With nearly everyone returning from an 18-win season a year ago, expectations are high for the Durant Lions as they begin the 2025 baseball campaign this week.
Over the past two seasons, the Lions have picked up valuable experience for a team that took its share of lumps while learning under fire. This time around, Coach J.W. Parsons’ club that is filled with upperclassmen will be looking to dish out some lumps of its own.
“The last two years were young and lacking experience but should be a more mature unit this year and you can see the growth they have made,” Parsons stated. “We have to be a more mature team this year. We started off with a lot of close games last year that didn’t go our way but were able to win some of those as we got that additional experience. Hopefully, we can get some of those in the win column early this season. I’m excited to get this going.”
Pitching may be a bit of a question mark early, just based on depth with a few key injuries. Parsons is expecting to get those hurlers back however and will still begin the season with seven or eight pitchers that have varsity experience.
Juniors Cole Robbins and Holdan Robinson are expected to be at the top of the rotation along with senior leadership from Reid Thompson, Ryder Jones and Kolton Mason, who are all expected to play major roles.
Parsons is also high on Jackson Williams, who has also picked up some velocity since last season.
“We’ve been bitten by injuries to a couple of pitchers but think we will get them back pretty soon,” he said. “We like the group we have though. Most of them have looked really good in the pre- season so far.”
Outfield should definitely be a strength for the Lions with a veteran crew of athletic defensive players that can also track down most fly balls.
Jones returns in centerfield and will be the team’s leadoff hitter with Aiden Diviney back at the top of the order as well to serve as table setters. Jared Avalos also returns as the other corner outfielder.
Robinson and Robbins will be fixtures on the Durant infield when they aren’t on the mound and Eli McClure has two years of experience behind the plate with Maddox Arnold expected to be a capable backup.
Thompson should get the early nod at first base and Lucas McClure and Williams in the other infield positions depending on who is pitching. Colton Poore and Mason also have experience to provide plenty of options to the secondyear head coach.
“They aren’t making my job easy,” Parsons admitted. “We have 14 guys that I really believe in and the competition is stiff for playing time. These guys just need to stay hungry. We just need to control what we can control and not compound things when we make a mistake. As freshmen that was tough for them to wrap their heads around, but they have matured and are playing my style of baseball.
“I am looking forward to seeing what this group can do as we progress through district play. Our goal is to win 20 games and host a regional this year. I think we can achieve that if we can continue to progress.”
