Western looks to defend conference title, move further in tourney

Posted: Saturday, April 17, 2010 8:59 am


by Peter Adelsen

The 2010 Western Panthers baseball team (18-7, 6-1 MIC in 2009) looks to become more mature this season in its defense of the Mid-Indiana Conference championship.

"We had two out of three things going for us last year," Western coach Ty Calloway said. "Those things were our consistency game in and game out and defense. It was our pitching that we were a little thin at. We were just inexperienced."

In looking toward this season that is under way, Calloway says the pitching has improved.

"I think our pitching staff is going to be a lot deeper than it was last year," he said. "It's got to be. That's what kept us out of the state tournament last year."

In the 2009 season, the Panthers were defeated by Benton Central in the final game of the sectional.

As for this year, Western has a solid line-up that also includes two sophomores and two freshman. Standouts include senior short stop Matt Reida, who has started every game since he was a freshman. Other stand-outs are seniors Bryson Platt, who was 4-0 last year pitching with an ERA under 3 last season, and center fielder Mike Jakobowicz, who is expected to drive in many RBIs this season, Calloway said.

"We don't have any real serious holes in our line-up," he said. "There are no easy outs anywhere in our line-up."

He said he is hopeful to see senior Drew Brantley back on the diamond this year. Brantley nearly died after he collapsed on Feb. 17 and now wears an automated external defibrillator, or AED.

"We are optimistic to get Drew back," he said. "He's a good little hitter."

The Panthers would like to take it a bit further in tournament than last year, Calloway said.

"We want to win the conference as our first objective, then we want to advance as far as we can in the state tournament."