The Manila Lions earned a trip to the regional tournament a season ago finishing around. 500 on the year. Coach Jake Hutson will rely on a combination of experienced players and new faces to make a return trip back to the postseason. One thing is for sure, Coach Hutson knows how hard his kids have worked.“ This group of kids has worked hard every day since the summer on the field, cage, and the weight room,” Coach Hutson said.“ They look poised to be competitive in a hard conference this spring. We have a very talented group with depth in all positions. The conference has six other teams that are competitive and have also improved this offseason. The key to success for this team is to play their level of baseball every game.” A core group of seniors lead the way for the Lions in Jaxon Churchill, Luke Roberts, Byron Kisner, and Matthew Walker. Churchill is a middle-of-the-order bat that can slug the ball to all fields. Last season, he hit over. 300 and has made improvements in his swing and added power along with his great bat-to-ball skills. Jaxon plays shortstop at a high level with a good arm. On the mound, Churchill has made improvements in his mechanics and has raised his velocity into the low 80s. Kisner is a middle of the order bat that displays power with his frame. The first baseman will also pitch some in relief for the Manila bullpen. Luke Roberts will bat in the lead-off spot and play left field looking to build off a strong junior season. Walker will handle most of the catching duties this season, and has also made some improvements in his swing displaying more power. He will also be in the pitching rotation after a strong junior season. Junior Isaac Moore will move up in the order where he can hit the ball to all fields and find consistent barrels. Moore will play shortstop and third base with a plus arm, along with being the ace of the pitching staff. He has raised his velocity into the low 80s with a four pitch mix. Classmate Hudson Harrison will roam centerfield with good speed and a plus arm. Harrison will look to generate runs by getting on base and being a threat on the base paths. A number of younger players will look to step into bigger roles this season for the Lions. Freshman Brady Cohn could make a big impact in the middle of the order and on the mound with his power and strong arm, as does fellow freshman Hutch Duclos. Duclos is athletic and provides a boost in the lineup and on the mound. Junior Ryan Despain will be at second base and look to spark the order at the top with a high on-base swing. Fellow Junior Kevin Crosskno will fill a utility role in the outfield and behind the plate, while Zeke Donner looks to fill innings on the mound and be a solid relief pitcher and spot starter. The Manila Lions have put in the work and hope that it shows this season. NEA Sports predicts they will be right in the middle of the hunt for another regional berth.
Coach Danny Helms takes over as head coach for the Manila Lady Lions who finished last season at 4-13. However, with a number of returning players that are young, but gaining experience, Coach Helms hopes to see the team improve and make their way into the regional tournament. Madison Tune returns to handle the bulk of the pitching load. Tune threw 45 innings last season striking out 78. At the plate, she hit. 469 with a homerun, 13 runs batted in, and 24 runs scored. Jessie Kroeger hit. 462 with a homerun and 18 RBIs while catching and playing third. Lexi Wyatt played second base and outfield hitting. 275 with 12 RBIs and scoring 13 runs, while Raven Fields, Anna Garner, and Lily White all return after playing multiple positions. Hadley Cohn could also see some time in the circle after pitching 16 innings last season. Cohn will also look to expand on her offensive role after hitting. 450 in eight games. Chloe Helms is another player who had success in two appearances is looking to expand her role this year. Kaylynn Harvey, Hayden Barajas, Jordan Larose, London Staton, and Kenya Shephard are all capable of stepping into big roles and making an impact for the Lady Lions this season. Hoping to help in seasoning the youth will be senior Shelby Harrison. Harrison missed a huge chunk of the season last year due to shoulder surgery but brings a huge bat to the plate that should help strengthen the Lady Lions chances. Coach Helms listed coming together as a family, eliminating errors, leadership, and gaining experience as the biggest keys for Manila to have a successful season. NEA Sports predicts an improved season for the Manila Lady Lions, and they will have a shot at the last regional spot in May.
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