The Orangefield Bobcats baseball team had a successful season last year. The Bobcats made the post season, won two series in the playoffs, before being eliminated in a one-game playoff with the West Orange-Stark Mustangs.
Coach Tim Erickson is in his second year as the Bobcats’ baseball coach and returns several key players from last year which should help Orangefield compete successfully again in district. Three juniors will be in the lineup that have been starters since they were freshmen. Erickson also has a couple of seniors with varsity experience.
Brett Fregia is a senior who was all-district last year as a designated hitter and will be used more at first base this season. Johnny Armstrong is expected to step up this year as a junior. Mason Gonzales is a junior who came on strong during last year’s playoffs. Blake Bradley is the third junior. Bradley has done everything well in the early scrimmages for the Bobcats according to Erickson.
Behind the plate Orangefield returns the Newcomer of the Year last season in Kent Michael. Erickson added, “If he can repeat what he did as a freshman that would also be a plus.”
The coach indicates freshmen have a chance to find a place on the varsity this season. The biggest holes to fill are two of three outfield positions that need a player to step up and play themselves into the starting lineup.
Erickson analyzed the Bobcats’ bats. He thinks Orangefield will be pretty balanced hitting the baseball. There are a fair share of guys that can hit the ball in the gaps, and the Bobcats have a lot of speed that the team can benefit from using small ball too.
The lettermen will be relied on to carry the Orangefield offense with the other players to help pick up the slack. Erickson looks for Fregia and Gonzales to hit like they did last year especially as they did in the playoffs. Michael hit near .400 for most of the season and needs to continue to do that. Bradley has been swinging the bat very well in early scrimmages. Armstrong is a hitter from whom more is expected. “If those guys can just have the approach at the plate that we know they’re capable of we’ll be in good shape,” Erickson evaluated.
Orangefield will be counting on Mason Gonzales to be the leader on the mound according to Coach Erickson. Gonzales should be the number one pitcher for the Bobcats going into this season based on his strong showing late last season and in the playoffs. He should get a lot of innings and hopefully can build on his success from last year.
Some innings are still up for grabs in the Orangefield bullpen. Armstrong pitched a little last season and will be called on more often now. Bradley has looked good on the mound so far in scrimmages. Freshman Logan Gipson is another pitcher that Coach Erickson is really looking at to deliver some innings this year.
Building on last season’s success Erickson and the Bobcats are expecting to be in the post season again. His primary expectation is for Orangefield to win a district championship. They all know that the Bobcats compete in a tough district top to bottom. Orangefield has had a little bit of success last year during which the Bobcats learned what it takes to be successful and should benefit from that. “We want to win a district championship in this district and then have that same playoff success we did last year,” Erickson stated.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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