Stay Reddie so we never have to get ready

After having a spectacular season, the Reddies baseball team has been putting in serious work this offseason. Being the conference champions last season has left the team hungry for more. They have been preparing hard this fall and are looking forward to another great season.

The preparation for this spring began when last season ended. The summer time is about player development and preparing for the fall. Players individually work on their game during the summer and have the option to go play in summer leagues where they can continue to perfect their craft. “Our team motto is to stay reddie so we never have to get ready,” stated assistant coach Alan Hall.

The fall is split up into individual and team phases. “Training environments are designed to create competition, develop skills, and teach the game,” said Hall. Baseball players have a long and strenuous season, so they have to prepare in a way to be able to perform well along with having the endurance to stay healthy for the season. “From culture building, strength and conditioning, meetings, to intrasquads, there are many moving parts happening throughout the fall in pursuit of a championship by June,” stated Hall.

After falling short of a spot playing for the Division 2 World Series, the team has worked and made adjustments to up their game. “We are always learning and finding ways to improve. With a combo of both tenured returners and new faces, the goal of the fall is to come together as a family and install the reddie culture,” expressed Hall.

The team lost some key players such as infielders Joe Myers, Daniel Colasanto, catcher Josh Aguilar, and pitchers Taylor Langston and Matthew Baker. However, they have a lot of key returners and they have added a lot of new talent to this year’s roster. “Returners Kaden Argenbright, Bryson Haskins, Cade Tucker, and Nick Butler have really taken the role as leaders on the offensive side,” said Hall. “There are many new additions that will contribute in new ways. Catcher David Vilches, infielders Luke Farrar, Pate Fullerton, Dillon Thomas, outfielder Colton Patterson, and many more.”

The team took a hard blow after losing former All-American pitcher Taylor Langston as well as the always reliable pitcher Matthew Baker, but the coaches believe they have a very talented pitching staff for the 2022 season. “Led by Senior GAC Tournament MVP Spencer Tack, we also have returners Cade Tucker, Brayden Bebee, Ethan Perry, Austin Cross, Henry Coppens, and Andrew Howard. They will bolster the rotation along with many other exciting newcomers,” stated Hall.

Great things are sure to come this spring as the Reddies have prepared and expect nothing less than to win. They hold the conference championship title and refuse to give it up. They strive for more this season and look to bring back a national title to the community of Arkadelphia.