After a yearlong hiatus from baseball due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Head Coach Colin Duffie and Wildcat baseball are ready to return to Iler Field with a purpose. Since Duffie has taken over as coach of the Wildcats, he has laid a solid foundation the program had lacked several years prior. With a dedicated group of seniors he has been with now for four offseasons, Duffie has managed to change the culture of a program historically looking for direction.
“Losing the season last year was hard,” said Duffie. “However, losing last season has also changed the dynamic of the team. The guys are coming in hungrier with a renewed sense of purpose. Last week we had one of the best weeks of practice we’ve had arguably ever.”
No senior class has fought off adversity quite like the Class of 2021. Their junior season of baseball was stripped from them unexpectedly. Their entire school day structure was changed to feature remote teaching, something that challenges and strains a young student’s ability to focus. Baseball gives the players something to focus on besides the monotony of everyday pandemic life in 2021.
For the players, they expect to win. This is a mindset Duffie has engrained in his program. Take each at bat one at a time. Take each game one at a time. Their expectations are to compete and win. The Wildcats certainly have the depth and talent to back up these claims.
“My expectations are to win,” explained senior Alex Smith. “Coach Duffie has installed a winning mentality for the last four years and we’re expecting to pass that on. Winning districts went from a goal to an expectation.”
Duffie describes a different level of maturity and confidence in his clubhouse. Expectations are higher, not just throughout the program as a whole but in each player as an individual. The team shares a collective bond.
“After losing last season, I’ve gained a new perspective on how important each game with my brothers really is,” said junior Brice Redden. “We really do not know when we will step foot onto a field with certain people for the last time so this season, I expect myself to take every pitch, at bat, and inning like it is my last.”
A pitching coach by trade, Duffie has focused on revamping the mechanics, approach, and mindset of each of his pitchers that take the mound. One such example can be found in junior Jacob Redden. Now a three-sport athlete, Redden hasn’t played baseball in over four seasons. As a quarterback in Brian Burgemeir’s football program, Redden has a great deal of natural arm talent. Once Redden showed up for baseball, Duffie began to tweak his mechanics showing Redden how to throw from a different arm angle and how to generate more power through his hips and lower body.
Redden is not the only player Duffie has helped mechanically. Players such as sophomore Ethan Verst and senior Joey Ball have all seen upticks in velocity and greater command over their fastballs & breaking balls.
“Our pitching staff is looking great. We lost a couple of arms last year, but we’ve had a lot of people step up to make up for what we lost,” said Smith who also returns to the pitching staff. “I expect the seniors: me, Joey, Tanner, Josh, and Andrew to make huge jumps so the team can rely on us. I don’t really have many expectations of myself besides to help the team out any way I’m needed, whether I’m starting or relieving.”
Since 2010, the Wildcat program has seen many talented arms come through their ranks. Players such as Brent Jacob (2012), Tyler Daugherty (2013), Josh Brown and Hunter Lea (2015) all come to mind. During those years, the Wildcats had lean pitching depth. There were few relievers capable of carrying the Wildcats late into a competitive game. This lack of depth was reflected in the Wildcats win/loss column. Duffie has done everything in his power to solve this nagging problem. Pitching depth can carry a team far in Kentucky high school baseball. The Wildcats will certainly be more competitive in close games with more talented arms ready to go at a moment’s notice. Their new team philosophy on pitching development will stay with the program for many years to come.
At the plate, generally speaking, missing an entire year of baseball will affect a players swing. A great swing requires technical repetitiveness and developing sound muscle memory. Practice doesn’t make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect. For players such as Ethan Verst and Brice Redden who’ve recently concluded basketball season for Sam Elsbernd, there has been no offseason away from the cage.
“Personally, I have been hitting 2-3 times a week whether that be at my summer teams new indoor facility or at the high school field cage after basketball practice,” explained Redden. “It’s hard to make time to get a bat in your hand during a hectic basketball season but I always made sure to squeeze at least a couple hours a week here and there to work on my swing.”
Duffie has been thoroughly impressed with the progress his team has made at the plate. The new batting cage has been a welcome addition to the baseball program. Important hitters such as Redden have been able to keep their swings crisp and seasoned. With the weather clearing up, the Wildcats have made time for important live batting practice sessions aside from their usual cage and tee work.
The top hitters on offense have tremendous chemistry with one another. Senior offensive leader and contact-hitting sparkplug Josh Brownfield will presumably lead the top of the order. Brownfield is a cerebral baserunner, has a smart approach at the plate and puts the ball in play. As we know from Jonah Hill’s character in the famous movie Moneyball, there is nothing more important than getting on base. Following him down the lineup will be players who can execute on Duffie’s aggressive brand of baseball. Players such as senior Tanner Keaton, Verst, Redden, and sophomore Connor Neltner will all provide power and contact-hitting ability to execute plays such as hit-and-runs.
The coach and player chemistry with the team has been so good, Duffie was excited to learn that even after a pandemic cancelled an entire season, his players still knew his signs by heart; a testament of their time working together.
The Wildcats will take the field on March 29 at Calvary Christian. It’s their first game since May 18, 2019. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m. It’s followed by an away game against Newport the next day on the 30. First pitch on the KHSAA website is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Following that is a massive district game against state powerhouse Harrison County on March 31st at 5:15 p.m. On April 2, the Wildcats have their first home game at 5:30 p.m.. against Nicholas County at 5:30 p.m.
Wildcat Baseball Schedule
Date Opponent Location Time
3/29 Calvary Christian away 5:30
3/30 Newport away 3:30
3/31 Harrison Co away 5:15
4/2 Nicholas Co home 5:30
4/5 Bellevue away 5:30
4/7 Fleming Co home 5:30
4/8 Bracken Co away 4:00
4/10 Newport home 12:00
4/12 Paris away 5:30
4/13 Bracken Co. away 5:30
4/15 Robertson Co away 5:30
4/16 Owen Co. TBA 7:30
4/21 Harrison Co. home 5:15
4/23 Robertson Co home 5:30
4/26 Nicholas Co away 5:15
4/27 Paris home 5:30
4/29 Augusta away 5:30
4/30 Gallatin Co away 5:30
5/3 Holy Cross home 5:30
5/4 Brossart home 5:00
5/7 Owen Co away 5:30
5/8 Holmes home 12:00
5/10 Bellevue away 5:30
5/11 Augusta home 5:00
5/13 Campbell Co away 5:00
5/14 Calvary Christian home 5:30
5/17 Bracken Co home 5:30
5/18 Bellevue home 5:30
5/20 Holmes away 5:30
5/21 Gallatin Co home 5:30
5/24 Owen Co home 5:30
5/25 Campbell Co home 5:00
5/26 Brossart away 5:00