SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW: Stew-Stras Baseball

Despite key injury, Comets have depth

Dustin White

STRASBURG — Facing the challenge of filling an enormous hole in the pitching staff and batting order, a glut of returning varsity experience still makes the Stewardson-Strasburg High School baseball team one not to be overlooked this spring.

The Comets graduated just two players off a squad that finished 15-9 last spring, and its group of six seniors and seven juniors — including 10 returning lettermen — went 13-5 this fall on the way to a third-place finish as the No. 2 seed in the National Trail Conference tournament.

As big as any graduation loss, however, is the left knee injury that is threatening to cost All-NTC senior Jaden Widdersheim most of his final season on the diamond.

Suffering the injury in a Jan. 5 basketball game, Widdersheim underwent successful ACL reconstruction surgery a couple weeks later. Earlier speculation didn't leave much hope for him to return to the mound this season, although the possibility of playing another position late in the year wasn't ruled out.

Widdersheim has spent the last two years heading up the Comets' rotation along with playing the all-important shortstop position when not pitching. He was also one of the brightest spots in an inconsistent offensive attack.

It seems like a huge blow to Coach Mark Wascher's team, but the veteran skipper still has a lot to like about his 31st Stew-Stras club.

"Defense and experience are strong points," said Wascher, who also has three sophomores with varsity letters already to their credit.

"Experienced upperclassmen take up most positions on the field."

Wascher points to the defensive positions up the middle of the field to elaborate; many look to be occupied by experienced varsity players.

Steven Thomas, a senior, is expected to patrol center field, while junior Clayton Brandt is looking at playing shortstop after spending his first two prep seasons calling signals behind the plate and earning all-conference recognition along the way.

Two more juniors, Luke Rincker and Gabe Wascher, can also fill middle infield spots, while Rincker will now be relied upon for even more important innings on the mound. Senior Chris Koontz is going to be another big piece in that pitching puzzle after earning honorable mention all-conference status this fall.

"The pitching staff could be strong despite the absence of Widdersheim," said Wascher, who also figures to count on juniors Lucas Helton and Kyle Helmuth for pitching contributions over the course of the busy spring schedule.

Koontz was 4-0 with a 1.15 ERA last spring and also stepped up down the stretch for the Comets this fall; he also plays in the outfield and at first base. Thomas hit .395 a year ago and the same speed that serves him well in center field makes him a dangerous weapon at the top of the Stew-Stras batting order.

Micah Slifer, the other senior letterman back in the fold, gained a good deal of varsity experience in right field and is joined on the roster by classmates Lucas Doedtman and Mike Meyer.

Looking at the junior class, Brandt was a .380 hitter last spring and was not charged with an error all season long. His position shift has opened the door for Helton to take over as the squad's main catcher. Rincker led the team with a .463 average a year ago and provides some defensive flexibility.

"Luke can just about do it all on defense," said Wascher. "He doesn't catch, but, besides pitching, he has played infield and outfield spots. Wascher will shuffle between second and third base."

Wascher and Helmuth have each posted batting averages over .300 in prior spring campaigns, while speedy baserunner James Overbeck has a varsity letter to his credit. Brandon Thompson is the seventh and final junior.

There are four sophomores and three freshmen out for the team; sophomore lettermen are Nicholas Ferris, Zach Rincker and Brendan Wascher. Tanner Bowers is the other sophomore, while Justin Fulk, Ben Helton and Gunner Thies are the entirety of the freshman representatives.

Ferris and Z. Rincker may see a chance to get to mound time; the latter is also a quick-footed outfielder, while B. Wascher can play second base and outfield.

As it was a year ago, lack of offensive punch is a primary concern for Coach Wascher.

"We struggled to score runs last spring," said Wascher, who'll be joined by longtime assistant Frank Brandt and volunteer assistant Kurt Friese. "We stranded 164 baserunners — and Widdersheim was our leading RBI man."

If the Comets can find away to scratch together the necessary offensive production, Wascher has a solid outlook for his bunch.

"To have a successful spring season, we'll have to score runs and count on consistency from the pitchers," said Wascher. "We'll be shooting for 20 wins and a regional title — something that has evaded us since 2005."

Dustin White can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 123 or dustin.white@effinghamdailynews.com.

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