LAPEL — Knowing his team has worked hard in the off season is a positive for Bulldog baseball Coach Matt Campbell.
He also knows several players on the team played summer ball.
At the same time, however, not having a 2020 high school season has affected not only his team but other teams as well.
The Bulldogs return nine players from the 2019 team, but not many were starters.
“You’ll find out many other teams are like us with not a lot of varsity experience,” Campbell said.
However, not everyone lacks experience.
Pitcher junior Brock Harper is a lefty who appeared in 11 games in 2019, pitched 21 innings, picked up three wins and struck out 27 batters.
As a freshman in 2019, senior Parker Allman led the Bulldogs at the plate with 32 hits and 28 RBI.
Another senior who has considerable varsity experience is Noah Clark. Clark played in 17 games during the 2019 season.
“I have a lot faith in those two,” Campbell said.
Campbell is looking forward to watching junior Brennan Stow on the mound.
Stow is the quarterback for the Bulldogs football team.
“He throws the ball harder than most,” Campbell said. “That quarterback power is a good thing for baseball.”
Senior Paden Hudson and sophomore Owen Imel will be other additions to the Bulldog mound.
While summer ball gave athletes the opportunity to play, the experiences are a little different, Campbell said. Players compete with their own age groups.
“We’re going to have 15- to 16-year-old batters going against 18-year-old pitchers.”
Despite the challenges, Campbell couldn’t be more excited to take the field soon.
“To finally be able to play high school baseball it’s like a weight being lifted off your shoulders, and we can start feeling good about the season,” Campbell said.
The Bulldogs will face the gauntlet early as their schedule is tough through their first five games, leading up to the Nick Muller Madison County Tournament.
With the season opener at Sheridan, the home contests will be against Shenandoah, Park Tudor, a Greenfield-Central double-header and Alexandria-Monroe. Both Park Tudor and Alexandria received some pre-season nods in the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association poll.
With the bats about to swing, Campbell is anxious to put their pre-season prep on the table and see where their cards fall.
“I want me to set them up to be ready. I want to put ourselves in situations where we can find success,” he said.
As they face the challenges of COVID-19 protocols with every game, the Bulldogs are aiming to improve game after game and use that preparation when sectional time rolls around. The eight team 2A sectional is historically a tough one, but one the Bulldogs are readying themselves for the challenge.
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Seniors
Owen Robey
Paden Hudson
Camden Gooding
Noah Clark
Parker Allman
Caleb Rowland
Juniors
Devin Yeskie
Kyle Shelton
Max Kern
Deyton Buck
Jake Paska
Brock Harper
Josh Coleman
Brennan Stow
Sophomores
Isaac Bair
Owen Imel
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Schedule: Lapel Baseball
March 29 Sheridan Away 5 p.m.
March 31 Shenandoah Home 5:30 p.m.
April 9 Park Tudor Home 5:30 p.m.
April 10 Greenfield Central Home 3 p.m.
April 13-17 Madison County Tournament
April 19 Monroe Central Away 5:30 p.m.
April 21 Eastern Hancock Away 5:30 p.m.
April 22 Tri Home 5:30 p.m.
April 23 Frankton Home 5 p.m.
April 26 Daleville Home 5:30 p.m.
April 28 Elwood Away 5:30 p.m.
April 29 Tipton Home 5:30 p.m.
April 30 Cowan Home 5:30 p.m.
May 3 New Castle Away 5:30 p.m.
May 4 Guerin Catholic Away 5:30 p.m.
May 7 Alexandria-Monroe Away 5:30 p.m.
May 8 Delta/Mississinewa Home 10 a.m.
May 11 Westfield Home 6 p.m.
May 12 Madison-Grant Away 5:30 p.m.
May 14 Pendleton Heights Away 6 p.m.
May 15 Knightstown Home 10 a.m.
May 19 Anderson Home 5:30 p.m.
May 20 Cardinal Ritter Away 5:30 p.m.
May 26 Sectional
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