Mounties Lack Experience, Boast Depth

Brett Gentz, Rogers first baseman, is a three-year starter for the Mounties and batted .279 with 12 RBIs last season.
Brett Gentz, Rogers first baseman, is a three-year starter for the Mounties and batted .279 with 12 RBIs last season.

— Rogers High pitchers tossed 202 innings last season, but almost all of that experience has graduated as the Mounties prepare for the this season.

Returning pitchers Brett D’Amico (19), Brett Gentz (7.1), Carter Forbis (2.2) and Chris Greear (24) mainly pitched in nonconference games, but Mounties baseball coach Matt Melson doesn’t see a lack of experience as a negative. Junior Nolan Farnan is also expected to be in the pitching rotation.

Schedule

Rogers High Mounties

Date Opponent Time

March 6-8 Best Sports Classic TBD

March 12 Fayetteville (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

March 15 Fort Smith Southside 4:30 p.m.

March 20-22 Millington, Tenn. Tournament TBD

March 26 at Van Buren (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

March 29 at Ozark, Mo. 4:30 p.m.

April 2 Bentonville (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

April 5 Tulsa Bishop Kelly at Bentonville 7 p.m.

April 9 Springdale Har-Ber (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

April 12 at Claremore, Okla. TBD

April 18 at Siloam Springs (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

April 19-20 Lawrence, Kan. Tournament TBD

April 25 at Springdale High (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

May 2 Rogers Heritage (DH)* 4:30 p.m.

May 6 at Fort Smith Northside 4:30 p.m.

  • denotes 7A/6A-West Conference Game

“What we don’t return is experience on the mound, but we do have some pitching depth,” Melson said. “The guys have been working hard. It looks like D’Amico and Forbis have some swing and miss stuff, and they have kind of separated themselves. It’s going to be interesting because we return no conference innings experience.

“If we throw strikes, we will have a chance.”

D’Amico and Gentz will see time in the outfield when not on the mound. Gentz will also play first base as the junior is a three-year starter. He batted .279 with 12 RBIs last season.

“Gentz will be a middle of the order of the guy that we want to be a big run producer,” Melson said. “He will adjust pretty quick once basketball season is over.”

Rogers also has good team speed, and that means the Mounties will try and move runners for the middle of the order. Shortstop Timmy Seldomridge and catcher Austin Griffin will anchor the top of the order.

Griffin, who signed with Allen Community College in Iola, Kan., last month, is a three-year starter who batted .342 with 15 RBIs last season. Seldomridge played in all 30 games last season and batted .234.

“I think we will be able to run at the top of the lineup,” Melson said. “That is an element that we haven’t had in a while. Austin is extremely talented, and we are going to ask a lot out of him. I expect big things out of him this season.”

Senior Camdon Myers, who also has signed with Allen, will be the Mounties’ utility player. Depending on who is pitching, Myers can play every position except pitcher and catcher.

“If we gave him a chance at catcher, I’m sure Camdon would do well there, too,” Melson said.

Junior Bryce Bray, Forbis and Farnan could all see time at designated hitter.

“It seems we have some depth there that we haven’t had in past years,” Melson said.

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