(Avoca) AHSTW has a senior laden group on the baseball diamond this summer. That experience is leading to a lot of optimism as the season opener approaches next week.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a team in the area with more veterans than AHSTW. Coach Jason Holst points out most of the seniors have at least a couple of years of starting experience. Seniors that are back in starting roles include Joey Cunningham, Sam Porter, Joel Sampson, Clayton Akers, Joey Goins, and Brody Langer while Lucas Young is a senior that should see more action this year.
In addition to all of the seniors, junior Blake Holst is a multi-year starter as well. Coach Holst admits practice has been different with taking temperatures and sanitation procedures, but they are making due. Coach Jason Holst says, “It hasn’t hurt us, but it is definitely different. It’s still really fun. It was enjoyable to see them start interacting with each other and not just through a video game app or Snapchat, but actually talking to each other. That’s been the biggest joy for me.”
The theme for the year is responsibility and a lot of the experienced players will have to step up and help teach the younger kids the lay of the land. “They have a lot of responsibility, not just to themselves, but to the ones around them. They are the veterans and they are the ones we count on to do things right. Not just doing the things right for yourself, but making sure you are responsible for others to do some right things as well.”
While AHSTW doesn’t have too many pieces to replace there could be some different faces that work their way into the lineup with the likes of David Johnson, Nick Denning, Brayden Lund, and Jake Kelly. AHSTW went 12-12 last season. Their best stretch came late in the season when they won five straight games from June 25th to July 13th. Sam Porter and Joey Cunningham each hit over .400 last season. That duo along with Clayton Akers all threw at least 35 innings with Akers leading the staff at a 1.51 ERA.
They’ll start the season June 15th at Tri-Center. Additional opponents in the first week include Riverside and Treynor.
