By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
GUYTON – South Effingham’s baseball program will be replacing 11 seniors this season. Seven made the first- or second all-region team or were honorable mentions.
Now freshmen, sophomores and juniors are being asked to step up and Coach Jesse Osborne has a good idea what people are thinking.
“Everyone looks at the age thing and thinks, ‘Are they going to be good?’” Osborne said. “I think we’re going to be fine. I think we’re going to be that gritty team. We’ll be hungry. I hope people take us for granted.”
A year ago, South posted a 19-13 record, 11-7 in region play, and advanced to the Class 6A state tournament. Can the Mustangs be in that ballpark again this year?
Redmond will be the team leader offensively and defensively. He batted about .400 with 16 extra base hits a year ago and he covers ground and possesses a strong arm to field his position with the best shortstops in the area.
South also returns Lance Cantaline, a junior who will anchor the pitching staff. The righthander was the Rookie of the Year in the region, opening eyes midway through the season when he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against hard-hitting and eventual region champion Evans.
Osborne said Cantaline changes speed well and pounds the zone with strikes and hitters get themselves out with weak contact.
“Lance stepped up last year in a big way. We’re looking for it again this year,” Osborne said.
Bryce Hodges joins Cantaline with varsity experience, but some unproven talent will have to come through as well.
Osborne said sophomore lefthander Nico Ellwood had a good year on junior varsity last season and has shined in the offseason. Sophomore Cole Zipperer, who had arm surgery in the eighth grade, and freshman James Brooks are among the top underclassmen looking for pitching time.
Around the horn: Ellwood, Collin Harvey and Patrick Dyer are in the mix to play first base. Evan Hollis and Neal Baker are pushing each other to start at second base.
Redmond will play shortstop and Carter Futch and William Collier (both can pitch too) and Brooks are looking for time at third base.
JT Barkley is back as the starting catcher, and he’ll split time with Trevor Seguin.
Lawton Bowen, Hodges, Cantaline, Jacob Duncan and Seguin are the leading candidates for the three outfield spots.
“We’re young, but every spot is competitive,” Osborne said. “No one just expects to have a spot. There’s going to be competition.”
Osborne will learn more about his team on Friday night when the Mustangs scrimmage visiting Brantley County. South opens its baseball season Tuesday (Feb. 11) when Bryan County comes to Guyton.
“When you lose 20 players (11 last year and nine in 2023) in two years, that’s a lot for a program,” Osborne said. “It definitely hurts. That’s a big group, but we’re excited about this sophomore and junior group contributing. We’ll be fine.”