Orangefield’s Dennis Vansa moves up from his assistant coach position last year to be the Bobcats’ head coach this season. Vansa has several players returning for Orangefield that have seen a lot of playing time for the Bobcats.
Junior Dylan Anthony has already played two years on the varsity for Orangefield. Mack Patterson likewise had been on the varsity the last two seasons. Vansa says Josh Chandler is a senior who will see time in the outfield and do some pitching duties for the Bobcats. Other juniors back from last season are Andrew Hoyland and Payton Lathrop.
Coach Vansa has young Bobcats coming up to the varsity. Vansa is pretty excited about two freshmen Johnny Armstrong and Blake Bradley who have both shown a lot of speed and knowledge of how to play the ball game. He expects both of them to contribute for Orangefield this season. Another freshman Vansa has his eye on is Mason Gonzales who is pushing the limit to go from the JV to the varsity squad.
Swings are needed to get the players hitting properly, and Vansa is counting on repetition paying off for Orangefield’s hitting. Vansa thinks timing is what is needed and takes a little longer to come around for the players. He adds the Bobcats have been able to put the ball in play during scrimmages. The coach admits they will face some quality pitching in the district, and Vansa is hopeful the Bobcats will get those bats rolling by then.
Pitching could be a strength for the Bobcats as Coach Vansa plans to use a number of good young pitchers. Orangefield could have 12 players on the varsity roster, and Vansa believes all except one of them could take the mound. Mack Patterson, Josh Chandler, and Dylan Anthony are returning from last year. Freshmen Johnny Armstrong, Blake Bradley, and Mason Gonzales have shown a lot of promise and will get their time on the bump. Vansa is confident the Bobcats will have enough arms to get through the season.
Orangefield’s district is loaded with quality teams. Vansa evaluates the Bobcats’ chances this season. He advises that you can never count out Bridge City which is great every year. In his opinion Silsbee will compete very closely with the Cardinals for the district championship. Vansa states it is a great baseball district with no easy games; it’s a battle every night. He hopes Orangefield can be in the thick of things and see what happens when it gets down to that time.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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