By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports Report
SAYRE — Second-year Sayre baseball coach Todd Green will have good numbers to work with in 2025, but just like last year there are not many experienced players back on the diamond.
"Our numbers aren't bad, we're sitting at 14 on varsity, and we'll have 14 on JV," he said.
"We lost seven seniors, but five of them hadn't played since Little League.
"This year, David Hall is back after missing last year with an illness, Theo Molina is back after missing last year with a knee injury," noted Green. "Jamier Kole is back for the first time since his freshman year, and Mikey Griffin hasn't played since Little League.
"I think those four coming back out will help the club," he added.
Green said he could have three or four freshman in the line-up at any time this season.
Freshman Riley McGaughey will start at catcher, with senior David Hall and junior Karter Green splitting time at first base, and junior Logan Zingeser, sophomore Jordn Brown and freshman Tucker Green are vying for time at third base.
Sophomore Shane Strickland will return at shortstop, and will team up with senior Jamier Kole and freshman Brayden Northrup at the double-play combo.
Senior Nick Pellicano will anchor the outfield in center field, with senior Mikey Griffin in left field, and freshman Carson Dietz and senior Theo Molina splitting time in right field.
Karter Green, Strickland, Kole, Hall are projected to get the majority of the innings on the mound this season, with Brown, McGaughey, Tucker Green, Dietz and Pellicano also expected to toe the rubber at times.
Green believes this team is united and coachable.
"Team unity is definitely a strength, they get along very well," he said.
"And, this group actually listens, and wants to apply what they learn.
"They want to learn baseball IQ, which is good because they need to develop in those areas," added Green.
And Green's concerns heading into 2025?
"Pitching, fielding, hitting, and running the base paths," laughed Green. "We have a lot of work to do.
"We're going to have to work very hard this year, and we're going to have to learn how to play small ball to stay competitive.
"Hopefully, we can do that," he added.
Green expects the Redskins to be competitive in 2025.
"With what our schedule looks like, I see us playing right around .500.
"We have a 20-game schedule right now, I'm hoping we can get 10 of them," said Green. "If not, I'll be OK as long as our younger players develop skill levels."
AROUND THE NTL
With Northeast Bradford dropping its baseball program for 2025, there are just four teams, including Sayre, in the NTL Small School Division.
"Canton is going to be strong in the Small School, and Cowanesque Valley is going to be tough," said Green.
"Athens and Wellsboro are going to be tough on the Large School side.
"It's definitely going to be a challenging year," he added.
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PHOTO BY TIM BIRNEY.
