BROWNSTOWN — Coach Duane Higgs is anxious to get the season started for his Brownstown Central baseball team, and he won’t have to wait long to find out the strengths and weaknesses of his team.
The Braves, who went 24-9 in winning sectional and regional titles last year, will play three games in 24 hours beginning tonight when they travel to Greenwood for a 7:30 p.m. game.
The Braves will host Norwell at 1 p.m. Friday then play a team from Wisconsin at Edgewood at 6 p.m. Friday.
Higgs will be coaching a squad which features veterans at nearly every position.
“We’re pretty much returning everybody,” he said. “We lost two seniors in Carson (Darlage) and Ethan (Fritz). We’ve got three seniors returning.”
The senior veterans are Chick Tiemeier, Ethan Garland and Trent Lowery. The other senior, Keaton Burcham-Jones is playing baseball for the first time since his freshman season.
“With Trent, Chick and Ethan, they are not only my returning first baseman, second baseman and shortstop, but the guys I’m counting on being great leaders,” Higgs said. “I’m on them every day and that was a big reason why we had success last year. Coaching spring sports is tough.”
He said you’ve got to have players that are dialed in for the entire season, and he is challenging these guys to stay hungry and be good leaders for the younger players.
He also has a lot of confidence in his pitchers.
“Ethan had a phenomenal year on the hill and we’re expecting big things out of him,” Higgs said. “Dalton (Reedy) is one of the hardest-working kids I have ever coached. I’m looking for big things from him on the mound. Lowery, my only left-handed pitcher, has really worked hard to improve, and Grant Killey is coming back from an injury.
“Without a doubt those are my top four arms, and I’m expecting a lot of big things from them.”
Garland received the Braves pitching award last season and was named to the Mid-Southern all-conference first team. Lowery received conference honorable mention honors.
Higgs said this is the third year for Lowery to start at first, Tiemeyer at second and Garland at shortstop.
Pierson Wheeler returns at third base, but he is currently playing with the Braves basketball team as they prepare for the state championship Saturday.
Higgs said Jaxson Johnson will play a lot at third base at the beginning of the season until Wheeler is ready.
Kyle Trueblood and Colson Ellison also are battling for playing time in the infield.
Grayson Cassidy and Dalton Reedy are the catching candidates.
Lane Pendleton and Preston Garrison played a lot in the corner outfield position last year and also are still with the basketball team.
Higgs said when Killey recovers from his injury he will be a strong outfield candidate, along with Burcham-Jones and Easton Branaman.
“We’ve definitely got some options out there,” Higgs said. “This year we have a lot more depth throughout our entire roster. As a coach I’ve always enjoyed internal competition.”
Higgs looks for Garland to have another big year with the bat.
“He is coming off a huge year, hitting just over .400 for us,” he said. “We expect him to do big things again. I expect all my seniors to be at the top of their game. At the end of the day, I look for us to be solid up and down the lineup.
“It’s going to be a very interesting year, especially at the start with the basketball team having their wonderful success. For us it’s going to be playing catch up and figuring which guys are going to be in what roles.”
The Braves only game next week will be on Thursday at Orleans.