AVON — Now in his 22nd year as a high school baseball coach Riverside High School’s Boo Ellis has won 389 games. He will likely reach the rare milestone of 400 wins sometime this spring.
Through the years, Coach Ellis has always kept his enthusiasm for teaching the game of baseabll. This season is no exception.
Coach Ellis sees potential in each one of his players. The Bulldogs are returning eight starters from last year’s team and the roster is filled with both experienced leaders and promising newcomers. The seniors on this team are Brandon Dinning, Abraham Ramirez, Alex Chamblee, Lucas Sims and Kyren Bovan.
Lucas Sims is the Riverside’s number one pitcher and has the most experience on the mound, and Coach Ellis has used the early part of the season to give a number of his players pitching experience. Sophomore Braxton Toten, for example, has come in and dominated two games as a relief pitcher. Then there is junior Alex Musgrove who has already come in and gotten the Riverside out of a couple of ‘sticky situations’. Senior leader Abraham Ramirez, also a center fielder, has also pitched well and picked up a win, with freshman Cameron Massey pitching some solid innings as well.
This year’s Bulldogs have started the season 3-3, unlike last season when the team won its first 18 games; however, Coach Ellis says comparing the start from last season to this season doesn’t necessarily reflect the difference in the potential of the two seasons.
“We have played tougher competition this season which has been a challenge but as a coach is something you want to see. The great thing is we have really started playing well over the last few games. Our pitching has really improved. We walked 28 batters in our first three games, but the last two games it has reversed. We have struck out 27 and only walked six.
“We have a good mixture of experienced guys and young guys. We are trying to build up strength on the mound and build up some innings. Everybody is on a pitch count.”
Another strong returning player this season is sophomore catcher Cody Polson, who has been a key Bulldog contributor since the seventh grade. “As long as I am here, he is going to behind the plate. He has the potential to be one of those players who can play at the next level in a couple years.”
Sophomore infielder Tyler Williams helps anchor a strong Riverside defense.
Seventh grader Zhaden Hutton and eighth grader Easton Reel are two of the best youngsters on the team, helping to add to the depth of the Bulldogs.
“Right now we are taking it one game at a time, but the goal is to eventually win our district so we can host a first round game in the state playoffs,” said the Riverside coach.
