JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman baseball's position previews roll along with the second of a three-part series taking a closer look at the unit prior to the 2020 season with a glimpse with the infield with senior first baseman Malik Kyle.
Of the eight players that started a game in the infield in 2019, five return to the roster for the 2020 campaign. Among the shoes to fill around the diamond, the most important on the infield is John Sharpe, a 2019 honorable mention All-SAC pick. Sharpe finished the season with a .338 batting average, six homers and 43 RBIs starting 38 games at second base.
First base is the deepest individual spot on the roster with Kyle starting 31 of the team's games there a season ago. Kilian Daughtry (Simpsonville, S.C.), Mark Treadway (Friendsville, Tenn.) and Mike Wroth (Chicopee, Mass.) should all see time on the bag. All four options will get opportunities to slot in as the designated hitter.
Kyle finished second on the club in walks (23) posting a .417 on-base percentage with four homers and 21 RBIs in his first season playing for the Eagles a year ago. The Jefferson City, Tenn. native racked up nine multi-hit efforts and five multi-RBI efforts tallying a 3-for-4 game with four RBIs and three runs scored against Northwood on Feb. 16 needing a single notch the cycle.
"Coach Griff has been a blessing on and off the field," Kyle said. "Even when I was at Walters State he remained in contact with me. Being able to play this last year for him is a big blessing and I can't wait to experience everything with him.
"I have been trying to cut down on strikeouts, being able to compete with two strikes, fight to get on base, be a hard out and keep everything simple with my swing and having a little bit of rhythm."
Wroth, a preseason second-team All-SAC selection, led the team and ranked 10th in the SAC with 45 RBIs while drawing a team-high 31 walks. His six long balls were good for fourth on the team as two went for grand slams. Wroth had six multi-hit games and nine multi-RBI efforts.
Daughtry earned a bigger role with the club in year two earning 20 starts and playing in 32 games. He finished the season with a .266 average and .348 OBP hitting three homers and driving in 22 while registering five multi-hit and five multi-RBI efforts on the year.
Treadway can also play the outfield and found his rhythm in the final two months of the year in 2019. After starting the year 2-for-12 in February, Treadway hit .359 over the final two months of the year producing four multi-hit games with two multi-RBI efforts.
"You have to fight for a position," Kyle said. "Everybody at first base can swing the bat. It all comes down to who is hot one day and who is hot the next. If you are swinging the bat you are most likely going to be in the lineup. All of us are mainly upperclassmen that can play the position."
Coach Tom Griffin and his coaching staff are looking for a second baseman with each starter graduated from last season. Two freshman, Emery Peterson (Etowah, Tenn.) and Bryce Hanley (Greenback, Tenn.), will compete for the position to start the year.
Switching exclusively to the right side of the plate, Genter saw his numbers rise as he was the only player to start every game in 2019 doing so at shortstop. After posting a .196 average in February, Genter hit .306 in his final 32 games of the season racking up nine multi-hit games and six multi-RBI outings. Genter ranked 10th in the country in sacrifice bunts with 12 while being the seventh-most difficult to strikeout in the SAC doing so one in every 10 at-bats.
MICAH GENTER. Back to back plays for the man, he makes it look easy ����♂️ @micah_genter33
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) March 22, 2019
Also, @malikkyle16 hope your hamstring is okay... nice stretch there.
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While Wroth started 19 games at third base in 2019, the Eagles will rely on a freshman, Zach Boze (Gallatin, Tenn.) to open the season.
"We have tried to encourage them," Kyle said. "We talk to them each and every pitch. We have a lot of freshman at second base this year and staying upbeat with them and making sure that their head is in the game and they know if a pick play is coming. Micah Genter runs the infield and he is going to be a big part of keeping Zach Boze [ready]."
Cade Burkey (Knoxville, Tenn.) earned five starts as a designated hitter during his rookie campaign. With Burkey, Jake Shamblin (Athens, Tenn.) and Aaron Oakley (Concord, N.C.) add utility depth.
The final part of the position previews focuses on the pitchers and catchers with Matt Bradley on Tuesday as the team looks to replace two all-conference hurlers.
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