It’s not as if last season was an anomaly for Bridgeport High School baseball Coach Robert Shields. Shields, entering his 29^th season with the program, led his team to a 32-6 record and the third state title in school history in 2014.

 

And it won’t be the first time after either a state title – or one of several heavily successful seasons – where Shields isn’t returning a boatload of talent. So will Shields and the Indians change anything in 2015?

 

“Other than knowing that you have a target on your back, you don’t do much different because what you’ve done in the past is why you’ve had success,” said Shields. “We know there are holes to fill due to graduation and we lost some significant players, but the good news is that there are guys that have been waiting in the wings for a chance to fill those holes.”

 

The better news? Of the 32 wins the Indians amassed last year, pitchers that make up 23 of them are back in the fold.

 

“We’ve got a lot of innings back this year,” said Shields. “Early on, when you’re rotating in new players and getting the offense in gear it’s a benefit to have experienced pitching to lean on.”

 

Shields will be leaning heavily on several players with plenty of innings. Southpaw Logan Smith, a junior, is the team’s only lefty and comes back with the Class AA state title game to his credit and 50-plus innings pitched. However, there are plenty of other weapons.

 

Seniors Joe LaRocca, Sam Aloi and Houston Morris are all in the fold, as is junior Hunter Haddix. The Indians also have the services of seniors Zack Hineman and Jacob DeFalco, as well as juniors Jared Cleghorn and Tanner Furbee and sophomore Gordon Swiger.

 

Although Shields is going to lean on pitching early, that doesn’t mean there isn’t talent elsewhere. The entire battery looks solid from behind home plate to the outfield.

 

The Indians have senior Hunter Fain, who started multiple games last year along with the graduated A.C. Caldera, back behind home plate. Fain’s backups will likely be junior Elijah Drummond and sophomore Drew Hefner.

 

At first base, Morris and Haddix are the players likely to see the bulk of the innings. Morris started in the semifinals at first last year when the graduated Tyler Skidmore took to the mound.

 

Several players could see action at second base. Shields said he has Hineman, Aloi, Furbee and J.T. Harris – a sophomore – available.

 

Shortstop will likely be manned primarily by junior standout Dante Bonamico. If he sits, Furbee and Harris can fill in nicely, Shields said.

 

On the corner, LaRocca is back for the Indians after a stellar junior campaign. He’ll be backed up by Cleghorn and Aloi. Shields added the Swiger and DeFalco can fill in at multiple positions along the infield if needed.

 

“We have a lot of depth on the infield. We have a plethora of guys that you could utilize as regular day-to-day players,” said Shields.

 

The outfield has the some positive problem as there are multiple players capable of filling any of the three positions. In left field, senior Austin Perdue and junior Ross Marra should see the bulk of the work, while Senior Sammy Jesmer will back up there.

 

In center, last year’s left fielder Hunter Mann will take over the key defensive position. Shields said the move should be a good one.

 

“It’s nice to have an experienced glove in center,” said Shields.

 

Look for Mann to be backed up by Cleghorn or Joe Dodrill. Dodrill and Smith will handle duties in right field, while Cleghorn’s versatility could allow him to see action there as well.

 

“What I like about this group, beyond the talent, is that most of them spent time over the summer competing and trying to get better,” said Shields. “I’m pretty certain they’re looking forward to the challenge of the season and the challenge of having to have that target on their back. The thing that’s going to be important is if they’re willing to have the right approach like last year’s team.”

 

Shields said talent wasn’t the only reason the 2014 team won the Class AA title. He said the Indians were able to win

 

“The key questions involve whether they’re going to come in afraid of having of that target on their back or playing with the attitude that they don’t want anyone to beat them. This team has to play to win every game,” said Shields. “The other question is whether the kids that play a lot realize it’s okay to sit a few innings or sit out a game and let everyone grow as a player and as a team because that helps out in the long run. Last year, we bought into that and the answers to both of those questions were a positive. This year, how we answer those questions will determine just how successful we are.”

Bridgeport opens the season Thursday at Liberty. The game begins at 4:30 p.m.

 

The team will visit Ravenswood Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon. The first game will be against Ravenswood and it will be followed by a contest against powerhouse Ripley at noon.

 

The Tribe’s first home game is Monday. The Indians battle Preston at 5 p.m.

 

Editor's Note: Sammy Aloi, a senior in the top photo, is one of the pitchers returning this year for Coach Robert Shields, second photo. In the third picture, standout Joe LaRocca will bring his bat and pitching arm back for his senior season, while the Tribe's lone southpaw Logan Smith is pictured in the bottom photo. All photos by www.benqueenphotography.com.