Going into its 2019 season, Trinity Lutheran’s baseball team needed more players on its roster.

After talking to some of his friends at the end of the winter sports season, Denver Shelley was encouraged to come out for the team this spring.

He pulled the trigger on joining, and is glad he did so.

“I’ve enjoyed being with the guys. I know all my teammates personally,” Shelley said. “I’d say they’re all my friends. They’re really cool. It’s fun to just to go out every day and practice and play.”

The Cougars have used Shelley in the outfield this spring.

Shelley said there are a lot of things to think about in the outfield, like if it is a right-handed or left-handed batter and how the ball is going to come off the bat. He said he also looks for line drives, and how hard the ball is hit, and the strength and direction of wind on a windy day.

Shelley said it takes teamwork among the infielders and outfielders on fly balls hit between them.

“Communication is really important,” he said. “If I see a ball and its way up in the air, and if I think it’s in, and it goes over my head, I have to have my guys on either side tell me to go back on the ball or I’ll miss it.”

The Cougars won their opening game in the West Washington Sectional on Wednesday, and will face Orleans tonight in the title game.

Shelley said to bring home the trophy, “it will take a lot of teamwork and we’ve got to really focus in and have a lot more chemistry with each other. We get out there some time and we’re all over the place. We need to do a whole lot better job of attacking fast balls. That’s one of the coaches’ points every time after a game that we have to attack the fast ball.”

He said the reason he attended Trinity was because his older brother and sister attended the school.

“I like the small classes because it gives you more individual time,” Shelley said. “The teachers can focus on you as an individual instead of having to work with a giant class. The teachers are great here.

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Name: Denver Shelley

High school: Trinity Lutheran

Parents: Kevin and Nancy Shelley

Siblings: Derrick, Danielle

Sports: baseball 1 year

Organizations: National Honor Society, school musical, fishing club, car club

Plans after high school: enlist in United States Air Force

Favorite food: steak

Favorite TV show: Friends

Favorite musician: Blake Shelton

Favorite movie: Coach Carter

Favorite team: Indiana University basketball

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