north pontotoc VikingS BaSeBall

NORTH PONTOTOC

2022 VikingS BaSeBall

2022 north pontotoc VikingS BaSeBall team

This year’s North Pontotoc Vikings baseball team includes (front row, left to right ) Madison Paul, Caroline Speck, Elizabeth Hale, Annasia Berry, Anna Beth Brown, Maly Fitts, Bella Hayes, (row 2) Braden Gray, Landon Hill, Jameson Kent, Rhodes Anthony, Ty Collums, Jack Cummings, Cameron Abbott, (row 3) Clay Pitts, Cayson Capwell, Eli Patterson, Hunter Huffstatler, Michael Anderson, Reece Kentner, Kaylor Kirby, Jaylon Wise, (row 4) Coach Ivan Collier, Colton Moore, Bryce Reeder, Wesley Simmons, Frank Stark, Bryce Rainer, Coach Chad Anthony, (row 5) Coach Caleb Todd, Clayton Redd, Tyler Pickens, Kaden Pfahler, Seth Boland, Nick Burchfield.

Photo by Torrance Photography

VIKINGS LOOK TO CONTINUE WINNING WAYS

Jonathan Wise

Sports Writer

North Pontotoc has been a consistent baseball program for years, and the Vikings look to keep that success going as they head into the 2022 campaign.

“We’ve got a pretty good mix between older, experienced guys and some young guys who are going to have to play some significant roles this year,” said longtime North Pontotoc coach Chad Anthony. “We’ve been trying to get our young guys into the vocabulary and system of how we do things in high school.

“It’s a good group. Overall our roster is going to be a lot younger than it has been the last three or four years; but that’s always fun too, just seeing those guys grow and step up and seeing how they react in some of those pressure moments that they are going to have.”

The Vikings will lean on junior Reece Kentner for a good bit of production, both offensively and on the mound. He batted .373 last season and posted a 2.36 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched.

“Reece did a great job for us on the mound last year,” Anthony said. “We are looking for him to be a solid number one starter for us. He has a lot of talent and baseball skills. We are looking for him to not only do those things on the mound and at the plate, but also to be one of the leaders in our clubhouse.”

Another key contributor will be senior Michael Anderson.

“Michael is a really good outfielder, pitcher and left-handed bat in our lineup,” Anthony said. “I’m looking for big things out of him as a senior. He is a really hard worker, really loves to win and loves to compete.”

Others returnees who saw a lot of action last year include Cayson Capwell, Bryce Reeder, Jaylen Wise, Kalor Kirby and Tyler Pickens.

“We are going to need all of those guys to really step up for us to be successful,” coach Anthony said.

At this writing and likely extending into the early season, things are a work in progress, as younger players are pushing to make an impact.

“We are just trying to see where the pieces are all going to fit,” Anthony said. “Some of them might not play in the same spots they did last year. We are trying to gell it all together between our older guys and younger guys to see what is our best lineup.

“We’ve got a talented group of freshmen that I think are going to help us this year.”

Anthony expects the Vikings to be solid on the mound, which always goes a long way and gives a team a chance to win a bunch of games. Beyond that, it’s about executing in all phases at big moments.

“We should be able to compete on the mound,” he said. “With (Reece) Kentner, (Cayson) Capwell and Bryce Reeder, those are three lefties who (collectively) have the ability to lead our staff. We’ve got young arms who are looking forward to getting some innings as well. Definitely our guys on the mound are going to have to lead our team.”

2022 north pontotoc VikingS BaSeBall Schedule

MARCH 22

@ Ripley

MARCH 25

Ripley

MARCH 26

@ Bruce

MARCH 29

South Pontotoc*

APRIL 1 @ South Pontotoc*

APRIL 5 @ Houston

APRIL 12 @ New Albany* APRIL 12 New Albany* APRIL 19 Ingomar

MARCH 26

West Union

APRIL 8

Houston

* Division game