6 SENIOR EAGLES LOOK TO MAKE UP FOR A LOST 2019

By William

CANTON – While all the teams in the area will be operating without a 2020 roadmap to guide them due to new season thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canton/Galva baseball team will have an advantage that not many may have – a solid core of senior returnees that have a solid two years of varsity experience.

Eagle Head Coach Kelly Nelson will return six seniors to build upon with many underclassmen for what hopefully will be a successful season.

A BIT ABOUT THE EAGLES COACH:

  • Kelly Nelson = Entering his 10th season as head coach
  • Assistant Coach = Jacob Daily, his 2nd year

EAGLES KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION/TRANSFERS:

  • Nick Pearson = P/Utility Infielder

EAGLES KEY RETURNING PLAYERS:

  • Brayden Collins = Senior 1B/DH who hit .447 in 2019
  • Brandon Huff = Senior C/P who hit .237 in 2019
  • Brayden Minson = Senior CF/P who hit .375 in 2019
  • Andrew Prieb = Senior 3B/1B/P who hit .226 in 2019
  • Keaton Littrell = Senior P/SS who hit .385 in 2019
  • Chase French = Senior OF/1B/DH/P who hit .355 in 2019
  • Xavier Westbrook = Junior 2B/OF who hit .208 in 2019

EAGLE NEWCOMERS WORTH WATCHING:

  • Ryder Norstrom = Sophomore
  • Garrett Maltbie = Sophomore
  • Braison Alcala = Sophomore

EAGLES SEASON OUTLOOK:

Pre-season Reflections by Coach Kelly Nelson:

  • OUR STRENGTHS will include:
  • > > > > We hit .317 as a team in 2019
  • > > > > We have a strong senior class that has started since they were freshmen
  • > > > > We are strong fielding – .900%
  • OUR WEAKNESSES will include:
  • > > > > Our pitching as we gave up too many walks and hit-by-pitches
  • SEASON OUTLOOK:
  • > > > > “We will have to see how players are after missing last year’s season.”
  • > > > > “The sophomores did not get a chance to get their feet wet as freshmen.”
  • > > > > “Our hitting will be good enough to win a lot of games as we averaged 8 hits per game in 2019.”
  • > > > > “Our pitching will need to improve as we averaged nearly 11 walks/hits by pitches a game in 2019 and gave up 7 hits per game as well.

EAGLES REFLECTION REVIEW:

The Canton/Galva Eagle baseball team may come into the 2021 season with the most experience of any team in the area.

The Eagles have a very solid core of seniors to help guide and build the younger players into a solid, highly competitive team.

It appears that if Coach Kelly Nelson can get the pitching in line, the offense will take care of itself and the Eagles could be looking at a highly successful spring.

It will help the Eagles that four of their first five outings for the 2021 season will be played on their home diamond.

First 5 Scheduled Games:

Tuesday, March 30 = Eagles host Remington

Thursday, April 1 = Eagles host Little River

Tuesday, April 13 = Eagles at Marion

Friday, April 16 = Eagles host Bennington

Thursday, April 20 = Eagles host Ell-Saline

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