Columbus North center fielder Will Baker catches a fly ball from Floyd Central at Southside Elementary, Friday, April 23, 2021.
The Republic file photo
Despite losing six starters from last year’s Conference Indiana and sectional champions, new Columbus North baseball coach Pat Antone figures the Bull Dogs can maintain their spot among the state’s elite.
“We have a really good team,” Antone said. “I’m very impressed with how quickly they’ve been able to pick some of the stuff that we’ve implemented. They’ve worked really hard. They’re coachable. We’re going to surprise a lot of people.”
North may not be able to surprise many teams, considering it went 27-5-1 and spent most of last season ranked No. 1 in the state. But the Bull Dogs do have a few players new to varsity baseball who could surprise.
“We have a good group of young guys to complement the upperclassmen,” Antone said. “We won’t have any trouble filling those spots. We have a really good group of guys. They like each other. They get along well.”
One area where North will have a lot of experience is pitching. The Bull Dogs return three of their top five hurlers from a year ago, including senior Will Baker. Baker, who has committed to Snead State, went 7-2 with a 1.42 ERA.
Senior Zach Wager has committed to Division-I Tennessee-Martin, and Junior Luke Harmon was part of the starting rotation last year. Sophomore Zach McLean will be the No. 4 starter, and senior Ethan Staples could be a middle reliever or closer.
Harmon played shortstop last season when The Republic Baseball Player of the Year Kyler McIntosh, who now is playing at Alabama State, was pitching and will play short or second base this season. Baker played center field when he wasn’t pitching and had 13 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
“Will Baker is probably the best outfielder I’ve ever coached,” Antone said. “If a ball is hit in his direction, he’s going to make the catch. He gets a really good jump off the bat.”
Juniors Trenton McCain and Eli Lucas and sophomore Connor Hensley are battling to take over behind the plate for last year’s Indiana Johnny Bench Award winner Austin Bode, who now is playing at Louisville. Wager and McLean will play first base. Sophomore Dillon James could play second or short, with senior Chase Sams possibly seeing action at second. Senior Dyllan Redmon returns at third, with McLean and Hensley also possibilities there.
Senior Trent Bodart takes over in right field and will play center when Baker is pitching. Juniors Tyler Blythe and Kyler Hashman could play left or right, and Wager also could see action in the outfield.
“We have a lot of guys who could play a variety of different spots for us,” Antone said. “Depending on who we have on the mound is going to shift a lot of stuff around. One good thing that I like about this group and this team is that everybody’s versatile in what they can do.”
Antone, a Chesterton native who has spent most of the past decade as an assistant coach in northwest Indiana, said he spent a lot of the offseason implementing his culture and expectations.
“We had a really good offseason,” Antone said. “We made sure we didn’t waste any reps, any time. The guys bought in. They’re committed, and they’re ready to go.”
The only season Antone has been a head coach, he led Boone Grove to the 2018 Class 2A state title. He is looking to do the same with the Bull Dogs at the 4A level this spring.
“Everybody’s collective goal on this team is the same, and that’s to win the 2022 state championship,” Antone said. “Whenever everybody’s goal is the same, it’s hard to be upset. Everybody wants to win.”
The 2022 Columbus North baseball schedule:
Wednesday vs. Saline (Michigan) at Grand Park 6:30 p.m.
April 4 Roncalli 6 p.m.
April 5 East Central 6 p.m.
April 7 Bloomington North 6 p.m.
April 8 Decatur Central 5:30 p.m.
April 9 at Jeffersonville Noon
April 11 at Center Grove 6 p.m.
April 12 at Batesville 5:30 p.m.
April 14 at Shelbyville 5:30 p.m.
April 16 Silver Creek 11 a.m.
April 19 at Franklin Central 5:30 p.m.
April 21 Jennings County 5:30 p.m.
April 22 at Floyd Central 6 p.m.
April 23 at Noblesville 7 p.m.
April 26 at Southport 6 p.m.
April 28 at Seymour 6 p.m.
April 29 at Cathedral 5:30 p.m.
April 30 at Terre Haute North 11 a.m.
May 5 at Greenwood 5:30 p.m.
May 6 Columbus East 6 p.m.
May 10 at Westfield 6 p.m.
May 11 Bloomington South 6 p.m.
May 14 Terre Haute South 11 a.m.
May 16 Fishers 6 p.m.
May 17 Hamilton Southeastern 5:30 p.m.
May 20 at Carmel Greyhound Invitational 9 a.m.
