REED CITY — Junior Logan Straub is slated to be among the key players this season for Reed City’s baseball team.
The Coyotes last week completed three weeks of practices and are gearing up for their first week of action.
It’s Straub’s third season on the varsity.
Last season, “we struggled at the beginning, then we progressed better as the year went on,” he said.
Straub also plays football and basketball, but found time in his offseason schedule to play some summer baseball.
He will be a pitcher, catcher and second baseman.
As a pitcher, “I’ll be focusing on offspeed pitches more,” he said, adding he’s looking to improve on his offspeed pitches, his accuracy and hitting the corners.
When he’s catching, Straub is confident of keeping runners honest with his throwing arm.
“The second baseman and shortstop are basically the two leaders in the infield,” Straub said.
He was happy with his hitting last season.
“But I think I can improve a little better,” Straub said. “I need to be better down in the count.”
The Central State Activities Association Gold Division opener is on April 15 with Tri County.
“I think we have a lot of talent,” Straub said. “It’s repetition, after repetition...and getting in the flow of the game.”
The key in each game, Straub said, will be “good defense, hitting the ball, mainly.”
He’s expecting Chippewa Hills, Newaygo and Pine River to be among the toughest teams on the Coyotes schedule.
