CURWENSVILLE – The Curwensville Golden Tide baseball program welcomes a new head coach for the 2010 season. Denny Johns, a 1978 graduate of Curwensville High School, is the new skipper for the Tide, taking over for Ryan Briskar.
Briskar lead Curwensville the past three seasons to an overall record of 41-22 as they were 13-8 in 2007, 16-8 in 2008 and last year finished at 12-6.
The Tide return five letter winners, all seniors, for the upcoming campaign that kicks off on March 30 at Brockway against the Rovers.
Coach Johns talked about his first squad, “This particular group of kids has had a lot of success on the baseball field for several years now. We are very fortunate with the nucleus we have coming back because we have a bunch of positive senior leadership.”
Several positions have been hotly contested throughout the spring practice but some are fairly set for the start of the season.
First base will have junior Garrett LaBorde and sophomore Jesse Zorger sharing duty. Senior letterman Brett Sutika is set at second base. In 2009 Sutika hit .340 while driving in 14 teammates.
Another letter winner, Jed Greslick has secured a new position as he moves from the outfield to shortstop. Last season Greslick knocked in 17 runs and smacked two home runs.
Derek Brothers will share his senior year at two different spots. The returning third baseman, who also lettered in 2009, will do some catching as well as playing the hot corner once again.
Others that may see some time in the infield are seniors Chris Adams and Jonathan Michaels, junior Shane Hoover, sophomores Boone McGary and Zorger. Freshman Hunter McCracken may also be called on for infield and catching responsibilities.
The Golden Tide will have two veterans patrolling the outfield when they are not on the mound. Seniors Sam Gardner and Wes McGarry, both lettermen, will be the one and two starters for the Curwensville pitching staff and when not hurling Gardner will be in center field and McGarry will be in left. McGarry hit .380 last year while scoring 17 runs and going 2-1 as a pitcher. Gardner batted .303 with 15 RBI’s and 7 doubles. In his duty as a pitcher Gardner was 3-3 a season ago.
Helping in the outfield will be juniors Shae Best, Eric Little and Hoover. Sophomores Alex Holland and Jesse Zorger will also get in on the action in the Tide outfield.
Michaels, Boone McGary and McCracken may also get some time behind the plate for Curwensville.
Johns talked about his biggest concern, “Our biggest question mark is for our number 3 and 4 pitchers to step up. There are several guys in the mix as of now and hopefully a few of them will give a boost to our staff.”
Looking to see time on the hill for the Tide other than veterans Gardner and McGarry will be Michaels, Best, LaBorde, Holland, McGary and McCracken. Greslick may also get a shot at times to bolster the pitching staff.
Johns then added his evaluation of his first year on the job, “I feel that we have very good overall team speed. We should be a pretty good defensive team also.”
The new Tide boss summed it all up, saying, “I am really excited about the upcoming year and the group of boys that have come out for the squad. I have been asked by several people what kind of year are we going to have. I know that we really can’t control everything but I do know that every time we step onto the field we are going to play hard. If we play hard and smart, then I am certain good things will happen.”
ROSTER:
SENIORS – * Jed Greslick ss/of, * Sam Gardner cf/p, * Wes McGarry lf/p, * Derek Brothers c/3b, Chris Adams 2b, * Brett Sutika 2b, Jonathan Michaels c/3b/p
JUNIORS – Shae Best rf/p, Shane Hoover inf/of, Garrett LaBorde p/1b, Eric Little rf/p
SOPHOMORES – Alex Holland p/of, Boone McGary c/1b/p, Jesse Zorger 1b/of
FRESHMEN – Hunter McCracken c/inf/p
* Denotes letter winners
SCHEDULE:
MARCH – 30 at Brockway APRIL – 8 Ridgway, 9 West Branch, 13 at Johnsonburg, 15 DuBois Central Catholic, 19 at East Forest (4 pm), 21 Kane, 22 Glendale, 26 at Elk County Catholic, 28 Brockway, 30 at Brookville MAY – 3 at West Branch (4:30 pm), 4 at Ridgway (4 pm),
6 Johnsonburg, 10 at DuBois Central Catholic, 12 Harmony, 14 Moshannon Valley, 17 at Kane,
19 Elk County Catholic, 21 at Punxsutawney
NOTE: ALL GAMES START AT 4:15 PM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED