Junction City High School Baseball Season Preview

As spring approaches, high school sports fans eagerly anticipate another season filled with thrilling games and standout athletes. One team that is sure to keep spectators on the edge of their seats is the Junction City High School baseball team. With an exceptional coach and a talented group of players, they are setting their sights on making it to the state tournament and bringing home a championship trophy. I had the opportunity to interview their coach, James Denton, to get a preview of what we can expect from the team this year. When asked about the team's overall goals for the season, Coach Denton confidently shared, "Our overall goals for this season is to make it to a state tournament and put ourselves in a position to have a chance at winning it." Such a lofty goal may seem daunting to some, but Coach Denton is focused on keeping the team motivated and determined to achieve that goal. Coach Denton believes that the key to the team's success lies in their defense and pitching. He stated, "Our keys to success will be to continue playing great defense and pitching to hitters." With defense and pitching as their strong suits, the team will need to work on improving their hitting in order to secure wins. As Coach Denton put it, "To win, though, we will need to hit." Looking at their roster, it's clear that the Junction City High School baseball team has a talented group of players who are ready to take on any challenge. Junior Cael Smith, who plays shortstop and catcher, stands out for his fundamental skills and ability to make routine plays look effortless. On top of that, he also has power in his bat and speed on the basepaths. Senior Cooper Bogenhagen, an outfielder and pitcher, is described by Coach Denton as a true competitor who always gives his all and has a strong desire to win. Another senior, Brock Bazan, impresses with his defensive prowess and hitting abilities. And let's not forget senior pitcher Lincoln Upham, who leads the team and has a killer fastball and effective off-speed pitches. Rounding out the senior class are outfielder/designated hitter Gavin Moore, who brings speed and solid hitting to the team, and catcher Jamarcus Tyson, a sophomore with a D1 body and skills that make him an asset on both sides of the ball.