East Hardy Baseball is optimistic about returning to the state tournament and seek to focus on each game moving forward to be in prime shape at the end of the season to reach that goal.
The Cougars finished in the state semifinals last year with a record of 23-7 led by skipper Tyler Mongold.
Mongold enters his fifth season at the helm with a career record of 53-50.
East Hardy Baseball returns four players selected to the All-Potomac Valley Conference first team: Evan Hamilton (PVC Player of the Year), Mason Hamilton, Garrett Van Meter and Shayne Sisler along with PVC Coach of the Year Tyler Mongold.
The Cougars have two players from last season’s Class A All-State first team coming back: Evan Hamilton and Garrett Van Meter, plus a pair from the Class A All-State second team Shayne Sisler and Mason Hamilton.
East Hardy Baseball roster includes: seniors – Brayden Gregory (outfielder), Jordan Teets (infielder/pitcher); juniors – Evan Hamilton (infielder/pitcher), Mason Hamilton (infielder/pitcher), Dayton Dove (outfielder/pitcher), Shayne Sisler (pitcher/infielder), Levi Price (outfielder), Patrick Mills (outfielder), Brandon Wilkins (outfielder); sophomores – Garrett Van Meter (infielder/pitcher/catcher), Dayton Dove (outfielder/pitcher), Kaden Barrett (infielder); freshmen – Mason Wilkins (OF/C), Gage Dove (IF/P), Jacoby Thomas (IF/P), Kristian Byram (IF/P), Dominick Hose (OF) and Eamon Coogan (IF).
Evan and Mason Hamilton and Garrett Van Meter were dynamic at the plate last year and sensational in the infield, while Shayne Sisler brought the heat on the mound and pitched in the state tournament.
“My expectation/goal for this year is to get better every single day we step out onto the field and build on our tournament run from last year. Everybody’s goal is to make it to the state tournament, and ours isn’t any different. As long as we are playing our best ball come playoff time, then we’ll be in a better position to achieve our goal,” East Hardy Baseball coach Tyler Mongold remarked.
East Hardy Baseball commences the season at Keyser tonight, then hosts Frankfort on Friday and visits Musselman on Saturday before returning home on Monday against Southern Garrett (MD).
The Cougars will be playing in the annual McDonald Classic in Morgantown on April 18-19.
East Hardy faces off against Pendleton County, Tucker County, Allegany (MD), Moorefield (April 10 home & April 15 away), Martinsburg (DH), Tygarts Valley, Petersburg, South Harrison, Fairmont Senior, Lincoln, Hedgesville, Broadway (VA), Northern Garrett (MD) and Cameron.
The home finale is scheduled for May 7 against Keyser and season finale at Petersburg on May 8.
There is a regional format without sectional play this season.
Four earlier games were postponed due to some players still competing in the state basketball tournament.
The Cougars are ready to pounce back to Charleston this year.
