Ryan Handly has been a pitcher ever since he was a little boy. Now, a senior on the Deer Creek School baseball team he is hoping to use all he has learned over the years to help lead his team to a successful season.
“I have always like pitching,” Handly said. “I have been doing it for so long now, and I understand the surroundings and the situation. I like knowing that I am in charge, but I still have to trust my teammates behinfd me.”
Due to all the rain this February, the Warriors have not been able to practice much heading into the season. On Wednesday, despite the cold and windy temperatures, Deer Creek was able to practice for just the third time this season.
Handly, along with Hayes Azlin, are the two senior pitchers who will lead Deer Creek this season. Juniors Parker Hunter and Noah Allegrezza are also expected to pitch big innings for the Warriors this season.
Warrior coach Benny McLendon has been coaching high school baseball for more than 30 years, and he said he believes his team has the players who have both the talent and the work ethic to do well.
“We want to win the district and go as far as we can in the playoffs,” said McLendon who helped lead Deer Creek to a state baseball championship in 2017.
While McLendon’s team has been unable to practice much due to the weather, the head coach said he realizes that every other team in the region is in the same predicament.
“It just means we are going to have to play our way into shape and try and get better everyday,” Coach McLendon said. “Baseball is game of repetition and we have not had all the reps yet.”
Other players expected to make key contributions to the Warriors this season include first baseman Hunter Sims, third baseman Judd Cooper and outfielder Brandon Hunter.
“We lost some good players from last year’s team, but I believe that if we stick together we can really have a good year,” Handly said.
