The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Experienced Big Reds look for big things
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 29, 2007
The Milan Big Reds had an excellent baseball season in 2006.
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In 2007, they believe they can have an even better one.
With nine seniors on the varsity roster and returning All-League and All-Region player Cameron Hynds filling both the No. 1 spot in the rotation and the No. 3 spot in the lineup, head coach Adam Gilles is hopeful his team can improve on last season's second-place finish in conference play and first-round playoff exit.
"We have six returning starters and more seniors than in any other year I've been here," Gilles said before practice Monday. "We have a lot of depth at a lot of positions."
While the Big Reds' experience and depth mean that the team is serious about its large-scale goals — to win 20 games, a Huron League title, and a district crown, the "same goals every team has," said Gilles — the team is also concerned with the steps to get there. The team has established a series of small-scale goals, which are to finish the season with more walks than strikeouts, to average an error or less a game and others.
"We've got a smart group of kids," Gilles said approvingly. "It's not the same set of goals any team would give you."
The Big Reds' efforts to achieve those goals — both large- and small-scale — will begin with the starting pitching, which begins with Hynds. The senior is entering his second season as Milan's No. 1 starter and will look to provide the Big Reds with both plenty of innings on the hill and pop at the plate.
"He's one of the best, if not the best, players in our league," Gilles said.
But Milan has many more arms than just Hynds'. Senior Jesse Karr is returning to the team after missing 2006 because of injury and junior Zach McGovern is expected to see his share of starts, as well. Senior Denver Straub also should see his fair share of innings.
"We've got five or six guys we could use," Gilles said. "There's a lot of strong pitching on this team."
Even if the Big Reds' pitching isn't on top of its game, Gilles said his team still could pull out wins swinging the bat.
"We averaged 10 hits a game last season," he said. "If we could keep that going, we'll win a lot of games."
Leading the way in the three and four spots in the batting order will be Hynds and senior Ryan Bordine, the team's RBI leader for each of the last two seasons. First baseman Straub will also be counted on at the plate, as will senior Mike Barnett.
Although several Big Reds have the capability of hitting for power, the Milan offense will revolve around smart hitting and base-running.
"We'll get our 10 to 15 homeruns as a team, but you're going to see a lot more sacrifice bunts and squeezes than home runs," Gilles said. "We're going to play smallball. When you put the ball in play and make teams start throwing it around, good things happen."
Another key hitter in that "smallball" attack and one the team's best leaders is second-team All-League catcher Matt Craig. Such is Craig's experience and feel for the game that his teammates have taken to cheerfully calling him "Grandpa," in addition to voting him a team captain.
"He's great defensively, probably the smartest all-around ballplayer we have," Gilles said. "He's the anchor of our team."
But Milan has no shortage of leaders, with seniors Craig, Bordine, Hynds, Barnett, Straub, Karr, Andy John, Mike Latham and Matt Suisse all available. Juniors on the roster include McGovern, Jake Hall, Lance Smith, Josh Bellers, and Kyle Keilitz. Sophomore Aaron Straub is the team's lone underclassman.
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