Bridgeport’s senior baseball class is small, but mighty.

 

Guy Avolio, Blake Butcher, Kasen Baun and Owen Sondericker have all excelled for the Indians this year and are a major reason why the Tribe will play in next week’s Class AAA state tournament, ending a drought that dates back to 2022.

 

“It’s crazy because we’ve all been together since we were 10, 11, 12 years old,” Butcher said. “We were taught, playing travel ball with my stepdad and Kasen’s dad as our coaches, to always say, ‘Together.’ That was our thing. I feel like we all took a part of that to the team for this year…and it’s not just that we say it, but they all mean it. It shows why we’re at the state tournament.”

 

“We go by the word ‘Together’ and we’re really one group,” Baun said. “We have a good relationship with one another. We play together. We do everything together. It’s just a good solid group.”

 

“It means a lot because at the beginning of the year I didn’t know how this was going to go,” Avolio said. “I knew we had the guys to do it, but seeing everybody come together and play hard and be good teammates and win is nice.”

 

“These are my brothers. We’ve done everything together growing up,” Baun said. “It just means a lot to work with them every day and get better.”

 

Their leadership has helped the Bridgeport team become a tight-knit group, with next week’s road trip to Huntington just another one of many the team has taken to prepare, on and off the field, with stops in Virginia and in the Eastern Panhandle at Jefferson as well.

 

“It’s a lot of fun because we’re all hanging out at the hotels and after the games,” Avolio said. “Then we come out on the field and all connect so much better.”

 

It’s likely that, if Bridgeport does win the Class AAA crown, the senior group will throw all or most of the innings, especially Butcher and Sondericker.

 

“Owen and I knew going into the season it was going to be us leading the charge on the mound. He’s nothing short of spectacular, that guy. He’s amazing. He’s batting .460 in the 3-hole and then he goes on the mound and throws a 1-hitter against Morgantown,” Butcher said. “To compete with him for the No. 1 spot, to see who’s the best pitcher, it’s awesome. He’s a great person, not just on the baseball field, but he’s amazing to talk to and to be around, a really smart kid.”

 

They’ve got one of the best shortstops in the state and a capable pitcher in his own right behind them in Baun.

 

“Kasen, he’s going Division I (to Ohio University). He’s probably the most competitive kid on the team. It’s him or me on the competitive side. We’ve always competed against each other in live intrasquad,” Butcher said.

 

“Those two are stud arms, some of the best arms in the state if not the two best,” Baun said. “It’s awesome playing defense behind them. It makes my job a little easier.”

 

Avolio’s versatility is prized, a strong bat and a reliable arm.

 

“Guy Avolio getting hurt in the first game really hurt us, but he came back and hit a grand slam on this field against Wheeling Park. I think he’s batting above .500 right now. He’s helped us so much in the 5-hole, getting RBIs all the time.

 

After earning over 100 wins for the program, all four will play college baseball next year.

 

“I’m proud of every single one of us to get to that level because that was the dream from the beginning,” Butcher said.

 

“I believe these four seniors are going to lead us to a championship, for sure,” Butcher said. “It’s going to hurt to leave this group, even with the state championship, because I love every single one of these kids.”

 

If they lift the championship trophy in two weekends’ time, it’ll be ‘Together’.

 

Editor's Note: Photos by Joe LaRocca of Owen Sondericker (12), Guy Avolio (3), Kasen Baun (2) and Blake Butcher (19) together and with their families.