Friday — March 12, 2004

Defending champion
Wood River hopes to
fly high this season

2004 baseball season starts today

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By JODY ZARKOS
Express Staff Writer

Wood River baseball coach Lars Hovey has his seatbelt fastened for a bumpy ride, but expects a smooth landing.

The lanky laconic coach guided last year’s squad to a stellar 25-4-1 record, which culminated with winning the 3A-state title.

Hovey (183-152-1), heading up the Wolverines for the 13^th consecutive year, expects similar success this season, but said the team might not post the slick numbers it did last year.

"We’re going to have to be a little more patient this year than last as far as success goes. We will be ready for districts and state, but we have to realize we might take some lumps along the way," Hovey said.

Part of the turbulence comes in the form of an extremely demanding schedule. Wood River has four 4A teams scheduled and three of the six 3A opponents were in last year’s state tournament. The Wolverines will also participate in two tournaments, one in Las Vegas, the other in Preston.

"We’ve set the bar. I made this year’s schedule as difficult as possible. We have some question marks, but we’re still facing a tough schedule," Hovey remarked. "If we go into spring break at 500, I think we would be ecstatic."

Also facing Wood River are two key issues: the ability to overcome a leadership vacuum created by the graduation of five key players and injuries to projected pitchers, Tyson Reynoso (back) and Tyler Theide (hand) and starting shortstop Steve Durkin (shoulder).

Hovey commented, "With our seniors we hit the ground running last year. They also played legion so the other kids did not have to take the reins last summer. That is something they have to do now.

"Obviously we lost some big sticks and the ability to stretch the field with some power."

Last seasons’ state champions boasted a lofty .364 team batting average, boosted by Matt Conover, Paul Tinker and Ryne Reynoso, all of whom hit over .400. Kellen Chatterton and Drew Detwiler are also gone. The five accounted for 195 of the team’s 345 hits, all 14 home runs, and 61 percent of both runs batted in and runs scored. Reynoso (11-2), now at Boston College, left Wood River #1 in career wins with a mark of 23-5 and combined with Detwiler for 54 percent of innings thrown.

Hovey is not ready to strap on the parachute, however.

"Overall, we could be strong throughout the lineup and at every position, which I don’t think a lot of 3A schools can say," he commented.

"I think we have the potential to be really successful."

Hovey is banking on crafty right-handed pitcher Steve Hansen (8-1) to head up the pitching staff. As a sophomore last year, Hansen (2.89 ERA) was second to Reynoso in innings pitched (46) and proved to have the right stuff, winning key games in both the state and district tournaments.

"I consider him our ace right now," Hovey said. "He has some big game experience."

Hovey also called Hansen "the quickest kid on the team" and wants to get him in the lineup, possibly the outfield, even when he is not pitching.

Also tabbed for the rotation are junior right-handers Tyler Theide (4.45 ERA) and Tyson Reynoso. Senior Dylan McIlhenney might also see some "spot work" and sophomore Huston Brashears, who played quarterback on the football team, "might throw up." No pun intended, kids.

A positive factor on this year’s squad is "strength up the middle" which will be provided by seniors Steve Durkin (shortstop) and Joe Paisley (centerfield), and juniors Billy Kramer (catcher) and Brady Femling (second base).

"Billy caught some big games last year and works really hard. Femling is solid. Paisley is also fast. When you have that in place you can rotate people around you," Hovey said but reserved his highest praise for his shortstop Durkin.

"He doesn’t have any weaknesses. He has strength, speed, range and a great glove. I put him up there with the best in the state."

Seniors Kellen Kinghorn and McIlhenny will flank Paisley in the outfield. Both have "pretty decent arms." Juniors Ted Dankanyin and Ben Molyneux could also see time in the outfield.

Unless someone wins the positions outright, first and third base could be a platoon position between Reynoso and Theide.

"We are going to have to feel our way through and try different combos," Hovey said. "We will be maturing along together."

Rounding out the 10-man junior class are Jonathan Dittmer, Dylan Fullmer and Michael Hesse.

"It’s going to have to be a total team effort this year," he said. "Especially come districts and state."

Hovey likes his team’s speed, which he rates "a little above average" and thinks the team can manufacture runs by playing smart small ball.

"I think we can hit for average and handle the bat," he said.

Femling (.338) is tabbed for the leadoff spot.

"He’s a battler. He will set the tone for us. He knows the situation and can handle the bat," Hovey said.

Durkin could bat second. Paisley and Kinghorn might also bat second or third and McIlhenny (.323) could hit cleanup.

"He’s (McIlhenny) a good contact hitter, a good RBI guy. He goes with the pitch well and he rarely strikes out," Hovey assessed.

Also swinging the bat well according to their coach, are Theide, Hansen and Kramer.

"I like our team. Most teams once you get past the four or five guy you can take it easy. We haven’t had those weak links. We’re pretty relentless and we take pride in that," Hovey said.

As for the prospect of the team’s ninth SCIC championship in 13 years and sixth consecutive state berth Hovey said, "I totally anticipate us to win another district title.

"We have a great group of kids. We could really put it together toward the end and have another state title run."

Only the sky is the limit.

30 players are out for the three Wolverine ball teams (varsity/jayvee/sophomore), including sophomores Morgan Uhrig, Kyle Lubeck, Casey Hawkes, Derek Abbott, Alex Burwell, J.D. Hill, Merritt Baldwin, Jesse Stark and Brashears.

Freshmen team members are Jeff Conover, Drake Fischer, Drew Anderson, Kyle Cole, Matthew Fleming and Kenny Cardona.

Helping Hovey on the coaching staff are Larry Lloyd, Steve Anderson and Billy Neal.

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