Eagles plan to soar this year

KEOTA - It's always good to have a mix of veterans and youth on a sports team.

The Keota Eagles' baseball team exemplifies that with this year's roster.

There are two senior leaders return with Tyler Waterhouse and Nolan Verstraete. A strong junior class features Luke Hammen, Carson Sprouse, Sam Sieren, Brady Duwa, Patrick Clarahan and Bryce Greiner. Colten Clarahan was a first team All-South Iowa Cedar League utility selection and second team all-district last season as a freshman. Aidan Anderson and Dalton Dodd saw varsity action last year as eighth-graders. Freshman Caleb Waterhouse and eighth-graders Aidan Mcgurie and Cole Kindred will be looked to for quality time on the varsity this season.

'We have really good athletes that play well as a team,” said Keota head baseball coach Dakota McCombs, who starts his second year at the helm. 'Most are returning starters from last year.”

Clarahan, who pitched and played shortstop, was one of only two players in the SICL who did not commit an error last season. He was fourth in the league with a .424 batting average, fourth in on base percentage at .545 and only struck out three times all year which was the best in the league. On the mound, his earned run average of 1.31 was third.

Sprouse, who also played third base and catcher, was seventh in ERA at 1.95.

Greiner, who played catcher and third base, only had two errors.

'Pitching and defense are our strengths,” McCombs said.

Waterhouse, who pitched and played second base, had an OBP of .405, tying for the team lead in walks at 16.

Hammen will see action at first base and pitcher. He was 3-0 on the mound last year.

Left fielder Sieren batted .281 with an OBP of .388.

Right fielder Duwa batted .290 with an OBP of .389.

'A concern is how my pitchers will respond after missing most of pitcher-catcher training this year,” McCombs said. 'Some of our arms may not be all of the way tuned in going into Game One.”

Patrick Clarahan may see time in the outfield. Anderson and Dodd will be counted on as pinch runners while Anderson may also see time on the mound.

McCombs sees potential in the youngest players.

'Kindred, who may see time in the infield and at pitcher, is a big strong kid that controls the strike zone and has really good velocity for his age,” McCombs said. 'He works hard all year to improve his game.

'Caleb Waterhouse I see at utility because he is a quick natural baseball player that has a high baseball IQ.

'Mcgurie is a hard worker that loves the game and goes the extra mile to improve every time out.”

Keota and Belle Plaine tied for third in the SICL with a record of 11-5. HLV won the league at 15-1 and was 25-4 overall. Keota was 15-6 overall.

'I think we have four or five really good teams in our conference this year that wouldn't surprise me if they came away as the conference champs,” McCombs said. 'It all is going to depend on which teams can win the close games.”

The Eagles season ended at the hands of Pekin in a 4-2 loss, which also ended a six-game winning streak when the Eagles scored 11 runs or more in five of those games. Pekin advanced to the state tournament. The Keota game was the Panthers' closest postseason score until an 8-7 loss to the state champion Newman Catholic team.

Keota won its first five games last season and eight of its first nine.

'We need to win some games in the post season,” McCombs said. 'We haven't been able to win games when it counts the past few years so winning games when it truly matters is going to be a big part of considering this year a success.”

The season starts Monday at home against SICL foe North Mahaska.

With the coronavirus causing a late startr to the season there are 13 games on the schedule, 11 of them league opponents and two nonconference foes.

Keota baseball schedule

Monday, June 15, 6 p.m.

*Keota vs North Mahaska

Wednesday, June 17, 6 p.m.

*Keota at HLV

Friday, June 19, 6 p.m.

*Keota vs Lynnville/Sully

Monday, June 22, 6 p.m.

*Keota vs English Valleys

Wednesday, June 24, 6 p.m.

*Keota at Sigourney

Friday, June 26, 6 p.m.

*Keota vs Iowa Valley

Monday, June 29, 6 p.m.

*Keota vs Tri County

Wednesday, July 1, 6 p.m.

*Keota at Belle Plaine

Thursday, July 2, 6 p.m.

*Keota at Colfax Mingo

Friday, July 3, 5:30 p.m.

Keota at Highland (Var. followed by JV)

Monday, July 6, 6 p.m.

*Keota at Montezuma

Tuesday, July 7, 6 p.m.

Keota vs New London

Wednesday, July 8, 6 p.m.

*Keota vs BGM

Thursday, July 9, TBD

Sectionals

Saturday, July 11, TBD

Districts

Tuesday, July 14, TBD

Districts

Saturday, July 18, TBD

Districts

* SICL game

vs = home game