BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
After a year off NEB returns to the baseball diamond as they look to bounce back from last year’s absence due to a lack of numbers. Thanks to a large freshman class that isn’t the case this season.
“I love to play baseball,” NEB coach Brian Salsman said. “So we’re ready to go, and it’s going to be an interesting year with three seniors, and 10 freshmen.”
This will be a new experience for the veteran coach.
“With that year off last year it’s almost like starting over anyway,” remarked Salsman. “Everybody’s got a clean slate. I know our seniors, they’ve all played before, but the freshmen, again, I’ve seen them in years past at different levels, but with coaching them, it’s a different story. Seeing what they’re really like in practice every day is sometimes eye opening.”
One big returner he has is Kohen Hugo, who had a breakout year two years ago as a sophomore.
“Kohen’s the only proven commodity we really have,” said Salsman. “Our other two seniors, Tyler Goodenow, and Tanner Judson, have played but they may have 20 at bats between them, but we’re going to be relying on (Kohen) for a lot. He’s going to be pitching as much as possible. He really came around at the end of his sophomore year, pitching wise, throwing four-plus scoreless, maybe hitless, innings in the district final there. We’re really counting on him to obviously be our leader, not only pitching, but offensively, too. He brings a lot to the table for us.”
As for Hugo, he’s excited to just get on the baseball diamond again.
“It’s great to be back at it,” he said. “I had a little bit of summer ball last year, which I’m very thankful to be able to have done to keep sharpening my skills. Hopefully, we’ll be good leaders for everybody. I feel like we can put up a good fight with anybody that we’re going to be able to play this year.”
He’s embracing the number one spot in the pitching rotation.
“I’ve always been able to throw strikes,” said Hugo. “We’ve seen some pretty good arms in the people we’ve had. I think that as long as we can keep throwing strikes we’ll be tough to beat.”
As for the freshmen, Salsman is looking at Cooper Hugo, Anthony Johnson, Brad Shores, Elijah DeLancey, and Wes Alderfer to be ones to step up.
“Those five would probably be my best options at this point,” Salsman said. “We’ve got a bunch of guys who are here and there, whose going to step up and fill that last spot. I’m actually pleased with our pitching - we went to Canton the other day and had some good pitching, we’ve got some good live arms in that ninth grade class - but offensively it’ll be a struggle. Ninth graders against 12th graders is usually not a good combination, and defensively I’m a little concerned, but we’ll figure it out.”
There will certainly be some memories being made, especially with Kohen playing with his brother, Cooper.
“That’s really special,” he said. “To be able to teach him, and guide him as he is growing in his skills. He’s already almost my size, so I’ve got high hopes for him. Hopefully, he is better than me one day when he gets up to my level.”
ROSTER (Grade)
Kohen Hugo (12)
Cooper Hugo (9)
Anthony Johnson (9)
Keagan Netherton (9)
Ka’Ron Carr (9)
Will Kapr (9)
Tyler Goodenow (12)
Tanner Judson (12)
Brad Shores (9)
Will Chappell (9)
Elijah DeLancey (9)
Wes Alderfer (9)
Landon Chapman (9)
Lyric Hillard (10)
SCHEDULE
Mar 21 vs CV, 11 a.m.
Mar 23 vs Sullivan County, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 24 vs Williamson, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 26 at Canton, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 28 at St. John Neumann, 11 a.m.
Mar 31 at Sayre, 4:30 p.m.
April 9 vs Towanda, 4:30 p.m.
April 11 at Athens, 11 a.m.
April 14 at CV, 4:30 p.m.
April 16 at Williamson, 4:30 p.m.
April 18 at Susquehanna, 11 a.m.
April 21 vs Canton, 4:30 p.m.
April 23 vs Sayre, 4:30 p.m.
April 25 hosts Tournament
April 30 at Troy, 4:30 p.m.
May 1 vs Wyalusing at B-Met Stadium, 5:30 p.m.
May 5 vs NPM, 4:30 p.m.
May 7 at Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.
