The Blanchester High School baseball team, from left to right, front row, Braydyn Wiley, Seth Perkins, Caleb Mobley, Austin Dick, Brayden Behymer, Drey Dees, Dane Skates, Matt Adkins; back row, coach Aaron Lawson, Collin Elston, Sammy Roush, Bryce Sipple, Cooper Reynolds, Bryce Burress, Cole Mueller, coach Kevin Brown, coach Dennis Dick. Team members and coaches not present for the photos were Caleb Sears, coach Kyle Campbell, coach Ricky Roush, coach Bradon Pyle.
There will be plenty of holes to fill from last season on the 2024 version of Blanchester baseball.
Aaron Lawson is the dean of Clinton County baseball coaches, entering his 14th season with the Wildcats. BHS is 193-101-1 during his reign.
Lawson will be assisted by Greg Short, Kevin Brown, Dennis Dick, Kyle Campbell, Ricky Roush and Bradon Pyle.
There are 10 returning letterwinners, with five of them starters from a season ago.
“The upperclassmen have done a phenomenal job showing up with a great attitude and willing to show the younger crowd how things are done,” said Lawson.
Bryce Sipple (.313 average, 27 RBI, 14 SB) and Sammy Roush (.354 average, 24 SB, 13 RBI, 32 RS) are first team All-SBAAC selections last season and lead the way. Austin Dick (25 SB, 16 RBI) and Drey Dees are second team all-leaguers.
Blanchester was 17-9 last season and also returns Caleb Sears, Collin Elston, Cole Mueller and Matt Adkins.
Newcomers Brayden Behymer, Brayden Wiley, Bryce Burress, Caleb Mobley, Cooper Reynolds, Dane Skates, Jarod Daniels and Seth Perkins are newcomers who will have a shot at filling the holes left by those players not returning. They are first teamers Ty Miller (.364 average, 20 RBI) and Zach West (6-1 W-L, 1.98 ERA, 3 SHO, 62 K), James Wymer (30 SB, second team All-SBAAC), Dylan Estep, Michael Mulvihill and Jansen Wymer.
”I like how we have started to jell as a team and come together,” Lawson said. “Everyone has been positive. Even after a strikeout or an error, everyone is being a great teammate, picking each other up focusing on the next play. My best teams have had the unselfish attitude and this team strikes me as that type early.”
Lawson said the team must improve the mental side of the game, learning pre-pitch assignments and knowing where to be on the diamond when the opposition puts the ball in play.
”We have pitching and defense,” he said. “If we are able to throw 55 percent strikes and have a defense behind our pitcher that makes the routine plays 90 percent of the time, I think we will be very competitive.”
Sammy Roush is moving up the career leader board at BHS in career hits and triples while Sipple is high on the list for doubles and runs batted in. Dick nears the top of the charts in career stolen bases.
March 9^New Richmond Scrim^H^11 am
March 13^Trailblazers Scrim^A^5 pm
March 16^Indian Hill Scrim^H^12 pm
March 18^Washington CH Scrim^H^5 pm
March 23^Reading^A^12 pm
NOTE: Game to be held at Midland Complex on Founders Blvd.
March 27^Williamsburg^H^430 pm
March 29^Batavia^A^430 pm
April 1^Georgetown^A^430 pm
April 3^Felicity^H^430 pm
April 4^Wilmington^A^430 pm
April 5^Clermont NE^A^430 pm
April 8^East Clinton^H^430 pm
April 10^Bethel-Tate^H^430 pm
April 12^Clinton-Massie^H^430 pm
April 13^Hills, Lynchburg^Shafer^11 am, 1 pm
April 16^Mariemont^H^5 pm
April 17^Williamsburg^A^430 pm
April 19^Georgetown^H^430 pm
April 20^Fayetteville^H^11 am, 130 pm
(Senior Day)
April 22^Felicity^A^430 pm
April 24^Clermont NE^H^430 pm
April 26^East Clinton^A^430 pm
April 29^Waynesville^A^630 pm
May 1^Bethel-Tate^H^430 pm
May 2^Walnut Hills^H^5 pm
May 3^McClain^H^5 pm
May 8^Washington CH^A^5 pm
May 9^Eastern Brown^H^5 pm
May 10^Goshen^H^430 pm
