2018 AND 2019 BBC CHAMPIONS … The 2021 edition of the Montpelier Locos are considered the league favorites among other coaches in the BBC.
By: Nate Calvin
Despite not having a 2020 season, the Montpelier Locomotives are considered the team to beat in the BBC entering 2021.
Montpelier, who features two of the top returning players in the league, are coming off BBC titles in 2018 and 2019. All of the teams in the league will have their share of youth an inexperience in the lineup to start the season.
Teams are listed in order of their finish in the 2019 league standings. Stats and records shown below are from the 2019 season.
1.Montpelier (18-5, 11-1 in BBC; Lost to Antwerp 11-1 in Division IV District Final)
Head Coach: Toby Hutchison (11th Season)
KEY LOSSES: 2019-Dakota Benner (P/UTL); Brock O’Neal (P/UTL); Bryer Bentley (P/C); Tanner Sanders (P/SS); 2020-Connor Yahraus (1B); Brayden Custer (P/UTL); Jace Norrick (P/UTL)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Blake Altaffer (P/3B/UTL); Collin Crisenberry (P/UTL/CF; Tylor Yahraus (P/SS/UTL)
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: David Bowman (3B/C); Ayden Santos (2B/OF); Easton Richmond (C/P); Jaxon Richmond (P); Landon Fackler (P/C/UTL
SEASON OUTLOOK: Three letterwinners are back for Montpelier as they look to defend their 2019 BBC championship.
Leading that group is senior Blake Altaffer who hit .327 as a sophomore with 12 RBIs and recorded 55 strikeouts in 30 innings on the mound.
Also, back for the Locos are senior Collin Crisenberry who batted .347 with 25 stolen bases in 2019 and senior Tylor Yahraus who had a batting average of .339 and 11 steals in 2019.
Montpelier will be a versatile team with almost every player having the ability to play multiple positions.
Helping Montpelier also this year will be a solid senior class who will be expected to be leaders according to coach Toby Hutchison.
“We currently have seven seniors on the team who know the goals and expectations of this program. The underclassmen listen and are willing to accept coaching not only from our staff but from their teammates as well.”
“We definitely lack experience. Losing an entire season is extremely detrimental not only to our varsity baseball team, but our program as a whole.”
“We can coach and teach, but at the end of the day game experience is still the best way to learn. The kids are eager to get back on the field to compete after only playing a handful of games this summer”, said Hutchison when talking about the challenges of the upcoming season.
Looking ahead to the BBC race, Hutchison expects thing to be wide open as usual. “The BBC is one of the most competitive leagues day in and day out. Teams will always throw their best at us and the boys understand the expectation we have at Montpelier.”
“Our kids know that we have an even bigger target on our backs after winning the BBC in two consecutive seasons. I think that they are also a bit fired up about losing out on the 2020 season especially a chance to retain the BBC title.”
“In a way, they’ve learned through our three seniors from last year (Connor, Jace, and Brayden) that nothing is guaranteed, in life or in baseball”, concluded Hutchison.
2. Hilltop (17-7, 9-3 in BBC; Lost to Montpelier 3-2 in Division IV District Semifinal)
Head Coach: Tony Gerig-12th Season
KEY LOSSES: Kaiden Clendenin (P/IF; .369 avg, 1.42 ERA); Jay Garrett (C/P; .342 avg, 1.52 ERA)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Connor Schlosser (IF/P); Chase Whitman (IF/P/C); Ian Hoffman (OF/P); Andyn Haynes (IF)
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Ethan Varney (OF/P); Evan Schoonover (OF); Lucas Jacobs (IF); Raace Haynes (OF/IF); Wade Wagner (IF/P)
SEASON OUTLOOK: With the loss of two first team all-league pitchers, developing pitching depth will be a top priority for Hilltop coach Tony Gerig.
Gerig does like the chemistry of this year’s team. “This group of kids get along very well. They are in it for each other and that is great to see as a coach. We have a lot of seniors with younger guys that are ready to contribute.”
With a lot of unknowns, Gerig is looking forward to his getting on the field.
“Without having a season last year followed by a very limited summer season there is a ton of unknown going into our season. We expect to compete for seven innings every day and are excited to see what this year’s team is able to do”, said Gerig.
Gerig expects Montpelier to be the league front runner when it comes to the BBC. “Montpelier, North Central, and Edon all have the talent to be BBC contenders this season.”
“With Montpelier being the two-time defending champion, they will remain the favorite until someone is able to knock them off. We intend to be competitive every night in our league.”
3. Edon (11-12, 8-4 in BBC; Lost to Antwerp 5-1 in Division IV District Semifinal)
Head Coach: Brien Moore-6th Season
KEY LOSSES: Austin Kiess (IF); Kelby Sapp (C/P); Aidan Muehlfeld (P/IF); Dylan Mason (OF); Nate Myers (OF); Connor Skiles (IF); Shane Zulch (OF/P)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Cole Vasquez (P/IF); Ethan Steinke (OF/P)
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Wade Parrish (P/OF/IF); Caden Nester (P/IF); Konnor Prince (P/IF); Carter Kiess (IF); Garrett Skiles (C); Ian Hickman (P/IF); Jack Morris (OF); Wyatt Moore (OF); Connor Towers (OF); Clay Dulle (P/IF); Chris Joice (P/OF)
SEASON OUTLOOK: Edon will be one of the younger teams in the BBC this year as they look to replace seven letterwinners and have just two returning letterwinners.
Head Coach Brien Moore points to coachability, defense, and pitching as strengths of this year’s team while offense and base running are areas of concerns.
“We are a very young baseball team. We will have a lot of guys making the jump to varsity baseball with no high school experience,” commented Moore.
“This preseason, our guys have been very easy to coach and they’ve worked hard. “I look forward to what we can do this season.”
“The BBC is a very competitive conference. We hope to compete for a league title, but we know we have to improve and play great baseball.”
“In my opinion, Montpelier would be the preseason favorite. North Central brings back a lot of talent and will be well coached along with Hilltop, Pettisville, and Stryker. Fayette will bean improved team this year. Should be a fun season in the BBC”, concluded Moore.
4. Stryker (10-11, 6-6 in BBC; Lost to Pettisville 6-5 in Division IV Sectional Semifinal)
Head Coach: Joe Keween-1st Season
2021 ROSTER: Seniors-Mason Gurzynski, Devon Miller, Joseph Ramon, Cameron Wonders, Payton Woolace; Juniors-Teyvon Harris, Logan Stuckey; Sophomores-Levi Barnum, Elijah Juillard; Freshman-Jacob Cadwell, Lennon Capps, Gavin LaBo
SEASON OUTLOOK: Coming off a third-place finish in the BBC in 2019 the Stryker Panthers will take the field in 2021 with a new coach as Joe Keween takes over the program.
“After missing last season, we’re just looking forward to getting back out there and competing”, said Keween when previewing the upcoming season.
“We have a few newcomers who I feel will do nothing but help us. We have a big senior group (6 players). Just looking to compete and get better as the season goes on.”
5. North Central (10-13, 6-6 in BBC; Lost to Montpelier 8-1 in Division IV Sectional Final)
Head Coach: Eric Smeltzer-12th Season
KEY LOSSES: Jack Bailey, Levi Williams
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Ben Turner, Brandon Baker, Kaiden Russell, Zack Hayes, Colton Hicks, Sam Wheeler
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Quin Burt, Skyler Bostater, Clayton Douglass, Mason Hamilton, Ethan Beard, Joe Burt, Connor Gendron, Johnny Hicks, Gage Kidston, Cohen Meyers, Keanu Miller, Sam Moore, Ben Petit, Jake Turner
SEASON OUTLOOK: The Eagles will be led by four returning letterwinners this year as the Eagles will have a wealth of young players for coach Eric Smeltzer.
“We have some very experienced talent back which will help us considering how much youth we have in the lineup.” “I guess the youth could be considered a weakness for this team, but it could be a strength as well”, explained Smeltzer.
“Overall, this is a great group of young men who we expect to work hard and be successful by improving every day. We look to compete in the BBC and make a long tournament run”, added Smeltzer.
6. Pettisville (5-14, 2-10 in BBC; Lost to Antwerp 14-0 in Division IV Sectional Final)
Head Coach: Paul Bishop-16th Season
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Josh Horning, Brayden Barrett, Jake King, Nate Keim, Gideon Myers, Josh Basselman, Nate Rupp, Josh Norr
SEASON OUTLOOK: Veteran coach Paul Bishop has a few more athletes out this year, something he hopes will result in the Blackbirds being more competitive.
Pettisville has a solid group of seniors with two years of experience led by Josh Horning who will be the Blackbirds top pitcher along with being a solid centerfielder.
Bishop expects defense behind the plate to be a strength this year as Brayden Barrett, who has been catching since his freshman year, returns for Pettisville.
Pitching depth is a concern entering the season with Horning (32 innings in 2019) and Kiem (12 innings) the top two starters.
Bishop said Norr, Myers, and Basselman, all juniors, will need to step up and provide quality innings on the mound.
“Overall experience will also be a factor. Having lost all of last year’s spring and summer seasons our juniors haven’t had a lot of varsity experience”, stated Bishop, who expects Edon and Montpelier to be at the top of the BBC.
“We hope to come out and compete in every game we play. With our top pitcher out to start the season, we will look to get our less experienced pitchers valuable time on the mound to help us later in the season.”
7. Fayette (0-17, 0-12 in BBC; Lost to Wayne Trace 10-0 in Division IV Sectional Semifinal)
Head Coach: Matt Maginn-5th Season
KEY LOSSES: Tanner Lemley
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Tanner Wagner, TJ Moliterno, Owen Lemley
PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Brandon Brown, Jayden Fairfield, Tyrese Pearson, Luciano Millan, Tyson Bailey, Chase Moats, Skylar Lester, Wyatt Mitchell, Shane Maginn, Riley Burkhard, Gavin Figgins, Hawk Brehm, Braxton Jacobs
SEASON OUTLOOK: Fifth year coach Matt Maginn has 15 players on this year’s roster, including five seniors and six freshmen. With just three returning letterwinners, Eagles don’t have a lot of experience on the roster.
“We hope to be more competitive in our league and non-league games”, said Maginn when previewing the 2021 season for the Eagles.
Nate can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com