IAC BASEBALL: SVEC ENTERS SEASON WITH HIGH HOPES (2022-03-29)

By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
CANDOR / SPENCER — With a large group of returning players, the SVEC baseball team has high hopes of competing in the IAC this spring.

Each of the Eagles’ 10 veterans should have an opportunity to prove his mettle on the mound, but will also be equally important at other positions on the field.

Among them are seniors Devin Beach (third base, outfield), Logan Jewell (outfield, shortstop), Seth McBride (second base, outfield), Jayden Grube (outfield, second base) and Nick Thomas (third base, shortstop).

Jewell was named to the IAC Division 3 all-star team last season as a utility player and Grube was named an honorable mention.

There are a handful of juniors in the pitching mix as well, including Cody Sayre (first base, outfield), Kameron Smith (catcher, third base), Hunter Harmon (shortstop, second base), David Vega (third base, second base) and Calvin Curkendall (catcher, second base, pitcher).

Four promising newcomers join the varsity squad this season with hopes of making an impact. They include Cody LaVigne (shortstop, pitcher), Ryan Swayze (outfield, second catcher, first base) and Hunter Rollins (outfield, first base).

Coach Cliff Pierce is looking for his team to battle with the best in the IAC.

“Our goal for the season is to be competitive,” he said. “We enter the season with high hopes. We have a large number of returners and a strong crop of newcomers who are eager to make their varsity debut on the diamond.

“For the first time we enter the season with what we believe will be a strong pitching rotation led by junior Hunter Harmon, who spent countless hours over the winter learning new pitches. Kameron Smith, Seth McBride, Cody Sayre, Calvin Curkendall and David Vega all saw varsity action on the mound last year and are expected to see action as well as a whole host of others.

“Nick Thomas, who as a freshman was already an outstanding player, has made his return to baseball, and will undoubtedly have a big impact, as will Devin Beach, Logan Jewell, and Jayden Grube.

“Newcomers Cody LaVigne, Ryan Swayze, Jacob Van Etten, and Hunter Rollins will also be called upon to make an impact.”

The Eagles get an early test Friday against perennial Section IV power Deposit / Hancock on the road.

——————

IN PHOTO: SVEC’s Logan Jewell. … TCSR STOCK PHOTO.