Editor’s note: In the coming days, the Reporter will preview the upcoming baseball seasons at Kentridge and Kentlake.
They graduated their No. 1 pitcher and No. 2 broke his leg in January and is out for the baseball season.
Strangely, things are still looking pretty good these days for the Kentwood High baseball team despite graduating Alexander Lee and losing Kent Hagen in January.
“We’ve improved,” assures Kentwood coach Jon Aarstad. “The pitching staff is deeper. Last year, we had a very good 1-2-3. Now we can go 4-5 deep on the pitching staff. On most other teams I have coached, replacing that (ace) has been tough and, at times, you can’t. My list (of pitchers) goes on and on.”
So much so that Kentwood, which used good pitching, defense and sound fundamentals en route to an 18-6 record and a state berth a year ago, is being considered among the favorites to win the SPSL North this spring.
The Conquerors haven’t won a league title since 2000, the same year they captured the Class 4A state title. However, optimism is high, especially when considering the assortment of power arms Aarstad will be rolling to the mound. Led by University of Washington-bound ace Austin Voth, who features a 90-miles per hour fastball, 6-foot-4 righthander Avery Kain and Matt Bell, the Conquerors should have one of the most formidable 1-2-3 punches in the league.
Yet, losing Hagen, who led the North with six wins last year while posting a miniscule 0.28 ERA while striking out 34 batters in 25 1/3 innings pitched, is tough to swallow.
“It hurts losing (Hagen), but with the depth we have, other kids are going to step up and I have no doubt that they will be able to,” Aarstad said. “We’re going to win on pitching and defense.”
Don’t be fooled, however, as the Conquerors return plenty of offense, too. In fact, first-team All-SPSL North shortstop Bryant VanEngelenburg led the league with a .623 batting average that included 33 hits in just 16 league games. Meanwhile, returners Zach Cruz (outfield) and Brandon Oak (OF/INF) batted .483 and .455 respectively while catcher Taylor White tied for third in the league with four home runs. Add it up and the Conquerors – many of whom are back this spring – led the league with 162 runs scored a year ago.
“We have high expectations of ourselves,” Aarstad said. “If we play the type of baseball we’re capable of playing, we absolutely have the ability to return to state.”
CONKS AT A GLANCE
• COACH: Jon Aarstad, 7th season.
• LAST YEAR’S RECORD: 14-2 in league (second place), 18-6 overall. Lost in first round of state playoffs.
• TOP RETURNERS: Austin Voth, senior, pitcher; Zach Corpuz, senior, outfielder; Bryant VanEngelenburg, senior, shortstop; Avery Kain, junior, pitcher/first base; Taylor White, senior, catcher; Ben Cox, senior, infielder/outfielder; Brandon Oak, senior, outfielder/infielder.
• TOP NEWCOMERS: Matt Bell, senior, pitcher; Nik Stapleton, senior, outfield; Craig Rainey, senior, outfield.
• OUTLOOK: Kentwood hasn’t won a league title since 2000, the same year the Conquerors won the state crown. This year’s team is loaded and is a favorite to bring home the SPSL North championship, but it’s by no means a gimme. Possibly more than in past years, the SPSL North is loaded from top to bottom. The Conquerors could just as easily finish third or fourth as they could win it as there likely will be a logjam near the front.
• STAT OF NOTE: VanEngelenburg led the North with a ridiculous .623 batting average last season. The next closest average? Auburn’s Travis Hagel came in second at .537. VanEngelenburg collected 33 hits in league play … in just 16 games.
• KW PLAYERS WHO’VE BEEN DRAFTED (year/organization/round): Justin Bice (1996/Arizona/27); Matt Hague (2008/Pittsburgh/9); Luke Hetherington (2001/Toronto/9); Jeff Peterson (2003/San Francisco/11); John Sutey (1990/Detroit/55); Jamie Hanson (1991/Cleveland/55).
THE LAST FIVE YEARS IN LEAGUE
2009 14-2 (second)
2008 7-7 (fifth)
2007 9-5 (third)
2006 11-7 (t-third)
2005 9-7 (t-fourth)
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