2018 BASEBALL PREVIEW
The past couple of seasons, the Rock-dale Tigers have been classified as young.
With just one experienced senior on the roster, that will continue to be the case in 2018, but in a positive way.
A youngster himself at 27, Tiger coach Jacob McMurtry returns for his second season, trying to guide the Tigers to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Rockdale is coming off an 8-13-1 season in which they went 2-10 in District 20-3A and ended the year on a five-game losing streak.
Rockdale lost just two starters from 2017.
“We have the capability to accomplish some great things this season in our district,” McMurtry said. “It could turn out to be an exciting year for the boys if everyone can stay healthy.
“To fill the holes from last years seniors though, we moved a lot of guys around the fi eld with only one or two of them playing the same position as last season. They’re doing a great job so far with the adjustments, and seem to be pretty comfortable with the moves.”
No. 1 on the top of the Tigers’ to-do list is tightening up their defense.
The Tigers committed 65 errors in 2017 with an anemic .871 fielding percentage. That’s almost three errors a game.
“Defensively, we’ve been working on some things, and have really tried to get back to the basics,” McMurtry said. “It’s been tough getting in a lot of defensive work so far with the weather we’ve been having, but the kids know just as well as I do that we can’t use that as an excuse.”
Jackson Perry leads the returnees after hitting a lofty .431 with six doubles and 20 runs batted in last season.
He led the Tigers in six offensive categories.
In two seasons on the varsity, the junior third baseman has put up some impressive numbers, batting .374 with 33 runs scored and 31 runs batted in.
Junior first baseman Zac Davis is also a two-year veteran and hit .312 with 10 runs batted in.
Davis is hitting a steady .301 in his two seasons on the varsity.
The 6-foot-2 righthander will also be counted on heavily on the mound after going 3-2 with a pair of saves last season in 10 appearances.
He struck out 38 batters in 28 innings of work.
Josh Springer is the grizzled veteran as the lone senior, after scoring a team-high 19 runs, knocking in 11 runs and swiping six bases.
Springer will also join the stable of the Tigers’ pitching staff after starting six games last season with the team’s only complete game.
Junior outfielder Tyler Caldwell is another two-year lettermen and drove in 16 runs in 2017. Caldwell, who made seven appearances last season, will return to the mound.
Sophomore outfielder Devon Whitsel (.250), junior outfi elder Ryker Zinn (.235) and junior second baseman Vincent Flores all return to the fold.
“Even with all the potential we have this season, the thing I’m looking forward to the most is finally getting to watch these kids play together under the lights, said McMurtry. “This team has one of the best team chemistries I’ve been a part of since I started coaching. They genuinely enjoy being around each other on a daily basis, which most coaches will tell you in high school sports that is a battle within itself.”
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