06-16-2009, 11:40 PM
Five Conner seniors had their high school baseball careers end when the Cougars lost its regional semifinal, 7-5, against Beechwood, May 26.
Four out of those five seniors, Will Shuttleworth, Tyler Brake, Chris Vargo and Thomas Noll, will probably continue playing baseball in college.
Shuttleworth, who missed most of the year due to injury, has signed on to play at Navy. Brake, who is also a standout on the football team, is mulling offers from Union College, University of Cumberlands and Campbellsville University. Vargo is leaning on going to Brescia University and Noll is headed to University of Cumberlands.
Brake had a .488 batting average (42-of-86) this past season with 17 doubles and 35 runs batted in.
"It is going to be hard to replace our seniors, especially Tyler Brake, his offensive numbers were outrageous," Conner head coach Brad Arlinghaus said. "Chris Vargo's defense at third base is also going to be tough to replace, but we do have a lot of talent in that junior class that is coming up."
That talented junior class features outfielder/pitcher Nick West, pitcher Jody Hubbard, pitcher Brennan Russell, catcher Austin Pugh and infielder Michael Gill.
Due to Shuttleworth's injury, West, Hubbard and Russell received more opportunities to pitch. West, who is known for his skills as a quarterback in the fall, pitched for the first time this season after playing the outfield in 2008.
"You could throw out a volleyball and he (West) would be the best volleyball player. If he wanted to play, he could be Conner's best basketball player. He is just one of those athletes," Arlinghaus said.
West finished the year with 22 strikeouts in 31 innings and had a 2.26 earned run average. Russell, who transferred from Ryle, had three saves, 25 strikeouts in 30 innings and a 2.10 ERA.
Leading the offense next season will be catcher Austin Pugh, who is also the school's starting running back. Pugh hit .485 (44-of-91), had 11 doubles, four home runs and 34 runs batted this past season.
Other returning starters include sophomores Jordan Liechty and John Roberts.
So despite losing four college bound seniors, the Cougars should be just fine in 2010.
"It was a special year, it didn't end the way we wanted it too, but hopefully we set the foundation down for the future," Arlinghaus said.
Four out of those five seniors, Will Shuttleworth, Tyler Brake, Chris Vargo and Thomas Noll, will probably continue playing baseball in college.
Shuttleworth, who missed most of the year due to injury, has signed on to play at Navy. Brake, who is also a standout on the football team, is mulling offers from Union College, University of Cumberlands and Campbellsville University. Vargo is leaning on going to Brescia University and Noll is headed to University of Cumberlands.
Brake had a .488 batting average (42-of-86) this past season with 17 doubles and 35 runs batted in.
"It is going to be hard to replace our seniors, especially Tyler Brake, his offensive numbers were outrageous," Conner head coach Brad Arlinghaus said. "Chris Vargo's defense at third base is also going to be tough to replace, but we do have a lot of talent in that junior class that is coming up."
That talented junior class features outfielder/pitcher Nick West, pitcher Jody Hubbard, pitcher Brennan Russell, catcher Austin Pugh and infielder Michael Gill.
Due to Shuttleworth's injury, West, Hubbard and Russell received more opportunities to pitch. West, who is known for his skills as a quarterback in the fall, pitched for the first time this season after playing the outfield in 2008.
"You could throw out a volleyball and he (West) would be the best volleyball player. If he wanted to play, he could be Conner's best basketball player. He is just one of those athletes," Arlinghaus said.
West finished the year with 22 strikeouts in 31 innings and had a 2.26 earned run average. Russell, who transferred from Ryle, had three saves, 25 strikeouts in 30 innings and a 2.10 ERA.
Leading the offense next season will be catcher Austin Pugh, who is also the school's starting running back. Pugh hit .485 (44-of-91), had 11 doubles, four home runs and 34 runs batted this past season.
Other returning starters include sophomores Jordan Liechty and John Roberts.
So despite losing four college bound seniors, the Cougars should be just fine in 2010.
"It was a special year, it didn't end the way we wanted it too, but hopefully we set the foundation down for the future," Arlinghaus said.