Madison baseball looking to develop pitching depth as season rolls along
MADISON TOWNSHIP — The Madison Rams will carry five capable pitchers on staff in 2023.
But only two of them have any varsity experience.
So, they will spend the early part of the season focused on developing those young, inexperienced arms into ones that can handle pressure situations as they look to close the back half of the schedule with some impressive wins. And who knows, maybe they can put themselves right in the hunt for an Ohio Cardinal Conference championship in the process.
"Our biggest x-factor going into the season is the depth of our pitching staff," Second-year coach Nick Melton said. "We will be breaking in several new arms that are also young arms. If those guys can eat innings and have command of their pitches in pressure situations, we will be in a good position to win more games."
The Rams went 6-19 last season and 2-10 in the OCC. They bring back six lettermen and six starters with just two players lost to graduation so they have the experience at nearly every other position to put together an interesting year.
Sophomore Cameron Kuhn is back behind the plate for the Rams after earning honorable mention All-Ohio Cardinal Conference and section team All-District 9 honors as a freshman. Senior Rian Lunsford will start at first base with senior Zach Glasgo at second. Glasgo earned honorable mention All-District 9 honors as a junior.
Junior Ethan Glasgo will take over at third base after earning honorable mention All-District 9 when he hit .341 last season as a sophomore. Senior Gavin Cates will start at shortstop after being named second team All-District 9 and honorable mention All-OCC as a junior.
Senior David Yockey will start in center field with the corner outfield spots still open for whoever wants to take them. Juniors Shaun Cains and Damien Stapleton, sophomore EJ Fox and freshmen Bryce Braden and Liam Stone will all see significant time in the lineup.
Cates will be the Day 1 starter on the mound after starting nine games a year ago with three wins and a 2.80 earned run average. Ethan Glasgo will be the No. 2 after starting four games winning one last season. Fox, Braden and Stone are all listed as relief pitchers on the depth chart.
"Gavin Cates is back and this will be his second year as a conference pitcher for us," Melton said. "He started nine games and threw 40 innings. He looks to step in as our No. 1 and fill the void left by Seth Ohl. Cameron Kuhn is another year older and looks to improve as a hitter the year after a solid freshman campaign behind the place where he caught all but two innings.
"Zach Glasgo is a utility guy who finished the season on a seven-game hitting streak last year. Ethan also looks to lock down the hot corner and improve upon his team-best .341 batting average from a year ago."
The Rams will try to improve on their two OCC wins from last season as they take steps to getting back into championship contention.
"The OCC is loaded with top-tier talent and multiple Division I commits," Melton said. "As our goals align this year, we look to be competitive, stay in games and have a chance to win in the end. There are no easy nights in our league."
As the Rams continue to build for a sustainable future, they will not measure their success on wins and losses this year, but rather if they complete their season goals.
"Our goals are to be competitive day in and day out," Melton said. "We look to improve upon our conference and overall record. In order to achieve our goals, we must remain consistent in our competitive focus which has been a focal point thus far."
The Rams open the season at home against Amhurst Steele on March 25.
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Madison Rams hope to compete for Ohio Cardinal Conference baseball title
