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Dodgers ready to take the field

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Fort Dodge Baseball are, left to right, front row: Brycen Bell, Anthony Wagner, Bryer Nelson, Shane Halligan, Drew Callon Back Row: Drake Miller, Lucas Willianson, Nate Scherff, Mason Bodholdt, Tyrnan Lara, Kade Solverson

Fort Dodge head baseball coach Blake Utley feels like his team is ahead of the curve in terms of being “game ready” right now compared to last year.

Ten different Dodgers who saw double-digital at-bats a season ago return, along with 28 collective starts on the mound.

Of course, those numbers would have been even higher if not for the loss of senior Tyrnan Lara to a season-ending knee surgery.

“We have a group of guys who are working their tails off,” said Utley, who is beginning his sixth season at the helm. “We definitely look more experienced coming off last year. We haven’t had to go over the basics as much, as these guys have retained a lot of the information we’ve thrown at them.

“Instead, we’ve been able to move at a faster clip and be more in-depth in practice. They are fun to be around and have an intensity that brings out a hunger.”

Lara, who has committed to Iowa Central to continue his career, was lost to a torn ACL. Last year, he hit a team-leading .326 and led the Dodgers in RBI (21), homers (six), hits (43) and was second in doubles (eight), while also going 2-3 on the mound with 25 strikeouts in 42-plus innings.

“Would we like to have Tyrnan?” Utley said. “Of course. But these guys have taken on the ‘next man in’ motto and are stepping up in his place.”

Drake Miller, a junior who earned all-state football honors this past fall, returns following a season in which he hit .313 with 10 doubles and drove in 16 with four homers. Miller is expected to play first base and pitch after throwing 33 innings a year ago.

Lucas Williamson, another 11th-grader, hit .299 with nine steals eight doubles, and 12 runs driven in a season ago, with senior Nate Scherff batting .274 with 17 RBI and five doubles.

Scherff and junior Drew Callon are at the top of the pitching rotation for Utley. Scherff was 4-5 with 22 strikeouts, with Callon going 3-3 with 53 strikeouts in 56-plus innings and an earned run average of just 1.98.

“Right now, I feel good with the first six guys we have on the mound, with another four that can come in,” Utley said. “Last year, we didn’t have that kind of depth and it hurt us.

“We average six games a week, so if we have six guys that can pitch deep into games, we’ll be better at the end.”

Shane Halligan returns behind the plate after recording 19 hits and driving in 12 last year as a freshman. He also drew 16 walks as a freshman. Bryer Nelson is back at shortstop and Anthony Wagner returns at second base, with Mason Bockoven and Mason Bodholdt working at third base.

Kade Solverson, Williamson, Callon and Brycen Bell are expected to patrol the outfield. Callon hit .286 last year, with Nelson recording 30 hits and stealing a team-high 14 bases. Bell was a perfect 12-for-12 on steal attempts and drove in 10.

“I feel like we are more competitive at positions,” Utley said. “If someone is not getting it done, I am confident in putting the next guy in.”

Utley will be assisted by Nick Vinson and Mike Richman, with Jerry Ellendson leading the sophomores and Thomas Hartley taking over the freshmen.

“I don’t know if there is a staff that works harder than this one,” Utley said. “They make my job easier.”

Vinson is handling all pitching aspects, with Lance Williamson coming on to assist the ninth-graders. Vinson, Ellendson, Hartley and Williamson are all former FDSH players, to which Utley adds, “it’s great to have guys who already know what Dodger baseball is all about.”

2018 FORT DODGE BASEBALL

Roster

Seniors — Nate Scherff, Drew Zimmermann, Kade Solverson, Tyrnan Lara, Tyler Meriweather.

Juniors — Nathan Blocker, Bryer Nelson, Lucas Williamson, Drew Callon, Mason Bodholdt, Drake Miller, Anthony Wagner.

Sophomores — Mason Bockoven, Nick Bice, Mason Bowman, Shane Halligan, Brycen Bell.

Freshman — Dylan Zimmermann.

Schedule

May 21 — DM East; 25 — at Clinton Tournament; 26 — Algona; 29 — at Marshalltown; 30 — at DM North.

June 4 — WDM Dowling; 6 — at Mason City; 8 — Sioux City North; 11 — Urbandale; 13 — at Johnston; 14 — at DM Roosevelt; 18 — Marshalltown; 20 — at WDM Dowling; 21 — at Ames; 25 — Mason City; 26 — Boone; 27 — at Urbandale; 28 — Waterloo West.

July 2 — Johnston; 3 — at Ankeny; 6 — at Sioux City East; 9 — Ankeny Centennial.

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