Bonanza baseball team focuses on every pitch

Bonanza High School had high expectations entering its baseball season, but the Bengals have tempered them a bit after a slow start.

"We set a couple of goals, but right now we just want to win each pitch and win each inning," coach Rick Barry said. "We wanted to win 20 (games) and we wanted to go to state and, ultimately, we still want to go to state. But you have to win each pitch to get to state. You have to accomplish smaller goals to get to the bigger ones."

Bonanza, which started the season with a 3-4 mark, returns six starters from last year's team, which went 17-12 and placed third in the Southwest Division with a 4-4 record.

Chris Huseman returns to anchor the pitching staff. The 6-foot, 1-inch senior, who was named second team all-Sunset Region last year and went 7-4 with a 3.12 ERA, opened this season with an impressive 11-strikeout victory over Cheyenne.

"I think he's right up there with the top pitchers (in town)," Barry said. "He's got some good stuff."

Huseman, who has signed to play for the Community College of Southern Nevada next year, is one of three captains on the Bengals, along with senior outfielder Austin Hales and senior catcher Greg Garrison.

"He's pretty verbal with our ballclub and he takes care of business on the mound," Barry said. "(The captains are) all verbal and they all lead by example."

Hales, a three-year letterman who hit .368 with 21 RBIs last year, is being recruited by Lassen College in California.

"He's kind of a lead by example guy," Barry said. "He steps up in tough situations and shows the guys how to do it."

Garrison has been Bonanza's hottest hitter early on, batting .562 through the first few games, but, overall, the Bengals have struggled at the plate.

"I think (hitting is) the biggest concern," Barry said. "(We do well) when we're hitting gaps, when we're not trying to pull off the ball and hit it out of the ballpark. If we keep doing that, we should be able to put some runs up."

Pitching and defense have been Bonanza's strengths early in the season. Along with Huseman, junior returnee Kameron Francom and senior Kyle Tabeek have notched wins on the mound. Francom tore ligaments in his ankle during a win over Chaparral, Barry said, but was expected to make a quick recovery.

Senior Eric Dahlberg returns to start at second base for the Bengals while junior Andrew Smith returns to start at shortstop.

Billy Osgood, a junior, has played well in right field and went 3-for-3 with three triples in a win over Desert Pines. Jake Sanders, a senior, should see action as a designated hitter and utility player while junior left-hander Garrett Dixon will compete for time on the mound.

Barry said it should be a wide-open race to the state tournament.

"It looks like it's an up for grabs year," he said. "It will be fun to watch to see how it pans out and to see who will take care of the little things and who's going to be consistent.

"Durango looks good and Gorman looks good. Palo Verde is going to be a surprise team to watch."