Tuesday, April 16, 2024
After a frustrating 2022 season, Gatesville head baseball coach Chase Smith has one clear goal for his 2023 squad.
He wants a “perfect” season – regardless of wins and losses.
“We’ve adopted a mantra this year of ‘perfect.’ We look at everything that happens – good or bad – and say ‘perfect, here’s a chance to get better,’” Smith said.
Last season’s squad was primed to compete for a district title and prepped for a playoff run when those hopes were dashed before the first pitch of the season was thrown.
The Hornets lost Lawson Mooney, Banner Allman, Ayden Necessary, and ace pitcher Bralen Veazey before practice started in 2022. To put it into baseball terms, they started the season with an 0-2 count.
Yet remarkably, they were in the playoff hunt until the final day of the regular season. The hand that was dealt last year now has the Hornets returning a remarkable amount of varsity experience this year. It has also changed how Smith approaches every situation that isn’t ideal.
“Instead of getting down or frustrated we just look at every situation as a way to get better. For example, if practice gets rained out and we have to go to the gym or classroom we just say ‘perfect’,” Smith said. “This way they’re prepared for whatever we are about to face. That mentality transfers over to games. So if an at-bat doesn’t go our way or our pitches aren’t getting calls on the corners we just say ‘perfect’ and adapt.”
When asked about which player has embodied his new mantra in practices and scrimmages thus far, Smith provided an unexpected example — senior reserve William Crozier.
“Crozier is the ultimate teammate and is a leader for us. He always sprints out to the field every day and is the last guy to leave. He didn’t get to play in our scrimmage against Lorena but he just said ‘That’s OK. I’m here to be an example.’ More than his game, he is a leader and we feed off of that example.”
The mood at practice has also been helped by the prospect of adding talent like Mooney, Veazey, and Allman back to an already talented roster. Mooney hit .340 for the Hornets as a freshman and was a first-team all-district selection in 2021. Veazey, also a freshman in 2021, went 5-3 with a 2.70 ERA and was the district Newcomer Of The Year. Allman led the team with a .370 average en route to being a second-team all-district choice as a sophomore.
Smith described Mooney and Allman as “difference makers” for the Hornets.
“Lawson just doesn’t let guys get away with things and he is not phased by one single thing. As he goes, so go the rest of us,” Smith said. “And Banner adds so much. He just good at what he does and he is confident at what he does.”
Veazey will assume the role of staff ace while senior Grant Erwin will likely be in the No. 2 spot. Erwin flashed his potential last year when he threw a complete-game two-hitter against state-ranked Cameron Yoe.
“Having Veazey out there is such a confidence booster. When he is on the mound we expect to win. He’s an ace and everyone knows it,” Smith said. “And Grant is so fun to coach. He listens and he takes things and he applies them.”
Veazey and Erwin will likely see the bulk of the starts but the Hornets have plenty of pitching reinforcements in the form of seniors Kason Herbelin and Banner Allman, junior Justin Johnson, sophomore John Ibarra, and freshman Brady James.
They will join eight returners from last season’s squad as well as a host of newcomers on the roster this season giving Smith something he hasn’t had in his two seasons as head coach – depth.
“We’ve got some versatility this season. It’s going to be hard to put a lineup together some days but it is making for some great practices. It’s super competitive at practice like it should be,” Smith said.
While he is an option on the mound James will open the season as the Hornets’ starting third baseman and Smith also expects the left-hander to add pop near the top of the lineup.
“He’s just a hitter, plain and simple. He might be the best pure hitter we’ve ever had coming up,” Smith said.
Allman will play shortstop while Johnson and Ibarra will battle for the job at second base as Necessary will again miss the season with an injury. First base will see some combination of Erwin and fellow seniors Ben Mabry and Carter Williams. Junior Sean Aguilar will play left while Herbelin will roam center and senior Mason Mooney will settle into right field for another season.
Smith’s reserve options will include Crozier, seniors Jacob Ybarra and Antonio Osario, juniors Caden Brister, Gage Ford, and Clayton Gregory, and freshman Gehrig Keeton and Miles Tull.
Smith said he expects his team to be improved defensively. Thanks to a number of players learning new positions, the Hornets committed 90 errors in 26 games last season compared to just 41 errors in 30 games in 2021. They will also continue to be aggressive on the base paths particularly with speedsters like Mooney, Aguilar, and Herbelin.
“We’re fast. If we are going to be good at anything we will certainly be good on defense and on the bases,” he said.
He also expects to make more noise in District 23-4A where the Hornets are picked fourth in the six-team league. China Spring – a state semifinalist in 2022 – is favored to win the district followed by Salado and Robinson.
“I don’t think people really know what we have this year and that’s going to play in our favor,” he said.
The Hornets opened the regular season against Jarrell on Feb. 20 and will compete in tournament play in Salado beginning this Friday.
