Written by: Danny Talbert
The LaGrange College baseball team is only one month away from beginning their 2024 season. The Panthers start the season by taking on Brevard in a home series on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17-18. Coach Kelton enters his 11th year as the LC Head Coach and the 2023 CCS Coach of the Year is looking to build on last year's success and carry it into this upcoming season.
Last year's team finished the season 27-15 (13-5 CCS), which crowned LC as the 2023 CCS Regular Season Champions and placed the team in first place prior to the CCS postseason tournament. There are many great players coming back to field this year's squad. Following another outstanding season last year, third baseman Joe Ruth returns as a graduate student. Ruth was named CCS Conference Player of the Year in 2023 after posting a .402 batting average, a slugging percentage of .598, 68 hits, hit three home runs and drove in 50 runs. Another big-time playmaker who is returning is sophomore Curt Bonner. Bonner posted a .400 batting average (top ten in the country for rookies), drove in 33 runs and hit three home runs. Bonner was named the 2023 CCS Rookie of the Year and earned a spot as a CCS First Team All-Conference selection. Another key ball player coming back this season is Eduardo Peralta. Peralta earned CCS Rookie Pitcher of the Year last season after striking out 53 batters, posting a 3.20 earned run average and pitched a 7-0 record as a starter. Peralta also earned a CCS Second Team All-Conference selection. David Smigelski is another First Team All-Conference selection player who is representing the red and black for another season. Last year, the catcher seemed to stop any wild pitch coming his way, while also posting 39 hits and a .310 batting average. A key player returning to the outfield this spring is graduate student Rhett Mixon. Last year, Mixon had a career-high 167 at-bats, 48 runs, 57 hits, 12 doubles, 38 runs batted in and a .341 batting average. He earned CCS Player of the Week twice in the season and was selected CCS First Team All-Conference.
As you can see, there is an enormous amount of talent returning to the Panther baseball team this season. Listed above are a handful of the players that earned 2023 CCS all-conference honors and there is a lot more talent coming back that is not mentioned here. This season is shaping up to be a monumental year for the LC baseball team, and you have plenty of opportunities to see it for yourself this spring.
Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.
