Potential. Talent. Depth. Experience. Flexibility.
All the elements for another great season of Oxford varsity baseball are there.
‘We’re not going to be a team that beats ourselves,? said Coach Kurt Nuss. ‘If you’re going to beat us, you need to come and out-play us on that day. And we’re going to make that as difficult as we can on you.?
‘We go into every game knowing we can win; whether we do that or not is our challenge,? he added.
With 11 returning players, seven of which are returning starters, from last year’s 22-8 team Nuss said, ‘Our strength is definitely experience.?
‘How hard they’re willing to work and how well our seniors become leaders is going to determine where we go,? the coach explained.
Things look good on the mound, plenty of depth.
‘We may not have that kid who throws 90 miles per hour, but we have several kids who can get people out and allow us to be competitive,? Nuss said.
Two of last year’s top three pitchers ? senior Jeremy Bukoski and junior Kyle Teague ? are returning for another season of action.
‘Bukoski’s been one of our aces for the last three years,? while Teague ‘started for us extensively as a sophomore,? according to Nuss.
Two other juniors on the mound ‘expected to supply major innings? are Russell Luxton and James McLean.
‘They both saw significant time on the mound last year,? the coach said. ‘They’re both very good offensive and defensive players.?
The team’s main strength still lies on the defensive side of the ball.
‘When the ball’s put in play, we’re fairly confident that an out’s going to be made,? Nuss said.
The outfield will be ‘anchored? by Senior Vinnie Ives in center field. ‘It’s great to have a senior leader out there who can direct other guys,? Nuss said. ‘When he’s right, he hits the ball a ton and hunts everything down in the outfield.?
Senior Bobby Rhodes is returning to play right field, however, left field will be a ‘battle? between senior John Logan and junior Justin Ziegelbaur, a newcomer to the team.
When they’re not competing for that spot expect to see Logan as a utility player in the infield and both he and Ziegelbaur on the mound.
In the infield, senior Brandon Dugan will bring his ‘great hands? and ‘competitive attitude? to shortstop.
McLean and Senior Adam Peterson are expected to battle it out for first base.
Behind the plate will be catcher Eric Turk, a junior who transferred from Waterford-Kettering where he started as a sophomore last year.
‘He’ll probably be our anchor behind the plate,? Nuss said. ‘He does some pretty special things back there on the defensive side. Whatever we can get from him offensively will be gravy.?
Two other players will battle for time as catcher, Senior Joe Calahan and Junior Don Pohl, another newcomer to the team.
Nuss noted that Pohl had several homeruns in JV play last year.
‘He’s got the ability to knock the ball out of the yard,? the coach said.
Senior Ian Hoefelmeyer will battle for time as a utility player in the infield and also see some playing time in the outfield.
Nuss said the starting line-up will ‘be in flux for the first couple of weeks.?
‘Just because they earned starting spots last year doesn’t mean they’re given to them this year,? he said. ‘They have to earn them on a daily basis. We have enough depth in the program where competition for starting time and playing time is going to be pretty intense.?
Right now, it appears the opening day lineup will be Bukoski or Teague on the mound (who ever ius not pitching will play second base), Turk as catcher, Peterson on first, Dugan at shortstop, Luxton on third, Ziegelbaur in left field, Ives in center field, Rhodes in right field and McLean as designated hitter.
‘We can interchange three, four, five of those guys into different spots, which is a really nice luxury to have,? Nuss said. ‘Those guys can play multiple positions.?
For instance, newcomer senior Brian Simpson will primarily pitch but could find himself at first base, in the outfield or behind the plate.
‘We’re confident putting any of these guys in,? the coach noted. ‘Everybody is here to contribute, not to keep stats or fill a roster.?
The Cats season opener, a March 27 home game against Waterford Mott, was rained out. The teams are currently trying to reschedule it.
On Thursday, the Cats play Waterford Kettering. Saturday it’s a doubleheader against Grand Blanc.
Playing four games in five days will help the team ‘find out what we’re made of.?
‘Our schedule’s very tough and we wouldn’t want it any other way,? Nuss said. ‘You only find out what you can do when you play the best.?
The team’s goals are to ‘improve throughout the year and start peaking? when it comes time to earn back the Flint Metro League title and compete in districts, which Oxford is hosting this year.
‘If we’re going to go down, it’s because someone was just flat out better than us on that day,? Nuss said.