Carson-Newman Baseball Infielders Position Preview
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Rolling along with the Carson-Newman baseball position previews prior to the 2021 season, this is the second of a three-part series looking at the Eagles as a group with Micah Genter.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Rolling along with the Carson-Newman baseball position previews prior to the 2021 season, this is the second of a three-part series looking at the Eagles as a group with Micah Genter.
"We have a lot of older guys and we look back at how the seniors from last year had the season taken from them without them getting a chance to end it for themselves," Genter said. "Being able to see that will help us make sure that we push ourselves because we never know when it's going to end."
Of the 100 starts between the four positions, the Eagles are looking to replace 40 of those games including a pair of common designated hitters in Mike Wroth and Malik Kyle. Add everyday second baseman Mark Treadway to the mix and you have 10 of the team's 25 RBIs and 47 of the club's 161 RBIs to replace entering the season.
Kilian Daughtry (Simpsonville, S.C.) is the lone player on the roster with extended experience at first base getting 35 at-bats during a Covid-shortened campaign in 2020. Cade Burkey (Knoxville, Tenn.) did not play last year but did get five starts as a freshman two years ago at DH.
Bryce Hanley (Greenback, Tenn.) made 11 starts last season, nine at shortstop filling in for Genter collecting seven hits and a pair of stolen bases during his first collegiate season.
⚡ Flashing the Leather ⚡@micah_genter33 @_treadway14_ pic.twitter.com/4oRUUg3rJl
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) February 16, 2020
While the right side of the infield could see a revolving door, the left side appears to be a two-man show starting with Genter at shortstop. The senior has started 109 games in his career and was on pace for a career year before an injury derailed his 2020 campaign after 16 games. The slick fielder hit his first-career homer and has a .268 batting average and an on-base percentage climbing towards .400 in his last two seasons. One of the toughest hitters to fan, Genter has struck out 27 times in 325 career at-bats.
"I've been mainly focusing on strengthening my back and making sure something like that doesn't happen again," Genter said. "It's come a long way. Switching to right-handed [hitting] only has really helped focusing on just one swing. Being able to see more collegiate pitches has helped me progress."
Moving to the hot corner, Zach Boze (Gallatin, Tenn.) was one of two players on the roster to start all 25 games during his rookie year. He finished fourth on the team with a .283 batting average hitting a pair of homers driving in 18 runs and stealing five bags. Among several big days, Boze blasted two homers and drove in six in a 9-2 win at Lenoir-Rhyne on Feb. 23 going 3-for-4 with six RBIs. He opened his career by reaching base in each of his first 21 games.
In a group of others that will look for consistent playing time, Andrew Carpenter (Morristown, Tenn.) joins the fray from Cleveland State Community College after hitting a home run and swiping four bags over 19 games for the Cougars in 2020.
Jackson Harbin (Gastonia, N.C.), Jake Shamblin (Athens, Tenn.) and Emery Peterson (Etowah, Tenn.) also expect to get opportunities.
The third and final part of the position previews will be released on Friday, Jan. 22, with a look at the outfield with Jordan Griffin previewing a deep and talented group.
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