BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
After battling the injury bug a year ago a youthful Canton baseball squad is hoping to have a bounce back season in 2026. And young might be understatement has half their roster is freshmen.
“I’m excited,” said Canton coach Ben Rubert. “I’m looking forward to giving them some time on the field, when we can get on the field.”
That’s been an issue around the league, and even in Canton with their tarp they’ve spent more days in the gym than on dirt and grass.
“It’s been cold, and then, when it you have nice days, it’s wet,” said Rubert. “We’ve been on our field twice, and we’ve been in the gym a lot. It’s hard to get a real feel for the game, and what your best looks like when you can’t even see a true fly ball, or anything in the air.”
At some point the weather will break, and even if it doesn’t anytime soon, the season must go one, and Rubert feels he has some players to carry them through this year.
“Reed Taylor, he was hot at the end of last year,” he said. “And we bring back Bailey Gardner.”
Taylor is excited by the influx of talent.
“Having a lot of numbers is nice,” he said. “We’re working a lot of on pitching, and we’re trying to fix our batting average from last year. We’re really trying to work on our defense this year, just trying to get the younger guys in so they can fill in those spots.”
Carson Castle is another returnee Rubert is expecting a lot from, and he likes what he’s seen from the rotation.
“Just having more pitchers, and being able to use more pitchers with less arms, it will definitely help us a lot,” Castle said. “Especially struggling with pitching last year.”
How far the younger players come, and how fast they do it, will be telling for the Warriors.
“I have 12 freshmen coming up, and I’m hoping some of them can pull their weight, and more,” Rubert remarked. “It’s exciting for the future. We have a lot of arms who can throw. I think we have seven or eight that can pitch now and down the road, that’s a good sign for what’s to come.”
They’re also not afraid to mix things up as the season goes on.
“We’re trying to use numbers as an advantage,” Taylor said. “Using multiple people at certain positions.”
On the offensive side everybody knows they need to pick up their game.
“I struggled a lot last year in the box, so I’ve been working on batting for sure,” Castle said.
As for this year, Canton is looking to be competing in the Small School again.
“We definitely have a good chance of winning Small School, for sure,” said Castle. “As long as we put in the work, and become the best we can.”
For Rubert, the minimum goal is always making it to districts.
“The goal is always 10 wins, which qualifies you for playoffs,” he said. “Then try and compete for a league title. That’s what the kids said coming in, so that’s the goal.”
ROSTER (Grade)
Aaden Dowling
Bailey Gardner
Brayden Tucker
Briar Hartford
Camden Macher
Carson Castle
Cayden Russell
Daniel Inman
Gavin Sharp
Grant Jennings
Hayden Harkness
Isaiah Colton
Kix Carr
Leeland Tubach
Luke Crawley
Michael Ackley
Owen Moore
Reed Taylor
Rylan Wesneski
Teyton Thompson
Trapper Burr
SCHEDULE
Mar 21 at Sayre, 11 a.m.
Mar 24 at CV, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 26 vs NEB, 4:30 p.m.
Mar 28 at Bucktail, 3 p.m.
April 2 vs Williamson, 4:30 p.m.
April 6 vs Sullivan County, 4:30 p.m.
April 7 vs Towanda, 4:30 p.m.
April 9 vs NPM, 4:30 p.m.
April 11 at Troy, 11 a.m.
April 14 vs Sayre, 4:30 p.m.
April 16 vs CV, 4:30 p.m
April 18 at Millville, 1 p.m.
April 21 at NEB, 4:30 p.m.
April 24 vs South Williamsport, 4:30 p.m.
April 28 at Williamson, 4:30 p.m.
April 30 at Wellsboro, 4:30 p.m.
May 1 at Muncy, 4:30 p.m.
May 5 vs Wyalusing, 4:30 p.m.
May 7 at Athens, 4:30 p.m.
May 11 vs Troy, 4:30 p.m.
