With a record of 2-0 to start the season, the Oxford varsity baseball team is certainly living up to Coach Kurt Nuss? expectations.
‘As a group we are young but experienced, which is a good combination,? he said. ‘We are very deep. This is the deepest team since I’ve been here.?
Oxford’s lineup features six returning starters from last year including seniors Tim Shafto, Chris Harper, Brad Dugan, and juniors Jeremy Bukowski, Vinnie Ives and Brandon Dugan.
Looking over his team, Nuss likes what he sees.
‘We have 17 players on varsity now and all 17 could start at some point,? he said. ‘Getting people in is going to be difficult because we’re going to go with the hot hands and the experience.?
Behind the plate, ‘We have guys who can hit,? said Nuss, specifically referring to Ives who batted .419 last year and Brad Dugan who hit around .380.
‘Our hitters are a lot more mature than they were last year,? the coach noted. ‘Last year that was where we struggled a little bit because we were immature hitters.
‘The big thing last year was timely hitting ? getting the hit when it mattered,? Nuss explained. ‘Our first two games (this season) we got hits when we had guys in scoring position. We found ways to get them in.?
‘It’s not necessarily the number of hits you get, it’s when you get them.?
On the mound, Nuss said, ‘Our pitching staff pretty much is left intact from last year.?
‘We literally go six, seven deep in legitimate pitchers at the varsity level,? the coach said. ‘We don’t have that guy who throws 90 miles an hour, but we have a bunch of solid quality starters for a high school varsity team.’Shafto and Bukowski are the team’s top pitchers. ‘They’re very good,? Nuss said.
Sophomores Russell Luxton and James McLean will fill in on the mound and at first and third base. ‘They’ll be counted on big time,? Nuss said.
Nuss believes his infield is ‘very solid defensively.?
‘We have the best set of hands in the infield since I’ve been here,? he said.
As for the outfielders, they ‘can run fast and get the balls.?
Nuss characterized this season’s schedule as ‘very tough.?
‘The Flint Metro League is a very competitive league,? he said. But that’s just the way the coach and his team like it.
‘We try to find the toughest competition we can play,? Nuss said. ‘Our philosophy is you’ll only be good by playing the best. You find areas you need to improve by having people test you every time.?
‘We want to prove ourselves on a daily basis,? the coach said. ‘If we come to play and compete on every pitch, things should take care of themselves.?
Nuss characterized his team as ‘very aggressive? both defensively and offensively. ‘We don’t want to sit back and let things happen to us,? he said. ‘We want to dictate the pace of a game.?
‘Our goal is to compete and have fun. We try to make baseball exciting.?
The home opener is Thursday, April 6 against Rochester Adams.