The Oriole boys baseball season starts Thursday, April 2 vs. Greenwood at Oriole Park.
Oriole boys head varsity baseball coach Ryan Sturm shared more on how things are shaping up
“The energy in the clubhouse is great right now,” he said. “These guys are ready to work, which is vital because our conference is one of the toughest in the region. There are no easy wins on our schedule. We’re focusing on the fundamentals and playing disciplined baseball, because that’s what it’s going to take to compete at this level.”
As for returning players, Sturm shared the following.
“We’re returning a solid core with four returning starters and two others who saw significant time last year,” he said. “Everything starts with our seniors—Carter Weltzin, Grant Dusick, and Koebin Wundrow. We’re expecting them to be the heartbeat of this team and set the standard for the younger guys.
“On the field, we have some high-impact players returning. Landon Ewer (JR) is coming off an Honorable Mention All-Conference season where he hit .344; he’ll be a dual-threat for us at shortstop and on the mound. We’re also looking for Carter Weltzin to keep producing after a strong .304 season at third base.
“What’s really exciting is our younger depth. Dylan Robinson hit .300 as a freshman and will anchor center field, and Josiah Demske is back at second base after a solid debut. Both of those guys, along with Grant Dusick, are going to be vital to our pitching staff. We have several young players ready to step up, and that internal competition is only making us better.”
Sturm said team goals this year are centered on the process, with the Orioles focusing on being the team that does “the little things right.”
“Our goals this year are really centered on the process,” he said. “We want to be a team that does the little things right—the fundamental baseball that wins games in a tough conference. Beyond the scoreboard, I’m pushing these guys to stay positive and work hard every single day. If we can do that while keeping the game fun, the results will follow. Our bottom line is to be competitive in every single game; we want to be the team that nobody wants to see on their schedule because they know we’re going to play hard for all seven innings.”
Sturm said the focus was on building the future of the program, with a Mattress Fundraiser March 28 to support the team.
“Beyond the X’s and O’s, we’re really focused on building the future of this program,” he said. “This Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00, we’re hosting a Mattress Sale fundraiser. All the proceeds go toward some big goals—specifically a drop-down indoor cage and a new pitching machine. These tools are going to be game-changers for our guys’ development year-round. We’d love to see the community come out, grab a great deal, and help us give these hard-working players the facilities they deserve.”
The Orioles play Greenwood on Thursday, April 2 at Oriole Park. Game start is 5:00 p.m.