In his first season at the helm of the El Reno High School baseball program, Kyle Koehler took a gamble by starting as many as five freshmen and sophomores in an effort to gain needed playing experience.
Now it's time to see if that experience will pay off.
“I think it's time we find out,” Koehler said. “They have been together for over a year and a half now and we are starting to see the signs of physical maturity. They are getting stronger with their throws and they show they understand the game, so I think it''s starting to pay off.”
El Reno has had a roller-coaster preseason ride with a road win over Bethany and a 5-1 victory over Weatherford Thursday at the Hub Reed Complex. The downswing was a sluggish effort on the road at Class 6A Mustang.
Despite the early struggle with consistency, Koehler feels the program has transitioned well into the direction he wants the Indians to go.
“There was some transition and expectations, but from the spring, summer and fall season we have played 75 games together,” Koehler said. “I feel we all know what is expected of each other. The program is headed in the right direction.”
El Reno is coming off an 11-20 record during Koehler's first season, which ended abruptly with losses to Lawton MacArthur (13-6) and Western Heights (11-6) during the first day of the regional tournament.
Koehler hopes to avoid being on the short end of those lopsided scores this season and knows that the Indians success starts on the mound.
“You can never have enough pitching,” Koehler said. “I made a commitment to the program that my number one priority was to develop pitching – from the junior high on up.”
El Reno has used a handful of pitchers in the preseason, but Koehler feels senior Tyler Palmer could become the ace of the squad. A broken bone kept Palmer off the hill most of his junior season, but he's looked sharp in the preseason.
“He's got the potential to be our ace,” Koehler said. “He's going to be our everyday guy because he will be catching when he's not pitching, so that's going to be his biggest challenge.”
In the win over Weatherford, Palmer scattered a run and two hits over five complete innings. He fanned seven of the 19 batters faced and issued only two walks.
Another key thrower will be right-hander Austin Ferguson, who struck out four batters and allowed one hit in four innings against the Eagles.
Koehler also expects innings out of southpaw Kurt Shemanske, Dillon Nuzum and Hunter Freeman. He's also leaning toward Kail Cole, Blaine Owens and Jordan Vaverka for mound work.
“We're working on getting up in the count quicker and throwing fewer pitchers so that people can go deeper into the game,” Koehler said.
El Reno will have a role reversal once on offense as Koehler wants his hitters to pull opposing pitchers deep into the count.
“The adjustments we made the last few weeks to make pitchers work,” Koehler said. “We want to go deep into every count instead of getting in a hurry and letting pitchers get off easy. We want to stay calm and let the game come to us.”
El Reno had seven hits in the win over Weatherford, two each coming off the bats of Ferguson and Shemanske. The Indians had 14 walks in the game compared to eight strikeouts.
Ferguson looks stronger at the plate after a freshman season with only three hits, two RBIs and six walks compared to 14 strikeouts. Shemanske will be a key hitter from the left side after posting a .244 average as a junior. He logged 22 hits and 30 runs in 93 plate appearances. Among those hits were four doubles and he closed with eight ribbies.
Once back from his injury, Palmer carried a .472 average with 17 hits – including a home run and four extra base hits - in 36 at bats. He scored nine times and drove in another 14 runs.
Cameron Hill scored 17 times and logged 17 hits as a freshman and has had a string of at bats in the preseason. Cole is coming off a 13 hits, a 17-run freshman season, while Joseph Vorva (4) Nuzum (1) and Brady Good (1) will look to better their hit totals.
El Reno will have to hit the ground running as the Indians open the season and Suburban Conference North race with Deer Creek on Monday and Tuesday. Koehler's crew has a twinbill with Piedmont and a road trip back to Mustang prior to spring break.