Sports
Baseball Preview: Duchesne Looks To Rebuild
The loss of seven seniors means 2011 may be a year for players to gain experience.
Duchesne High School Boys Baseball
Team Name: Pioneers
2010 Record: 8-19 (fifth place Gateway Athletic Conference North)
Head Coach: Pat Steagall
Key Positions:
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Pitcher: Sophomore Alex Grupas and senior Will Linck are key pitchers. Grupas returns to the rotation with the most game experience from last year (23.3 innings pitched), while Hazelwood West High School transfer Linck looks to make his mark during his first year on varsity.
Outfield: Sam Chambers, a returning junior, will serve as the leadoff hitter and is expected to be the driving force behind the team's offense. Last year, Chambers batted .296 and had 10 RBIs.
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Expectations: A district title is always the goal, however, Steagall said the team's focus will be on "staying competitive in games."
Key Games: Conference rivals St. Charles High School and St. Charles West High School will likely prove to be challenging match-ups. Last year, the Pioneers split the pair, losing 8-11 to St. Charles and beating St. Charles West 7-2.
St. Charles: 4:15 p.m. April 19 (away)
St. Charles West: 4:30 p.m. April 26 (away)
Overview:
After a tough 2010 campaign finishing with an 8-19 record, the Pioneers are looking at a rebound season. After losing seven seniors--three of whom were all-conference players--the team arrived at the 2011 season with a much younger look with one freshman and three sophomores in the lineup.
The biggest loss from the 2010 class is first team all-conference infielder Curtis Strubinger. Used as a shortstop, pitcher, and number three hitter, Strubinger's absence leaves a hole that Steagall said he was still trying to fill.
Steagall said he hopes that they can improve from their 4-6 district semifinal loss to Orchard Farm last year. The team came close in the season opener on March 18, when the Pioneers traveled to DeSmet Jesuit High School and lost 8-12 in a tight game. As a team with a lot of inexperience, expect them to improve as the season wears on.
"It all depends on how some of the guys come out," Steagall said. "We could end up surprising some guys, or it could just be a rebuilding year."