Montezuma’s summer ball varsity coaches saw positives in their recently-completed seasons.
Head baseball Coach Josh Anderson and softball Coach Jeremy Van Zee talked recently with KGRN sports director Chris Varney.
Anderson looked at the Braves’ 13-7 record and said, “were were successful, more so record-wise than in recent seasons. We were able to build the program more.”
“I’m glad we were able to play a full season,” Anderson said. “We needed to find some momentum going into the second season and the kids did that,” he said.
Anderson saluted the efforts of baseball seniors Cole Watts, Joey Kercheval, Cam Johnson and Brydon Henning.
The Braves have a lot of talent coming back. “Eddie Burgess is a natural talent,” Anderson said. “He has a bright future in any sport he chooses.
Anderson said Owen Cook, “is our hardest-working baseball kid.” Cook emerged as the Braves’ top pitcher as a sophomore.
“Connor Van Zee has come so far as a catcher,” Anderson said. “He’s a good infielder, too.”
One of the team’s off-season priorities, Anderson said, will be developing pitchers. “We need two pitchers to step up,” he said.
“Cruz De Jong will step up both as an outfielder and infielder,” Anderson said.
“We have kids who want to play, and who want to hit. They don’t want to come to the plate and just wait for a walk,” Anderson said.
Bravettes will work on defense
Van Zee’s Bravettes were 9-21. “It was an up-and-down season,” the coach told Varney’s audience.
“Early on, our defense wasn’t great and we started doubting ourselves,” the coach said.
“We were in a lull for a while, but came back late and got a post-season win. That was good for our program,” said Van Zee.
The coach noted that the Bravettes started five freshmen. “We return all nine starters,” he said.
Van Zee noted that pitcher Kallie Robison started “29 games. She’s a workhorse,” the coach said. “She wanted to reach 100 strikeouts this year, and she accomplished that.”
“Kallie did a nice job keeping us in games,” Van Zee said. “There were times our defense didn’t help her. Later in the season, some teams hit against her, but that happens,” he said. “I’m sure she will return enthused about next season.”
Van Zee praised senior-to-be Katie Reynolds, who was a first team all-SICL choice.
“She hit .395 with 19 runs batted in. And when she gets on base, her speed is something you can’t coach,” Van Zee said.
Reynolds was the team’s center fielder. “She had freshmen on either side of her,” the coach said. “There were very few balls hit into the gaps against her.”
Freshmen infielders Izzy Roorda and Jadyn Sharer hit .341 and .338, respectively. “They are versatile players and they have grown so much,” the coach said.
Van Zee also mentioned freshman Laila Kercheval, “who hit well early” and eighth grader Ellen Cook, who showed continued improvement as a catcher.
Improving the team’s defense will be a priority item for the Bravettes during the off-season. “We have to be able to do the fundamental, routine things,” Van Zee said.
“Off-season work in the gym is important,” he said.