Trending
By SETH STASKEY
Times Leader Sports Editor
WHEELING -- Linsly owns one of the top baseball traditions in the Ohio Valley.
There's no reason to believe the Cadets won't field one of the top squads again this spring.
Head coach Jay Cartwright begins his 16th season at the helm with a squad that returns a solid nucleus from a team that won the OVAC Class 3A title last season.
However, some key pieces graduated, too. Included are Dylan Hill, Kobe Hill, Hunter Kelley and Zac Taylor.
"Those guys were all competitors who expected the most from themselves every day," Carwright said.
Pitching should be a strength despite Kobe Hill's graduation.
Brodie Selmon returns after finishing 3-0 and logging a 3.91 ERA when he sustained an injury, which limited his workload late in the season.
Senior Adam Och was strong out of the pen and led the Cadets in saves. Juniors Collin Paull and Trey Prather saw spot duty and will take on a bigger role.
Sophomore Jack Selmon, senior Chad Frazier, junior Luca DiLorenzo as well as Alex Taylor and Jack Scouvart will all be in the mix to see time on the mound.
Offensively, Och is the top-returning hitter after posting a .404 average with 14 RBI and a team-best nine doubles. Selmon put forth a .326 average and Paull was a .310 hitter with 12 RBI.
Prather, who will see time on the infield, had three doubles and a home run. Scouvart laced at a .343 clip. DiLorenzo's return is a welcome sight to the outfield after he missed all of last year with a hand injury.
Taylor saw plenty of action in the outfield.
Other returning lettermen vying for more time are Xavier Fankouser, sophomore Andrew Skadra, sophomore Jack Selmon and Dillon WIlson as well as Landin Blakely are all vying for the everyday caching nod.
The balance of the roster include: seniors Cade Costanzo, Caden Horvath, juniors Aiden Christ, Matt Turak, Coden Walker, sophomores Nate SMith, Kyle White, Luis Wade, Nate Berhalter, Mike Troullos, Eli Dean; freshmen Matt Scouvart, Carson Gessler, Patrick Christ, Isaac Depew, Rocco Paolina, Evan Zido, Vinny Zaccirey, Dubale Greathouse and Adam Kotson.
Cartwright is being assisted by former West Virginia catching legend Eric Petho, Scot Goodnight, Chris Keidasch and Joey Seabright. Jon Michael Brunner is the Cadets' hitting instructor.