Mikes striving to continue winning tradition in 2018
Carmichaels has been one of the most consistent baseball programs in the WPIAL over the last two decades, and in 2018, the Mikes will use their depth at a chance to add more accomplishments to an ever-growing list.
After losing five seniors from last year鈥檚 squad, the Mikes will have 28 kids on their roster for veteran coach Richard Krause.
鈥淥ur strength this year will be our depth,鈥� Krause pointed out. 鈥淲e are a solid two-deep for eight to nine of the positions on the field. The kids have been pushing each other and there鈥檚 been a lot of competition in practice. There鈥檚 a lot of varsity experience and overall talent in our dugout.鈥�
Carmichaels went 13-5 overall and tied with Chartiers-Houston for second place in Section 1-AA with an 11-3 mark. The Mikes lost their first-round match-up to Bishop Canevin, 5-4, in the Class AA playoffs.
鈥淲e played a lot of young kids last year and they grew up a lot on the field,鈥� Krause said. 鈥淚 really liked the composure of the team. I think we can be really good this season. I told them that we are capable of beating anybody in our section, but we are also capable of losing to anybody in our section. We have to work and get better every day.鈥�
California will be the heavy favorite in the section, according to Krause.
鈥淚t will always start with California,鈥� he said. 鈥淯ntil somebody beats Cal, they are the team to beat. They have something you can鈥檛 coach, their kids just bring that winning confidence into every game. A lot of the teams in our section bring a lot of key pieces back. Char-Houston, Fort Cherry, Frazier and Bentworth are all going to be very good. It鈥檚 going to be a dogfight in this section.鈥�
Offensively, the Mikes will look for production from returning senior Nick Mundell, sophomore Dylan Wilson and senior Nathan Broadwater.
鈥淚 think we are going to be able to hit one through nine,鈥� Krause said. 鈥淲e have a lot of balance in our lineup and I think we can string hits together. Wilson and Broadwater are really good hitters, and after missing his junior season (football injury) Nick Mundell is back. He has a lot of versatility. We have a good freshmen group coming up too. Gavin Pratt will get some looks on the field.鈥�
The top of the pitching rotation will be filled out by the duo of junior Matthew Barrish and sophomore Logan Mayhle. The two hurlers combined for nine wins last year.
鈥淏oth are reliable pitchers that can win games for us,鈥� Krause said. 鈥淢atthew is very smart and has a lot of poise. Logan can mix in his pitches and be really effective for us. We also have a couple of other dependable arms in Dylan Wilson and (junior) Brad Ruse. If you want to be successful in high school baseball, it always starts with pitching.鈥�
Carmichaels opens up section play at Bentworth on April 4.
鈥淲e are really upbeat,鈥� Krause said. 鈥淲e keep on harping to the guys that we can be really good this season, we just have to put in the work and play within ourselves. We are in a tough section, but these kids have good resolve and they want to compete every game.鈥�