SPRING SPORTS 2009: Baseball Indians Talented, Experienced
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Despite the return of 13 key letter winners-and a pitching staff perhaps 12 arms deep-Du Quoin High School Baseball coach Tim Craft is taking a wait-and-see attitude about the impending season.
The Indians, 17-11 last spring, open 2009 with Saturday's 11 a.m. twinbill at Herrin.
"We have a lot of experience returning," the second year coach said. "Several of these kids will be three-year varsity starters. And we are also very fortunate to have a group of sophomores that are ready to contribute."
The Indians, ranked as high as eighth in one pre-season internet Class 2A poll, will build around Kaskaskia College signees Josh Cushman and Cale Bastien.
A pitcher/shortstop, Bastien (4-2, 1.51 ERA) hit .389 as a junior. Cushman-a hardy throwing lefthander and owner of Du Quoin's single game strikeout record (21)-was 6-3 with a 1.98 ERA. At the plate, he hit .446 with nine home runs. He'll see time in the outfield and perhaps first base when not pitching.
Joining Cushman and Bastien in a strong senior class are returning starters Seth Flint (1B-OF-P), Garrett Hopkins (2B-P), Ethan Beasley (OF), Nick Baskin (OF) and Collin Jones (C-P). Luke Montgomery (1B) is the eighth senior.
Matt Gossett (3B-P), Kyle Kelley (P-1B), Jacob Craig (P-C) and Logan Carson (OF-P) are joined in the junior class by transfer Tyler Shelton (C).
Sophomores J.C. Davis (SS-P), Trent Bigham (OF-P) and Brandon George (3B-P) are also competing for varsity time.
Cushman, Bastien and Hopkins will be the three primary starting hurlers with Flint, Jones, Bigham and George expecting to see plenty of innings.
"We would like to make a run at the conference title and winning the regional this year," Craft said. "Our conference is always tough and I do not expect that to change this year. We also have a very good non-conference schedule that will help us improve once we get to post season."
The Indians face Class 1A powers Goreville, Farina South Central and Marissa-Coulterville while also playing 2A foes Eldorado, Herrin, Harrisburg, Vienna, Murphysboro and Benton.
A first-ever appearance in the big school-dominated Centralia Tournament and games against 3A's Freeburg and Mt. Vernon complete the gauntlet.
2009 Du Quoin Indians Baseball Schedule
March 21-@ Herrin (2), 11:00
March 23-Goreville, 4:00
March 28-Farina South Central Tourney, 10 a.m.
April 1-@ West Frankfort, 4:30
April 3-@ Mt. Vernon, 4:30
April 6-@ Chester, 4:30
April 7-Pinckneyville, 4:30
April 8-@ Freeburg, 4:30
April 9-@ Nashville, 4:30
April 11-@ Eldorado (2), 11:00
April 13-Anna-Jonesboro, 4:30
April 14-@ Sparta, 4:30
April 15-@ ZRC, 4:30
April 17-Chester, 4:30
April 18-@ Harrisburg (2), 11:00
April 20-@ Pinckneyville, 4:30
April 21-Nashville, 4:30
April 22-Steeleville, 4:30
April 24-@ Anna-Jonesboro, 4:30
April 25-West Frankfort Tourney, TBA
April 27-Sparta, 4:30
April 28-SIRR Make-up
April 29-Benton, 4:30
April 30-Waltonville/Sesser-Valier, 4:30
May 1-SIRR Make-up
May 1-2-Centralia Tourney, TBA
May 6-ZRC, 4:30
May 8-Marissa-Coulterville, 4:30
May 9-Du Quoin Tourney, TBA
May 11-@ Murphysboro, 4:30
May 14-@ Vienna, 4:30
May 18-Class 2A Regionals, TBA