By BUTCH HARMON
‘Deep and talented’ is the way to describe the DeWitt baseball team this year. With a host of veterans back from a team that won a second consecutive CAAC Red title, the Panthers are again one of the premier teams in mid Michigan.
A total of 13 players return from a team that went 24-5 last year.
In senior catcher John-Michael Moody, the Panthers have a four-year varsity player who was second-team all-state last year. He hit .427 a year ago with four home runs and 34 RBI.
Moody is joined by fellow senior Justice Shankel. A three-year varsity player and all-region selection, Shankel led the team in hits (35), runs (32), triples (3), and stolen bases (20 of 21) last year. He was also second in home runs (3) and RBI (29) and is a true five-tool player who can run, hit, throw, hit for average, and hit for power.
Senior Sam Smith is another three-year varsity player. An all-region player, he is a pitcher and first baseman who hit .432 last year with 24 RBI.
The Panthers also return a pair of players who were hit by injury last year. Junior shortstop Keaton Sackett returns to anchor the infield after an ACL injury last year, while senior pitcher Evan Smith returns to the starting staff after a broken wrist cut short his season.
“This year’s team is a veteran, experienced bunch,” said coach Alan Shankel. “We return 13 varsity players from a 24-5 league championship team. Many of the starters have multiple years of varsity experience. We are carrying 19 players this year, so the key will be getting everyone to accept and fulfill their role to the best of their ability. Depth will be a strength of this team, if everyone commits to the mission.”