BASEBALL PREVIEW: Dexter features plenty of new faces, new head coach

Dexter assistant coach Drew Pixley, center, talks with his infielders during the first inning Monday, April 16, 2018, at East City Park. Pixley was named head coach following last season.

DEXTER STATESMAN/Kyle Smith

The Dexter Bearcats baseball team will have a new look this season.

The Bearcats lost six starters from last year’s team that went 5-16 and their longtime head coach Brian Becker, who retired from coaching last spring.

Drew Pixley, an assistant coach last season, takes over and will have a lot of new faces at the varsity level.

Five players who made at least nine starts return: corner infielder Garrett Henson, outfielder Haden Hillis, outfielder Caleb Hoggard, catcher/first baseman Ethan Kincy and second baseman Luke Thurston.

The Bearcats lost Cordell Holt and Clay Mullins, who both started every game, as well as Landon Henson, Spencer Owens, Kris Rinehart and Trenton Willis. All but Mullins pitched last season.

“I don’t know statistically how much better we’ll be pitching, but we have a lot more options available this year,” Pixley said. “That does kind of feel good as a coach that at least you have a lot of arms you can use instead of being caught in a bind pitch-count wise.”

Pixley expects seniors Kincy and Thurston to pitch a lot of innings, as well as senior Hoggard.

“I see Ethan Kincy doing a really good job for us on the mound,” Pixley said. “Luke Thurston’s been working really hard this offseason. Caleb Hoggard’s been working on pitching. He didn’t pitch but an inning last year, but he really never showed interest until the end of the year.  … Maybe Dawson Jones will give us some pretty valuable innings. We’ve got a couple of sophomores who’ll have to step up for us this year: Riley Slusher and Peyton Driskill.”

The Bearcats struggled offensively last season, scoring only 74 runs in 21 games (3.5 per game).

“Going into the year, you’d like to think you can do the job at the plate, but we’ll take any run anyway we can,” Pixley said. “That is bunting across a few runs, suicide squeezes, delayed steals, hit-and-runs. 

“We’re going to have to run some plays to manufacture runs and I think that in turn helps out the kids at the plate, gives them a little bit of confidence. They are producing for the team.”

Pixley said that his players will have to earn their way onto the field.

“One thing I said when I took this job was ‘I don’t care how old you are. I’m going to put the best nine on the field. Period,’ ” Pixley said. “That could be different from week to week. Practice is a really big thing for us. We have to practice well to play well.”

A pair of sophomores, shortstop/catcher Driskill and corner infielder Slusher, will likely find spots in the lineup.

“I’ve got two sophomores right now that I think will push for some pretty heavy time,” Pixley said. “That should scare some of the older guys to want to practice hard and be better. At the same time, it should motivate the sophomores to say ‘Hey, I might have a chance to play at a very high level at a young age.’ ”

Defense will be a key to the Bearcats’ success this season after averaging 2.6 errors per game last season.

“In certain positions, you’ve got to take defense into account (when putting together a lineup),” Pixley said.” It’s not all about the batting average and RBIs. We’ve got to be strong up the middle. My best defenders are going to have to be behind the plate, shortstop and center field. If they aren’t hitting, they’ll just have to be down in the lineup.”

The Bearcats are scheduled to open the season Saturday at East City Park. They will face defending Class 3 state champion Malden at 10 a.m. and Clearwater at 2 p.m.