The LaGrange baseball team opens its 2013 season Tuesday at Berry (0-1). The Panthers are entering their first season as a member of the USA South Athletic Conference.
The Panthers were 17-27 in 2012 under head coach Kevin Howard. Howard is 350-243 in 13 seasons with the Panthers.
Howard welcomes back 14 seniors for 2013. The Panthers return six of their top eight hitters from last season, all seniors.
Cody Muren batted .333, while Josh Shiver hit .325. Brent Kinsey was second on the team with 23 RBIs and batted .291. Jon Brock hit .286 and scored a team-high 33 runs.
The starting pitching rotation also builds around seniors. Doug Scherer earned Great South Athletic Conference All-Conference honors in 2012 with a 6-5 record and 3.54. Kenneth Strack was 3-3 with a 4.65 ERA.
In addition, Robby Williams and Drew Williamson will contribute also. Williams was 2-5, while Williamson returns to the team after a two-year absence.
Sophomore Tyler Brooks will also figure in the starting pitching. Brooks went 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA as a freshman. Freshman Patrick Riley can also be called on as a starter.
The relief pitching has a mixture of experience and youth. Senior Henry Jacobs along with sophomores Josh Bricker, Derek O'Kelley and Matt Steele return. Transfer Gage Mooney with freshmen Zach Tatham and Chris Dunn can also be used.
The Panthers have a lot of versatility in the infield. Muren, who played shortstop in 2012, can also be used at second base. Shiver can play either third or second, while senior Anthony Iannetta had 21 starts, 12 at second base.
Freshmen Brandon Key and Blake Schuck will push for playing time. Both players can play several positions in the infield. Kinsey will move to first base this season. Scherer can also play first base.
In the outfield, the Panthers will have Brock in right, senior Brandon Espinosa in center and senior James Hall in left. Senior Miles Lee, sophomore Jim Reed and freshman Keith Sims will also be used.
The catching corps is made up senior Linwood Roberds and junior Kyle Nerbonne. The two split the catching duties last season. Roberds batted .270 last season with 12 RBIs.
After playing Berry, the Panthers open the home and USA South portion of the 2013 schedule Friday against Methodist at Williamson Stadium at Cleaveland Field. The game will be the first of a three-game weekend series.
