BY JESSALYN KIRCHHOFF
Although the Fort Hays State University Baseball team has struggled early this year with a season record of 3-29, the team had a similar record around this time last season. FHSU ended 11-26 overall, but picked up 9 of those 11 wins in the months of April and May. Can the Tigers make the turnaround in the stretch again this year?
“The season has been a disappointment so far in regards to our record. There are some guys that are having a good season from an individual standpoint, but we have not played well as a team,” said Head Coach Jerod Goodale. “Our biggest obstacle has been inconsistent play in all three facets of the game (pitching, hitting and defense). This has led to a lack of confidence in both individual players and from a team standpoint.”
Standout outfielder, Grant Schmidt, also hints at the lack of success this season, but is not ready to lay down.
“I think we can all agree that this season has not been what any of us expected. From a team standpoint, it’s been frustrating to say the least,” he said. “When you work hard all off-season for this season and it doesn’t go as planned, it’s a real punch in the gut. From an individual standpoint I am happy with how I’ve performed, especially at the plate. With that being said I’m definitely not content and am still looking to improve more and more as the season goes on.”
Schmidt is currently batting .268 with a .554 slugging percentage and leads the team in homeruns with eight. He goes on to express his encouragement for the team as well as what he thinks the team’s biggest obstacle is this year.
“We are capable of competing with any team out there. When you’ve lost a lot of games it’s easy to feel ‘comfortable’ when the lead slips away, which is what I would say our obstacle is. We need to get over that hump and expect to win games and find success in all facets of the game,” he said. “Once we start to see what we’re capable of the wheels will start turning. There is plenty of season left and I am fully confident in this team and the coaching staff to win games over the next two months.”
Along with the good news of Schmidt’s optimistic outlook, Goodale has honed in on the improvements that need to be made in order to achieve the goals that have been set.
“We need to improve on finding ways to win games instead of finding ways to lose them,” Goodale said. “We need to improve our mental toughness in pressure moments during games. Being able to learn from our mistakes so we can fix them and keep improving every day. Our goal moving forward is to continue to improve on a daily basis so we can play our best ball down the stretch and win. For guys to gain confidence in their abilities and to play up to their potential.”
Additionally, Schmidt has been looking at what improvements he can make as an individual athlete and as a team player.
“From an individual standpoint, I would just like to keep my confidence up at the plate. I would also like to force more walks, decrease my strikeouts, and keep hitting balls hard across the yard.
“From a team standpoint, I’d like to see us step up in the big situations of the game. We haven’t been very good in those times and those situations are where games are won and lost,” he said. “The biggest goal after this rocky start is to win more games, plain and simple. We need to win as many games as we can over the next couple months to give us a chance at making the conference tournament.”
Although the team has been struggling, there are multiple players that have had a good individual year. Goodale points a few of these players out.
“Jenner Kehe has done a great job as our leadoff hitter in his first year,” Goodale said. “He has done a great job of getting on base and scoring runs. He has been our most consistent hitter and has done a great job competing every day.”
Kehe is batting .302 this season and leads the team with 29 runs scored.
“Grant Schmidt has put up good numbers at the plate and has been our best RBI and power guy and has played really good defense. Sammy Sanchez has been very consistent for us on the mound and gives us a shot to win every time he takes the ball,” Goodale said. “He has been battling a toe injury the last three weeks but it’s getting better. Hopefully he can get healthy moving forward because we are a better team with him on the mound.”
Sanchez is second on the team in strikeouts with 34 and is 2-3 overall in 7 games started.
Schmidt agrees with Goodale on the standout showing of a couple of players and mentions more players that have played well.
“Jenner Kehe and Ed Scott have been a crucial part of our success on offense this season. It’s been enjoyable to hit behind them in the lineup because I know they will get on base and I get the opportunity to drive them in,” Schmidt said. “Sammy has also pitched very well for us. It’s very fun to play defense behind him because he keeps a good pace and also throws a lot of strikes which gives us chances to win games.”
Sanchez was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week in the first week of March (announced on Monday, March 7).
In conclusion, both Goodale and Schmidt are confident in the last two-month turnaround. Goodale starts by stating that good health and one good weekend could change everything.
“The guys that have been battling injuries are starting to improve and some younger guys are playing better. If we can continue to improve in all three facets it will help us gain some confidence that we are lacking,” he said. “If the guys can gain some confidence we can turn things around like last year. One successful weekend can turn the season around and that’s the goal.”
Matching Goodale’s confidence, Schmidt – ever the glass-half-full character – believes in the abilities of his team.
“I am fully confident we can replicate the same success late in the season as we did last year,” he said. “Our schedule for the end of the season is a bit tougher this year, but if we can get to playing the game of baseball that we are capable, of I am a firm believer we can compete with anyone.”
FHSU will have a home series with Northeastern State this weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Friday at Larks Park before playing at 2:00 on Saturday and 1:00 on Sunday.