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Monroe baseball facing several uncertainties in ’21

By TRACY WATSON

For The TImes Leader

WOODSFIELD – The only thing for certain in the Monroe Central baseball program heading into the 2021 season is that Head Coach Troy Baker will be back for his fourth season and the Seminoles will get the opportunity to take the field following a lost campaign.

Other than that, according to Baker, everything is pretty much up in the air.

“I have 13 kids on my roster, and I have never seen seven of them play live baseball,” Baker admitted. “We have two seniors coming back, both of whom were starters as freshmen and sophomores, but even they missed their junior season. It’s crazy, it really is, but with everyone missing an entire season there are probably going to be a lot of kids seeing playing time.”

The two returning seniors, both two-year starters, will be counted on heavily for leadership and helping to guide the younger kids along. Auston Hogue will be used in the infield, center field and on the mound while Wade Stoehr will be in the pitching rotation and at shortstop.

There are four returning juniors including Dustin Landefeld, who could be a big key on the mound and in the infield, Collin Kroll (IF, P), Kade Demchak (IF/OF/P) and Michael Bunning (IF/OF). Sophomores on the roster will include Jake Vinskovich (C/IF), Westin Swallow (OF), Xavier Kinney (1B, OF, P) and Jake Winland (IF/P) while freshmen are Lane Demchak (IF/OF), Carter Knowlton (OF/P) and Landen Lydick (C/P).

“I think our biggest strength will be that we have a lot of people who can play multiple positions and we also have some depth at pitcher,” Baker added. “Our main goals will be to get better every day and hopefully qualify for the OVAC.

“Going into things we have a lot of openings and everyone on the roster is fighting for spots. We do have some pretty good athletes and most of the kids look like they have good baseball knowledge.”

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