Lancer Baseball Prepares For 2022 Season
February 3, 2022 at 10:03 p.m.
Lancer Baseball Prepares For 2022 Season
By Grant Cook-
In his fourth season leading the Lancers baseball program, Grace head coach Ryan Roth is excited about this squad’s potential.
“I am excited about the great blend of experience and youth we have,” Roth said. “Our team culture has become extremely blue-collar. Every player has been very hard-working on and off the diamond.”
The Lancers will see a plethora of key returners back this season; the team will rely on their veteran leadership to guide Grace into the 2022 season.
Chris Griffin is entering his senior season and has already cracked Grace’s top 10 in career home runs and triples. Last season Griffin hit .303 while driving in 24 runs and hitting six home runs.
Sam Newkirk served as a reliable backstop for Grace last season making 36 starts. The Crossroads League Gold Glove catcher figures to be a key cog in a Lancers’ defense that committed the third-fewest errors in the conference last season.
Patrick Danforth was honorable mention for All-League, leading Grace offensively with a .326 batting average. He had 42 hits in 43 games and also stole 15 bases.
Austin Carr, Alex Rich and Jeff Pawlik were also mainstays in Grace’s lineup last year and will look to add stability on the diamond.
Hunter Schumacher made 12 pitching appearances in his freshman season and looks to have an expanded role this season. Schumacher struck out 21 batters across 23 innings last season.
Grace’s bullpen will have the luxury of returning most of its arms from last year. Kameron Koch (53.1 innings pitched, 45 strikeouts), Jake Decker (45.0 innings, 4.40 ERA), Evan Etchison (36.2 innings, 33 strikeouts), Mason Meyer (28.1 innings), Tanner Clark (21.0 innings) and Bret Wilhelmi (18.1 innings) all pitched major innings in 2021.
“Our veteran leadership is really elevating the rest of the team,” Roth added. “The spiritual and mental maturity from that group is very important for our squad.”
With Grace’s returning players, the Lancers show promise to boast a formidable defense. “We believe we have the potential to be one of the best defensive teams in the Crossroads League,” Roth said.
“Our goal as a team is to be the best baseball team in the Crossroads League at the end of the year.” Roth commented. “Our expectation is for each young man to be the best version of himself at the end of each day.”
Grace faces a road-heavy schedule to start the season. They will play their first 16 games on the road before returning for a homestand to start March.
The Lancers start their season on Friday as they play Trinity International in Alabama.
Lancers Repeat At No. 5 In Indoor Rankings
WINONA LAKE – For the second straight week, Grace’s men’s track and field team repeated its high ranking in the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The men’s team was ranked No. 5 in the ranking again, topping four other Crossroads League teams in the poll.
It ties Grace’s best ranking in USTFCCCA history. The Lancers have six NAIA top-10 efforts, including Kyle Smith’s second place in the 800-meter run (1:52.40) and Isaac Brown’s second place in the high jump (6-10.75).
Bryan Hernandez-Rios is also top-five in two events (3,000 and 5,000).
The Lancers will compete at the IWU Midwest Classic in Marion, Ind., this Saturday to wrap up the regular season portion of the indoor schedule. Grace’s next three indoor meets after Saturday will be the NCCAA, Crossroads League and NAIA Championships.
In his fourth season leading the Lancers baseball program, Grace head coach Ryan Roth is excited about this squad’s potential.
“I am excited about the great blend of experience and youth we have,” Roth said. “Our team culture has become extremely blue-collar. Every player has been very hard-working on and off the diamond.”
The Lancers will see a plethora of key returners back this season; the team will rely on their veteran leadership to guide Grace into the 2022 season.
Chris Griffin is entering his senior season and has already cracked Grace’s top 10 in career home runs and triples. Last season Griffin hit .303 while driving in 24 runs and hitting six home runs.
Sam Newkirk served as a reliable backstop for Grace last season making 36 starts. The Crossroads League Gold Glove catcher figures to be a key cog in a Lancers’ defense that committed the third-fewest errors in the conference last season.
Patrick Danforth was honorable mention for All-League, leading Grace offensively with a .326 batting average. He had 42 hits in 43 games and also stole 15 bases.
Austin Carr, Alex Rich and Jeff Pawlik were also mainstays in Grace’s lineup last year and will look to add stability on the diamond.
Hunter Schumacher made 12 pitching appearances in his freshman season and looks to have an expanded role this season. Schumacher struck out 21 batters across 23 innings last season.
Grace’s bullpen will have the luxury of returning most of its arms from last year. Kameron Koch (53.1 innings pitched, 45 strikeouts), Jake Decker (45.0 innings, 4.40 ERA), Evan Etchison (36.2 innings, 33 strikeouts), Mason Meyer (28.1 innings), Tanner Clark (21.0 innings) and Bret Wilhelmi (18.1 innings) all pitched major innings in 2021.
“Our veteran leadership is really elevating the rest of the team,” Roth added. “The spiritual and mental maturity from that group is very important for our squad.”
With Grace’s returning players, the Lancers show promise to boast a formidable defense. “We believe we have the potential to be one of the best defensive teams in the Crossroads League,” Roth said.
“Our goal as a team is to be the best baseball team in the Crossroads League at the end of the year.” Roth commented. “Our expectation is for each young man to be the best version of himself at the end of each day.”
Grace faces a road-heavy schedule to start the season. They will play their first 16 games on the road before returning for a homestand to start March.
The Lancers start their season on Friday as they play Trinity International in Alabama.
Lancers Repeat At No. 5 In Indoor Rankings
WINONA LAKE – For the second straight week, Grace’s men’s track and field team repeated its high ranking in the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The men’s team was ranked No. 5 in the ranking again, topping four other Crossroads League teams in the poll.
It ties Grace’s best ranking in USTFCCCA history. The Lancers have six NAIA top-10 efforts, including Kyle Smith’s second place in the 800-meter run (1:52.40) and Isaac Brown’s second place in the high jump (6-10.75).
Bryan Hernandez-Rios is also top-five in two events (3,000 and 5,000).
The Lancers will compete at the IWU Midwest Classic in Marion, Ind., this Saturday to wrap up the regular season portion of the indoor schedule. Grace’s next three indoor meets after Saturday will be the NCCAA, Crossroads League and NAIA Championships.
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