2017 Season Preview

2017 Clipper Baseball Preview

Written by Jake Clark

The Clippers have taken leaps forward under Coach Wolf in his first two years at the helm. Now, the senior heavy Clips look to take another step forward. Columbiana has won the ITCL White division in both seasons of Wolf’s tenure but have been bounced in the second round of the tournament each. This year, the Clippers have their eyes set on another league title and a deep tournament run.

The Clippers finished at 16-11 (7-1) in 2016.

On the mound the Clippers stay rock solid. Pitching Coach Bill Sattler returns the top 3 starters in the rotation along with a top reliever. Mitch Davidson (Sr.) and Jake Clark (Sr.) look to start right where they left off in 2016 while Zach Fahs (Jr.) looks to improve on a solid sophomore season. AJ Perkins (Jr.) had a strong season as a reliever, look for newcomers on the hill Seth Ross (So.), Dustin Bennett (Jr.), and Erik Hopfenziz (So.) to contribute big innings while Chase Franken (Fr.) rounds out the rotation.

Behind the plate the Clippers have been solid.. That will continue in Keenan Green’s senior season. Green hit .342 in 2016 and was a brick wall behind the dish. The Clippers do lose their second catcher, Nate Armstrong, but Hopfenziz is competing for that role.

The infield will be locked down by familiar faces up the middle in Davidson, Connor Stacey (Sr.), and Ross. The Clippers lose Josh Herbert at 1st but Perkins and Clark look fill the spot. 3rd base, on the other hand, is wide open.

The outfield lost Dylan Davin to graduation, but brother Timmy Davin (Sr.), Fahs, and Vince Vivo (Sr.) look to run down anything hit their way.

With all of that, the Clippers a gearing up for another successful season with hopes of achieving more than years past.

 

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