Nixa’s Ryan Buckner and Tanner Grant hope to reverse the trend and be among the few hitters who are ahead of the pitchers at the start of the upcoming season.
Pitchers traditionally are a step or two ahead of the hitters in mid-March.
However, 70-degree weather in southwest Missouri last week allowed hitters to see plenty of live pitching. And, indoor baseball facilities continue to pop up locally, allowing hitters to maintain their timing over the winter months.
Buckner and Grant feel good about their off-season preparation for this spring.
“After football season ended, I took a week off and then I was in the batting cages every night,” Buckner said. “I was trying to get my swing tuned up, feel everything out and what would work for me.
“I try to hit once a day at least, trying to perfect everything,” he added. “It gives me lots of confidence. I don't have to worry about any mechanics, just think about hitting the ball hard and into a gap. I'm seeing the ball good, making good, solid contact.”
“We’d come in and get a lot of reps in,” Grant said. “You've got to work on it every day.”
After Nixa bats struggled mightily most of last season, Buckner and Grant could both find their way in first-year Nixa coach Logan Hughes’ lineup. The two could be at the corners of the Eagles’ infield and in the middle of their lineup.
Grant is a third baseman and first baseman and Bucker is a first baseman and outfielder.
Buckner may be as improved as any Nixa player. He’s looking for his first varsity hit, after having only five at-bats last season.
“His bat has been really good. We need to find ways to get him on the field,” Hughes said. “My offensive philosophy has been, ‘If you hit, you don't sit.’ Trying him at first base is going to give us another option with him.”
First base is relatively new to Buckner. So far, he feels he’s adjusting well and adds he thinks the move might aid his hitting.
“When I’m in the outfield, I have time out there to think about my last at-bat,” Buckner said. “At first, I'm not going to be able to do that as much. That might be better for me. I won't get to dwell on everything, like I did in the outfield. I'm excited to play first.
“I just want to be in the lineup producing,” he added. “All I want to do is be a good teammate and help us win a state championship this year.”
Buckner’s attitude also has won over Hughes. He feels Buckner is as popular with the Eagles as anyone.
“Everybody says the same thing, he's an awesome kid,” Hughe said. “He has a goofy personality. He's got an even-keel to him and is down to earth. He's a fun kid to be around. He's going to bring a good attitude to our dugout that helps everybody stay relaxed. He's a kid that also competes. He knows how to flip that switch when it's time.”
Grant seems to have secured Nixa’s starting job at third base. He showed potential as a sophomore last year, hitting .261 with six RBIs in 23 at-bats.
He’s glad to have jitters associated with playing on the varsity for the first time behind him.
“A little experience helps, you know what situations are going to be like,” Grant said.
Hughes would like to pencil Grant in behind all-state catcher Jaret Nelton in Nixa’s lineup. Nelson
“Tanner is an extremely strong kid and works his tail off,” Hughes said. “He works hard on his craft. We need to fine-tune his swing so it's more consistent. Right now, it's a strong, powerful swing, but sometimes it's a little out of the zone. The more we can work to make it consistent, it gives us a bat behind Jaret to protect him.
“I think Tanner is going to surprise a lot of people,” he added. “Hopefully, he will make people pitch to Jaret more.”
