Young squad, new coach take on 2025 season
BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com
A new skipper and slew of new starters have given the Wheaton baseball team a program refresh in 2025.
Nathan Jones, in his first year as Bulldogs head coach and bringing in eight years of experience, said the squad is implementing a new mentality, having not produced a double-digit wins season since winning a district title in 2011.
“My whole goal since starting at Wheaton was to bring a new mindset of what effort looks like — how we practice, how we play and how we handle ourselves on and off the field,” Jones said. “We are going to make an effort to ‘look’ like a respectable baseball team and give ourselves opportunities to be competitive and a chance to win more games than what has been expected of Wheaton Baseball in the past.”
With six starters gone, three returners aim to lead the Bulldogs to greener pastures, including junior Riley Roller and sophomores Brody Bateman and Logan Brattin.
“Riley is a returning All-Conference player that will see time in a variety of roles on the infield, as well as on the mound,” Jones said. “We expect him to take a more expanded role as a leader on this team, as he is one of our only returning starters and upperclassmen. Riley is a kid that is always doing the right thing and makes others around him better. Brody is another All-Conference player and returning starter that will have high expectations offensively and defensively on our team. He hit .441 this fall with a .568 on-base percentage and hit safely in every game we played. Brody has the ability to be any player he wants to be but will be expected to give more as leader on and off the field this year as he moves more into his sophomore year.
“Logan saw a ton of time on the mound last fall as our most consistent arm and threw games I felt we needed to win because of the consistency he brought to the position. I expect his bat to also be a big factor in how our season plays out.”
Four seniors hope to make a bigger impact this season in Hunter Wyatt, Triston Benedict, Cam Cartwright and Blake Fields.
“Hunter came out for baseball this year, and I’m so glad he did,” Jones said. “He might be one of the best people I have ever met, and his attitude and effort on the field never has to be questioned. He played almost every position for me this fall without hesitation and led off for our team most of the time, having an on-base percentage of .400. He has great speed and is only continuing to get better as his knowledge about the game gets better. Triston is another high-character player and senior that decided to play this fall and found himself fighting for varsity time toward the end. He will have opportunities to help our team at the plate this spring.
“Cam is a lot like, Triston trying to find himself in the lineup and showing flashes of it at times at the plate and in the outfield. He is another great example of character and attitude, always being great and never in question. Blake decided to play this fall for us, and I’m grateful he did. He might be one of the best natural outfield players I have ever seen. He also contributed at the plate, hitting .281.”
Evan Pyle is the only other junior on the team, and Jones said his decision to play in the fall has been a boost to the team.
“Evan can be used at a variety of positions on the field and will see some time on the mound, as well as behind the plate,” Jones said. “Evan never misses an opportunity to keep the mood of the team on the ‘lighter’ side.”
Sophomores on the squad include Bodie Lauderdale, Mitchell Shockley, Jayson Peterson, Senji Chang and Carson Woolaway.
“Bodie has a true love for the game of baseball and goes above and beyond most people’s efforts to try and make himself a better player,” Jones said. “He has put in a lot of hard work this offseason to get better on the mound and to build off his fall average of .364 while tied for the team lead in hits and extra base hits. Mitch was one of our go-to arms this fall and was asked to pitch in some tough games with having zero varsity experience, and he usually put us in positions to compete. I’m expecting a ton of great things out of him this spring on the mound.
“Jayson is a fast and smart base runner that had some great clutch moments in some games with his ability to do the small ball things to help our team win. He will have an opportunity to play outfield for our team and help at the plate in certain situations. Senji came on strong at the end of the fall at the plate and will continue to try and fight for a varsity position this spring for us. Carson is another high character kid that does everything I ask him to do all the time. His improvement from the beginning of fall to now has definitely been noticed and will be fighting for a chance to get in the varsity lineup.”
Rounding out the roster is a lone freshman, Casen Bolton.
“Casen was our only freshman that got thrown into a varsity lineup right off the bat,” Jones said. “He played a very good first base for us and was one of our most consistent bats in the lineup. A lot will be asked of him as a freshman, but his knowledge and passion for the game are some of the best I have ever been around as a coach.”
The Bulldogs are searching for win No. 1 this season, starting 0-31 after falling to Galena, 14-4, New Heights, 10-5, and Exeter, 5-1. The tie came against Blue Eye, 7-7.
Wheaton played at McAuley Catholic on Monday and travels to Greenfield on Thursday and Central (Springfield) on Friday.
