Sports

Erskine Academy spring sports previews
BASEBALL Coach: Dan Grady (1st season) Last season: 8-8 in Class B East Top returners: Nick Grady (Sr., 3B), Andrew Ballantyne (Sr., P), Ethan Wall (Sr., OF), Matt Corey (Sr., 1B), Camilo Pardo (Jr., P-2B), Steven Wight (Jr., C-P), Dan Belanger (Jr., C). Key newcomers: Walter Travis (Sr., 1B), Travis Lee (Jr., OF), Everett Fowle (Jr., OF), Matt White (So., OF), Caleb Bragg-Grady (So., UT), Harley Ogilvie (So., 2B), Shyler Scates (Fr., INF), Ryan Pulver (Fr., SS), Tom Grady (Fr., OF-P). Outlook: Grady takes over as interim coach for Lars Jonassen, who will assist the team when available. He inherits a team led by his son NIck, one of the top fielders and hitters in the conference. The Eagles return a couple of decent starters in Pardo and Ballantyne but are otherwise short on pitching, forcing Nick Grady into the rotation. Hitting could be a weakness, at least until some of the younger players gain more experience, but the coach thinks his defense is strong and will keep the team in games. Coach's comment: "As long as we have decent pitching and the hitting comes along, I believe we will be .500." SOFTBALL Coach: Mike Soule (2nd season) Last season: 13-6, made Eastern B semifinals Top returners: OF Monique Moore (Sr.), OF Catherine Batchelder (Jr.), SS/2B Kaci Hudson (Jr.), 1B/OF Monica Malley (Jr.), P Samantha Morse (Jr.), 3B Danielle Burns (So.) Key newcomers: P/1B Megan Helm (Jr.), IF Megan Wright (Jr.), OF Krystina Foote (So.), IF Jessica Souther (So.), OF Natasha Sprague (So.), OF Carleigh Wilson (So.), IF/C Katelyn Balmer (Fr.), C Meryl Bond (Fr.) Outlook: Morse gives the Eagles one of the best pitchers in the conference, and this is a team that should only get better over the next two years. Bond is young in terms of age, but has played a lot of travel teams, giving her a good grasp of the games fundamentals. a key will be how the new starters adjust to their positions. Coach's comment: "Our philosophy is to do the small things right, and if we do that, I think well be in most games." Girls track Coaches: Erika Reay, Chris Bennett, Scott Rollins Last season: 5th in KVAC B, 13th in Class B meet Top returners: Nicole Bernhardt (Jr., sprints, relays); Emily Woodbury (Jr., sprints); Jessica Buzzell (Jr., mid-distance); Nicole Morissette (Sr., distance), Jenna Marcellino (Jr., sprints), Isabel Kennedy (sprints), Bethany Britton (Jr., throws) Key newcomers: Not available Outlook: Morissette is coming off a strong indoor season, in which she finished second in the two-mile and eighth in the mile. Woodbury also had a strong indoor season and gives the young Eagles some scoring in the sprints. Coach's comment: "We'll have a pretty young team, Reay said. We probably have more new athletes than returning ones." Boys track Coach: Erika Reay, Chris Bennett, Scott Rollins Last season: 4th in KVAC B, 15th in Class B Top returners: Jacob Rollins (Sr., distance, relays); Sam Seekins (Jr., distance, relays); Jackson Fortin (Jr., mid-distance); Robbie Morang (Jr., high jump, sprinter), Jake Roberts (Jr., mid-distance), Jake Taylor (Jr., hurdles, jumps), Aaron Taylor (Soph., throws), Mike Columbia (throws), Austin Bond (Sr., throws), Greg OConnor (Soph., distance), Brandon DeRocher (sprints) Key newcomers: Cory Spragg (Fr., sprints), Eben Hodgkins (Fr., distance), Stan Jandreau (Fr., sprints) Outlook: The Eagles feature three new coaches, including Reay, who coached the indoor team. Seekins returns as one of the leagues top distance runners. He finished sixth in the 3,200 at the Class B state meet last spring. He was second in the KVAC B in that event as well. Coach's comments: "We should be pretty strong." Boys tennis Coach: Ryan Nored (7th season) Last season: 3-9 Top returners: Finn Welch (Sr.), Kellen Kruithoff (Jr.), Aaron Gilbert (Jr.), Adam Childs (Jr.), Chase Drummond (So.) Key newcomers: Juan Gomez (Exchange Student), Kevin Lees (Sr.), Francis Flisiuk (Jr.), Daniel Giroux-Par (Jr.) Yao McClure (Jr.) Patrick Meunier (Fr.) Outlook: Kruithoff returns at No. 1 singles. Welch and the vastly improved Gilbert will be counted on to pick up wins in singles competition . Coach's comment: "Most of my guys are very new to the sport, so this is going to be a building year. My goal is for the guys to have fun, learn a new sport, and surprise a team or two along the way." Girls tennis Coach: Shara MacDonald (6th season) Last season: 5-7 Top returners: Astrid Gleaton (Sr.), Michele Pinkham (Sr.), Beth Preston (Sr.), Renee Robilliard (Sr.), Courtney Gee (Jr.), Katie Bell (Jr.), Mallorie Rauch (So.) Key newcomers: Emily Wood (Fr.), Bethany Burnhardt (Fr.) Outlook: Erskine returns all three singles players from a year ago and has had a large enough turnout this spring to field a JV team as well. Gee, Preston and Pinkham will lead the team. Coach's comment: "One of their goals will be to get in the tournament this year but we have a strong schedule."


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