By Caitlin Wardlow
Tribune-Courier Reporter

DRAFFENVILLE – With no new players to the team, Marshall County High School head baseball coach Don Bock said the baseball team will show even more promise this year than last.

“Tyler O’Daniel is back at shortstop,” Bock said. “Kody Charlton is at second [base], Daniel Riley is at first [base], and Brantley Barrett is back behind the plate.”

O’Daniel was out for a portion of last season due to a hip injury.

“I dont think he’s going to miss any of our regular season [this year], Bock said. “We were scared, he was scared, we were afraid he was going to miss his senior year.”

Bock also said that with O’Daniel back, the combination of him and Charlton should give the team the best double play combinaton its had in awhile.

“They both have good arms,” Bock said. “They’re both quick, they’re accurate, they make good decisions. It’s going to be interesting to see how that works out. Charlton has a quick release; that should be one of our strengths – being able to turn a double play. They both have great hands.”

As far as the outfield goes, Bock said Austin York will be coming back in left field, Gerick Sullivan will be in right field and Cameron Kimball will be in center field.

“[Cameron] played a little outfield there last year.” Bock said. “He runs the ball down and he’s got quick speed.”

Bock said the only position really up in the air is third base.

“We’ve got a contest down there right now,” Bock said. “We’re looking at Garrett Hunt, Joe Scholl and Andrew Edwards.”

With several different pitchers to choose from, Bock said there is a lot of depth in the MCHS’ pitching staff. He said if something is not going right for the team, he will be able to easily change out pitchers.

“Seth Waldrop is primiarily going to be pitching for us,” Bock said. “Cody Forsythe will see a lot of action for us, and he’s a left-handed pitcher. Charlton is going to get a shot at pitching this year, he’s got a wicked curveball. Blake Sullivan has been throwing the ball rather well, and Riley is going to pitch some.”

Bock said that when it comes to defense, the team is ready.

“We showed a lot of promise last year,” Bock said. “We just weren’t consistent with our plays. [We had] a million dollar catch with a 10 cent play and we threw it away. Defense should be a strong suit for us. I’ll be surprised if it’s not.”

Offensively, Bock said the team will have a lot of speed at the top of the lineup that it hasn’t had before.

“Some guys are going to have the green light for just whenever they want to go unless I give them the stop sign,” Bock said. “Cameron runs the bases really well. Ben Kimball will probably be our primary designated/courtesy runner.”

Bock said he can see the team making it to the region tournament as long as it can get out of the district.

“It’s going to be tough,” Bock said. “With Murray, they have everybody back and Calloway, theyre going lose a little more [players], but they’ll still have their top pitcher coming back. Getting out of the district is what’s going to be hard. Both of those teams handled us pretty well last year.”