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By TRACY WATSON
WOODSFIELD - Monroe Central graduate Chris Leasure takes over a good situation at his alma-mater heading into the 2022 high school baseball season with the Seminoles returning seven starters and 11 letterwinners from a season ago.
There are a pair of quality starters gone from last year's squad in Wade Stoehr and Austin Hogue, both qualities leaders both on and off the baseball field, but there is still plenty to be excited about for Leasure and Monroe Central.
Senior Kade Demcheck, a four-year starter, is back at second base and will be looked upon as one of the leaders of the team. Demcheck batted over .400 and was an All-District honoree as a junior. Junior Jake Winland will be at shortstop, and also counted on heavily on the mound, and will help make up what Leasure calls "one of the best double-play combinations in the Valley", with Demcheck.
"I am not just saying that because they are my guys," Leasure admitted. "These guys are really that good together."
Senior Collin Kroll will split time between third base, center field and on the mound, while junior Xavier Kinney is the front-runner at first base and will also see playing time in the outfield. Junior Westin Swallow, who was the team's home run leader and third in RBI last year, will spend time behind the plate while a pair of starters are back in the outfield in senior Mike Bunning and sophomore Carter Knowlton.
The remaining out field spot will be filled by a number of players including Demcheck, Kinney and freshmen Austin Bettinger, Tyler Whitacre, Brock Ward and Ryder Muntz.
There are plenty of arms for Leasure to go to on the mound led by junior Jayke Vinskovich, Winland, Kroll and sophomore Landen Lydick. Main relievers will include Dustin Landefeld, Kiney, Lane Demcheck, Knowlton and Bettinger. Others available could include freshmen Brock Ward, Jacob Fogle and Muntz.
Other rostered players will include junior Eli Hand (outfield, first base) and freshmen Wesley Locke (catcher, outfield), Josiah Hise (outfield) and Owen Weckbaker (third base, catcher).
"Offense and pitching are going to be two of our biggest strengths," Leasure said. "We have a number of kids that can play different positions and truly in the outfield we are looking to find the guy that says, "I want this position" and they take it and run with it.
"We have had a lot of kids that have been impressive in the weight room and off-season workouts and that has carried over into the first few weeks of practice as well."
Leasure will be joined on the coaching staff by assistants Kane Merkle and Ethan Groves.
"When I put the coaching staff together, aside from appropriate off-field leadership and guidance, I sought out younger alumni who played when Monroe Central baseball was a force," Leasure added.
The Seminoles open the season on April 2 at Buckeye Local before home games against Steubenville Central, Magnolia and a double-header with Buckeye Trail.