Usually the crack of the baseball bat brings thoughts of spring and warm nights playing America’s favorite game. For the 2021 Tyrone High School Eagle Baseball team it all begins in cold temperatures and snow. Beginning in December players have been working to prepare for the season in whatever way possible as they try to maneuver the limitations COVID has placed on all athletic teams. In late January head coach Kevin Soellner was able to arrange for players to use the batting cages in the new Tyrone Youth Athletic Association facility downtown. “The organization has been really great at helping provide us with a place to practice, “Soellner commented. “Trying to prepare for a spring sport during the winter is challenging, but these players are determined to bring their best game to the field every day and want to practice.”
Registration for the new season began in January resulting in twenty-eight JV/Varsity players and twenty-three on the Junior High level. With official practices beginning last week and the warmer weather, the teams have been able to head outdoors. Junior High Head Coach Lucas Hamer began working with the youngest members of the squad this week. Joining Varsity coach Soellner are coaches Dave Mease, Marvin Murray, Jim Lang and Soellner.
After losing the chance to play baseball in the 2020 season and entering the 2021 season as returning Mountain League Champions has set a high bar that this year’s players. Senior Rodney Schultz clearly stated the goals of this season’s team, “We need to be at our best as we play each game, win the Mountain League, and then move on to win Districts so we can make it to States. Our greatest strength is our returning pitching rotation and a lot of returning starters.”
The other senior players include Dylan Vipond, Zack Shetler, Brendan Grazier, Brandon Lucas, Bryce Hunter, Michael Buck, and Blaine Hoover.
“These players will do whatever it takes to make a playoff run even if it means having to practice throwing on a plowed parking lot with banks of snow on the sidelines and scrimmaging on a frozen field in 30 degree weather,” Soellner concluded. “It is such an honor to work with this group of driven and unselfish young men.”
Meet the Eagle is set for 2:00 on March 21 at the Varsity field in the Harry Sickler Athletic Complex with the opening game currently set for April 1 against Penns Valley. A full schedule of the Junior High and JV/Varsity Baseball season may be found on the Tyrone School District’s web site under Athletics and on the Baseball Booster site tyroneeaglesbaseball.com along with pictures and other team information.