Buoyed by last year’s 17-win season that saw Clever claim the Class 3 District 11 championship and make it to the Class 3 Quarterfinals, the Jays are feeling they can work toward another strong post-season run.
“The players are extremely excited after last year's success,” coach Brandon Cobb said. “I think it has made the seniors more hungry to have that feeling again. They want that to be the standard every year. The players and staff want to build on that success and keep it going."
Cobb like the tone his players have set in pre-season practices.
“I think we have good leadership from our group of seniors,” Cobb said. “We have a team that has been fun to be around.”
Pitcher Brecken Vestal is fresh from a stellar freshman season. He threw 35.2 innings, compiling a 3-2 W-L record with a 1.37 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 16 walks.
Vestal impressed mightily by hurling five innings and yielding one run against Fair Grove in the Quarterfinal round.
“Brecken pitched a bunch for us last year. We had a bunch of injuries to our rotation, so he got an opportunity and took full advantage,” Cobb said. “I look for him to be our (ace) on the mound this year and play middle infield when he isn’t on the mound.”
Dyllan Martin will look to carry over the gains he made last year, as he adjusts from being a reliever to a starter. He had a 3.91 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched a year ago.
“Dyllan took over as a starter last summer and was probably our best arm,” Cobb said. “He does a great job mixing pitches from the left side and keeping hitters off balance.”
Evan Verch also figures to be at the top of Clever’s pitching rotation and will be a key hitter, as well. He had a 3.60 ERA in 11.2 innings last season.
“Evan was coming back from an arm injury last spring, so I feel like he didn’t hit his stride until the summer,” Cobb said. “He still threw valuable innings last spring. We look for him to be one of our top starters on the mound. He is also a tremendous defensive infielder. He worked hard on his hitting in the off-season and we look for him to take a big leap with that.”
Bryant Ward is another pitcher with plenty of potential.
“Bryant may have the best pure stuff on the team,” Cobb said. “He has a live arm. He has worked hard on locating. We look for him to throw a lot of innings on the mound and compete for time at first base.”
Cobb is counting on Clever’s defense to complement its pitching. The Jays’ pitchers are expected to be pitch-to-contact throwers.
“We have a group that has many guys that can throw strikes and mix pitches in the strike zone,” Cobb said. “I think we have to play good defense for us to have success this season. That will be a major key for this team to reach its potential. We don't have a ton of strikeout stuff on the mound, so defense is very important.”
Owen Graaf enters his third season as a starter and is making the move from third base to shortstop. He hit .271 a year ago with 16 RBIs and 27 runs scored.
Catcher Talen Smith, utility man Austin Garrison and outfielder Skylar Broaddus also return.
Just as Clever received a boost with the addition of transfer Rex Deters last year, the Jays welcome aboard two transfers this spring.
Outfielder Logan Vaught-Green is a Jay, after moving from Crane.
“I have been really impressed with him through our workouts,” Cobb said. “I expect him to hit in the top of the lineup and take over in center field. I also think he will give us valuable innings on the mound. He is a good athlete who will do a lot of good things.”
Also, infielder Reagan Huson has moved to Clever from Nixa.
“We expect him to hit in the middle of the lineup and play infield when he isn’t pitching,” Cobb said. “We are excited to have both of these players at Clever.”
Outfielder Braeden Casey looks to bounce back from an injury-plagued freshman season.
“There is a good chance he would have found himself in the lineup as a freshman,” Cobb said. “During the summer, he came back and was one of our best hitters. He is a hard worker and very coachable.”
Cobb anticipates the Jays’ newcomers to gradually improve over the course of the season.
“We expect to find guys who can fill those holes early and play our best baseball at the end of the season,” Cobb said. “We have some youth that will probably make young mistakes at the beginning. We need to learn from those mistakes, so we can play our best baseball by the end of the season.”
— The Jays open at St. James on Friday.
— Based on enrollment figures, Cobb is expecting MSHSAA to bump Clever up to Class 4 this season.
— The Jays have been 63-30 in Cobb’s three seasons at Clever.
— Clever closed last season by winning nine of its last 12 games.
