By BUTCH HARMON
After reaching the Division 3 state championship game last June, the question surrounding the Merrill baseball team this season is `what can it do for an encore?’
Thanks to a strong core of juniors, not only this season but also next year look promising for the Vandals.
A total of four players graduated from last year’s team that put together a thrilling tournament run that sent the team into last year’s state title game. With plenty of veteran talent back along with some talented newcomers from the junior class, the Vandals are poised for another exciting season.
The team hit the ground running, winning seven of its first nine games this season. Included in the wins were three victories at the Evart tournament over Grant, Farwell, and Coleman. In the game against Grant, sophomore pitcher Hunter DeBeau, nephew of Merrill coach David DeBeau, pitched a no-hitter.
Hunter DeBeau is part of a promising pitching staff that is a major strength of the team. Junior Brandon Mudry, one of four juniors who saw extensive action on the varsity last season, is the ace of the pitching staff. Junior Dustin DeBeau, Hunter’s cousin and Coach DeBeau’s son, is also a key pitcher on the staff.
Dustin DeBeau, Mudry, Derek Good, and Calib Stewart were the four juniors who were up on the varsity last season. In all, this year’s team has nine juniors who form the nucleus of the team.
“The junior class is the strength of the program,” Coach DeBeau said. “This year, all nine of them are on the varsity. We also have four seniors and a sophomore.”
Merrill’s senior class is led by Zach Kitzmiller behind the plate, Tyler Williams at second base, Eric Thorp in the outfield, and Tyler Evans , a newcomer to the team.
Kitzmiller is a key to both the team’s defense and pitching with his skills as a catcher. Dustin DeBeau catches when Kitzmiller is playing first base.
“You don’t have good pitchers without good catchers,” Coach DeBeau said. “In Zach and Dustin we have two good catchers.”
Offensively, the Vandals are a work in progress with plenty of potential.
“Everyone’s been struggling a little, but that is a normal thing when the weather is cold early in the season,” DeBeau said. “Every game we play we seem to get better. Dustin was our number two hitter last year, and this year he is leading the way. Kitzmiller is a real good hitter, and Derek Good and Ty Williams swing the bat well.”
With a deep and strong group of pitchers, a solid defense, and some potent sticks in the lineup, the Vandals are primed for another solid season.
“We’re expecting to have a good season,” DeBeau said. “We are definitely working on it. Our seniors have really improved since last year. We have a pretty good core of guys coming back. Our league is going to be tough again. Last year it seemed like every team had a topnotch pitcher. St. Charles, Breckenridge, Valley Lutheran, Seminary, and Ithaca are going to be strong. The league is going to be really competitive again.”