Analytics drive Demons to success

The analytics in sports has gained a huge following, especially in baseball.

Analyzing data requires the use of computer skills, mathematics and statistics to gain valuable knowledge. The insights from data are used to recommend action or to guide decision making.

It is something that Washington head baseball coach Nathan Miller believes in.

'I am definitely an analytics guy,” Miller said.

Miller and the Demons have high hopes for the season, but then every team's goal to start a season is to win its conference and make it to state.

'Our goals for the season, from the beginning to the end, we want to always be improving,” Miller said. 'We focus on improving 1 percent at minimum every day. With that mindset, we are trying to compete for a conference title. and try to make state this year. Our main goal is to steadily improve.”

Steady improvement will result in other goals being attained.

High school has a pitch-count limit but Miller does not see it as a problem. He uses a chart system to determine how long a hurler should throw.

'The pitch count is basically up for me to decide during the game,” he said. 'In regards to how far I want to push a kid or how far I want them to go. It's more about if they are still finding success or not. We have a system and if they are staying strong according to that system, we will we will stick with them. If we see them start to struggle, we start getting a guy warmed up. We try to use data to drive our decision-making during games and then go by what we feel. It has worked pretty well the last couple years.”

Pitching is ultimately important in the sport and the Demons have a stable of arms.

Cade Hennigan, who was the Southeast Conference Player of the Year last season as a junior, has three other senior pitchers in Chase McDole, Mitchell Driscoll and Kole Hinrichsen. Juniors Luke Turner and Brady Knutson help form an experienced core. Eighth-grader Ethan Patterson has already seen action with underclassmen Lucas Kroll, Zeke Slagle and Reese Mayer slotted for action in nonconference games.

The Demons had the lowest opponents' batting average last season.

'The team is more than just (Cade),” Miller said. 'Him and Luke both had great years last season as did several other guys.”

Turner and Hennigan both finished with batting averages of .469. Knutson and Hinrichsen had averages over .310.

One strength of the Demons will be their depth and having a veteran group is always important. Fairfield has 10 seniors and six are in the starting lineup.

The Demons have five seniors that have a lot of experience.

'It enables us to do some higher-level things on defense because of it,” Miller said.

The Demons, who finished last year with a 21-12 record, tied for second in the SEC with Mt. Pleasant at 11-4. Fairfield won the title at 13-3.

'Anybody is capable of winning on any given night in our league,” Miller said. 'Mt. Pleasant always seems to put together a good team. Fort Madison has combined with Holy Trinity and picked up some good athlete. Keokuk is very young.”

Washington led the league in team batting average last season and in stolen bases.

The Demons have a 5-1 record already this season and host Mt. Pleasant tonight in a double header.