PENDLETON — If there is one thing the Pendleton Heights High School baseball team knows, it’s as long as there is continuous improvement, the regular season record doesn’t mean everything.
Last year, the Arabians were 15-15 going into the sectional and came out the sectional champion. This season, all but one of those players is back to pick up where they left off.
“Experience is on our side,” said coach Travis Keesling. Sectional-winning pitcher Walker Stull returns to the mound for the Arabians. “We have others with varsity time who will step up their game,” Keesling said.
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One aspect Keesling said the Arabians need to work on is at the plate. “We’ve got to hit better. We’re able to find the pitching, we have the defense, but we’ve got to find a way to hit this season.”
He hopes 6-4 sophomore lefty Hunter Eikenberry will add to the Arabian offense. Eikenberry will play the outfield and may be on the mound some. Keesling said he’s been hitting the ball well in practice.
“We’re treating the season as preparing for the postseason,” Keesling said. “It’s a game-by-game thing.”
The Arabians face Alexandria on April 9 in the opening game of the Madison County Nick Muller Tournament. “Right out of the gate, it’s tough,” Keesling said. In a pre-season poll, Alexandria was rated eighth in Class 2A.
As normal, the weather played havoc with not only on-the-field practice but also with opening day for the Arabians. The scheduled home doubleheader with New Castle originally scheduled for March 29 was moved to Saturday, March 30, but more rain on Saturday forced another postponement until April 1. That game had to be moved to Grant Park in Westfield and became a single game. The Arabians won 5-4.
After maintaining a 4-2 lead going into the sixth inning, the Arabians dropped two runs to the Trojans and went into the final inning with a 4-4 tie.
With two outs, Wyatt Douglas reached on an error after hitting a ground ball. Douglas stole second, and Rene Casas’ single scored Douglas for the win.
Casas went 3 for 4 with two singles and a double. Ben Richards also bagged two hits for the Arabians.
The Arabians play host to a doubleheader with Yorktown at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 5.