coach things more than once allows us to fine tune more every day.”
