PCM baseball seeks bump on diamond

PCM’s baseball team has plenty of experience returning in 2021. But if the Mustangs are to improve on their 7-9 record of 2020, PCM may need a big boost from its large group of underclassmen.

The roster goes 34 deep but 22 are freshmen and sophomores.

“It’s a great group of guys to work with,” PCM baseball coach Jeff Lindsay said. “We have a really good group of senior leaders.”

The top senior returners are Sage Burns, Caleb Duinink, Beau Webb, Andrew Mitchell and Connor Bennett.

Duinink batted .457 last year and tallied 18 RBIs, four runs, three doubles, six walks, three triples and one homer. His on base percentage was .483.

Duinink was the primary catcher last year. He’ll play catcher again but Lindsay said he also will pitch and play some corner infield.

Mitchell returns as the starting shortstop and one of the top pitchers. He batted .370, had an OBP of .517 and tallied 15 RBIs, 10 runs, six doubles and 12 walks.

Like Mitchell, Webb will be a primary pitcher while also playing in the outfield. Webb batted .250 last season and was 2-2 as a pitcher.

Burns is going to play third base, pitch and be moved around a lot. He batted .269 and scored a team-high 15 runs last season.

The other seniors are Dylan Warrick, Logan Stallings and Dylan Masterson.

The key juniors are Durant Van Dyke and Cade Lindsay. The sophomores are Gavin Fenton, Zeb Padget and Will Owens. Freshmen Easton Webb, Nick Farver and Jacob Wendt also could see plenty of playing time.

“We just need to play and see where we are and then make adjustments,” Lindsay said. “I do like what I’ve seen so far. The fielding has been clean.”

The depth on this year’s roster has forced Lindsay and assistant coach Lew Daye to break the JV into split squads.

Pella 14, PCM 3, 5 innings

PELLA — The Mustangs opened the season with a five-inning 14-3 loss to host Pella on Monday night.

PCM managed just five hits and committed three errors in the loss.

“It was nice to finally get out and play,” Lindsay said. “We obviously have to work to do at the plate.”

Van Dyke tallied two hits and two RBIs and Beau Webb had one hit, one run, one RBI and one walk.

The other two hits came from Bennett and Gavin Fenton. Fenton also walked and Bennett scored a run.

PCM scored two in the first but it trailed 12-2 after three innings. Easton Webb took the loss on the mound after allowing five earned runs on six hits in two innings. Van Dyke and Mitchell also pitched in relief.