FHS baseball out to 'achieve a higher objective' in '23

Findlay High's baseball team has made back-to-back trips to the Division I district finals with uniquely different teams. Considering the positive slant that puts on the program, FHS coach Ron Ammons feels it might be time to raise the bar a bit. "Our program is keeping pace with my original short-term and long-term goals, but we're ready to exceed those," Ammons said. "I believe we have the personnel to achieve a higher objective. There is no time like the present." Findlay reached the Division I district final in 2021 with an experienced team loaded with 12 seniors. Despite graduating almost the entire pitching staff and a number of other key players, the Trojans were back again last year. This season Ammons, who has averaged 18 wins a season (20-9 in 2021, 16-8 last year; 2020 was wiped out by COVID-19), has a little of both: veteran pitching and five players who were all-league and/or all-district a year ago, plus several talented new players with a high up-side when it comes to baseball. "I like our balance of veteran pitching, athletic defense, speed and capable hitting," Ammons said. "We may not lead the area in any one particular category, but we should be able to score and to keep the opponent at bay. In scrimmages we have shown the tendencies of a successful, and even a dynamic team." Anchoring Findlay's pitching staff will be returning starters Ben Best and Austin Sertell, both juniors, and senior Durham Heiserman. Best emerged as the ace of a relatively young staff, posting a 6-1 record with one save and a team-leading earned run average of 1.39. The right-hander struck out 42 batters in 40-1/3 innings. Heiserman was 4-1 with a 2.77 ERA and 21 strikeouts; Sertell had an ERA of 5.25. Senior Jake Bishop (1 save 2.42 ERA) and juniors Tucker Oliver, Joey Bindas, Will Cordonnier and Javonte Hill will see occasional starts and relief appearances for the Trojans. "With the luxury of having a number of guys who can pitch, our defense will unfold in several different ways," Ammons said. "Our pitchers are versatile athletes who can also contribute defensively and offensively." Matthew Guthrie, who batted .278 with 10 RBI last season, will again handle the shortstop duties, with Best at third when he's not pitching and Oliver at second. Best batted .388 and led the Trojans in at-bats (80), hits (31) and RBI (22); Oliver hit .200 and drove in 11 runs. Heiserman (.231, 6 RBI), Bishop or Cordonnier will be at first, depending on who is pitching, and will be backed up by Hudson Goebel, who is back out after not playing last season, Baret Helms and Andrew Kayser. The outfield, from left to right will be Luke Weihrauch, Hill and Sertell (.347, 8 RBI), with Bishop, Ethan Klotz and Bindas on-call. Oliver caught nearly every inning a year ago, but is moving to second to make room for Alex Gonzalez, a freshman Ammons feels can be a regular behind the plate. JJ Mihalik and Hill will back up that position. Graduation cost the Trojans four all-league or all-district players, including centerfielder Sam Weihrauch, who led Findlay with a .419 batting average, as well as a .568 on-base and .548 slugging percentage. Weihrauch had six doubles and a triple, drove in 12 runs and scored a team-high 25 runs. Also gone are pitchers/infielders Trace Robinson (3-2, 4.97 ERA; .295, 11 RBI) and Blaine Ritzler (3-4, 3.61 ERA 32 Ks), and infielder Brayden Layne, who batted .265 and was second on the team with 19 RBI. Balancing the pros and cons, though, Ammons like the make-up of this year's squad. "This team has the talent, experience and competitive drive to be successful," he said. "The coaching staff (John Kayser, University of Findlay; Matt Best, BGSU; Ryan Baightel, Bluffton University) has guys who all played college baseball and is very experienced, so the head coach just needs to know when to get out of the way!" Findlay is slated to travel to Bryan for its season opener today, and travel to Springfield on Tuesday. The Trojans home opener at Curlis Field is scheduled for Wednesday with Bowling Green. 2023 FINDLAY BASEBALL SCHEDULE March 25 – at Bryan (DH), noon March 28 – at Springfield, 5 March 29 – Bowling Green, 5 March 31 – at Toledo Start, 5 April 1 – at Ashland (DH), 11 a.m. April 4 – Anthony Wayne, 5 p.m. April 7 – at Lima Senior (TRAC), 11 a.m. April 10 – at Fremont Ross (TRAC), 5 p.m. April 12 – Oregon Clay (TRAC), 5 p.m. April 13 – at Wapakoneta, 5:30 p.m. April 17 – at Toledo St. John's (TRAC), 5 p.m. April 21 – at Toledo St. Francis (TRAC), 5 p.m. April 24 – Lima Senior (TRAC), 5 p.m. April 26 – Fremont Ross (TRAC), 5 p.m. April 27 – at Lima Shawnee, 5:30 p.m. April 28 – at Oregon Clay (TRAC), 5 p.m. April 29 – Sylvania Southview (DH), 11 a.m. May 1 – at Toledo Central Catholic (TRAC), 5 p.m. May 3 – Toledo St. John's (TRAC), 5 p.m. May 5 – Toledo Whitmer (TRAC), 5 p.m. May 6 – at Perrysburg, 10 a.m. May 8 – at Defiance, 5 p.m. May 9 – at Lima Bath, 5 p.m. May 10 – Toledo St. Francis (TRAC), 5 p.m. May 11 – Toledo Central Catholic (TRAC), 5 p.m.