Muskie underclassmen show promise for upcoming season

  The current Fighting Muskie underclassmen beat the alumni Muskie 11-0 on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Mose Moorehead Field. After a 15 inning affair in last season's alumni game, this year's game was expected to be no different, but it was.

  "I thought we played well," said Fighting Muskie head coach Gregg Thompson. "It wasn't the alum guys' best offensive showing, but it says something about the guys we pitched."

  The offensive showing doesn't suggest it, however, the alumni team was filled with former Muskie greats; such as, All-American catcher Brock Whiteman and the Muskies all-time leader in doubles, Erik Spitzer. Former Muskies Tyler Hardcastle, Garrett Frederici and Josh Cornwell also played for the alumni team.

   Pitching in the combined shutout for the Muskies were Sophomore Colton Maxwell, Juniors Logan Addison and Pat Johnson and Senior Josh Eckard.

  "We're going to need [Colton Maxwell]'s arm on the mound [this season]," said Thompson. "I thought for the 58 pitches he threw, he looked good and strong. He was around the zone."

  Senior First Baseman Colton Newell was not playing for the Fighting Muskies, but he still enjoyed the whole experience and seeing the young guys pick up the bragging rights.

  "It was good seeing all the alumni, especially the guys I attended with," said Newell. "It's good to come out and get a ‘W' against them."

  One word spoken throughout the day was evaluation. Everyone at the field did their own evaluating and one conclusion seemed to be the same throughout: The Muskie baseball team bring talent to the table.

  "We've got three weeks of work ahead of us because the stuff we can do out here, we can't do in a gym," Thompson explained. "But it's a good group. It's an athletic group and it looks like they're hard working so I'm excited about them."

  One underclassmen that caught the attention of Muskie fans, players and coaches last season was Sophomore Catcher Matt Connor. Not only was Connor stepping into a varsity starting spot as a Freshman he had to try and fill the shoes of Whiteman.

  In the off-season, Whiteman worked with Connor through the spring trip to Florida and likes what he saw out of the young signal caller.

  "Matt's one of those guys that's going to work hard in the offseason," said Whiteman. "I talked to him a bit while we were playing. He played Legion ball and they got second in the state and that's what it takes. A lot of kids want to take off and enjoy their summer. [They've] got to keep working hard in the summer and he did that and he's going to keep improving as long as he keeps working hard."

  The bar is beginning to be set high as far as the upcoming season.

  "[We're expecting to be] better than last season," said Newell. "We have high hopes, so we're going out for that OAC championship".