The Batesville Bats earned a runner-up finish in the Cincy West 16u Fall Baseball League and tournament. The squad only lost twice to a solid Ohio Heat team 3-2 in league play and 5-3 in the tournament championship. Keegan Walke hit a deep shot to the right field in which the right fielder made an incredible catch with the tying run on first base with two outs to close out the season.
For the campaign, Joey Everroad led the team in hitting with a.462 batting average. T.J. Tibbetts hit .421, while Cayden Drake, Austin Hodge, and Walke each hit .417. Everroad led the team in slugging percentage at an impressive .923. J.P Roseli led the team in stolen bases with 9.
Defensively the squad was led by Roseli, Hodge, Matthew Shircliff, and Noah Weigel who each were a perfect 1.000.
Pitching was the team’s strength with Clay Eckstein leading the way at (2-1) 0.60 ERA striking out 13 and walking 10 in 11 2/3 innings pitched. Drake was (3-0) with a 0.66 ERA striking out 12 and walking 10 in 10 2/3 innings. Roseli had a 1.40 ERA striking out 9 and walking 5 in 5 innings on the hill.
The squad will begin a competitive college showcase schedule next June after high school baseball concludes.
Pictured front row left to right: T.J. Tibbetts (Lawrenceburg 25′), Cade Simonson (Batesville 26′), Chris Lewis (Batesville 24′), Noah Weigel (Batesville 26′), R.J. Foster (Hauser 26′), Austin Hodge (South Ripley 26′), Keegan Walke (Batesville 25′) Back Row: Coach Paul Drake, Cayden Drake (Batesville 26′), Clay Eckstein (Oldenburg 26′), Matthew Shircliff (Triton Central 24′), Joey Everroad (Greensburg 25′), J.P. Roseli (Roncalli 25′), Coach Chuck Weigel