Bluejay hardballers hoping to reverse their fortunes

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Perry first baseman Brandon Kenyon reaches to pull in a throw and retire DC-G's Kade Rosa in their postseason meeting last summer.

The 2016 baseball season for Perry can be summed up in three words, veteran head coach Mike Long said.

“The big inning.”

Unfortunately for the Bluejays, who finished 11-19 overall and 5-9 in the Raccoon River Conference, Long was referring to Big Innings allowed, but produced.

“We spent too much of last season playing games where, for five or six innings, we played good defense and were in control of the game, and then, suddenly, we would give five or six runs and end up losing,” Long said. “It is really that simple, which makes it frustrating — we just cannot allow extra outs and allow the other team to get back in games and steal wins from us.”

Kyle Nevitt was given the start for Perry in a postseason tilt at Dallas Center last July.

Nothing will matter if the pitching does not improve. Perry was touched for an uncharacteristically high ERA of 6.44 last year and allowed opponents to hit .252 while walking 131 batters and hitting 42. Disregarding 0-25 Carroll and 3-29 ADM, those numbers were lowest in the RRC.

Adding to the complexity of the situation on the mound are the new pitch count requirements, which are certain to have an impact statewide. The new limitations are the number of pitches that a hurler can throw has already impacted Perry’s schedule, as the team has dropped their own tournament and will not replace an annual trip to the also-cancelled Nodaway Valley tourney.

“It was already tough to find enough arms to get you through the season, and now I think you are going to see teams dropping weekend games as fast as they can,” said Long, who at 704-389 is fifth on the active coaching list for career wins. “I think we might be OK, maybe not, but the small schools are going to really feel this (new rule).”

DMACC-bound seniors Kyle Nevitt and Janier Puente will toe the rubber again this summer. Southpaw Nevitt (3-4, 4.73 ERA) had 50 strikeouts and 44 walks in 40 innings, with Puente (3-7, 7.55 ERA) fanning 33 and walking 25 while hitting 15 batters in 42.2 frames.

Perry’s Adan Medina drops down a successful suicide squeeze bunt against Carlisle last summer.

Alexis Garrido (2-2, 5.69 ERA) threw 39.1 innings and will be called upon again this season for workhorse duties. Austin Carpenter could see mound time, as could any number of others.

The defense will, of course, be a shifting kaleidoscope depending upon who is on the mound.

“The key is always going to be your shortstop and your catcher,” Long said. “You absolutely have to get solid defense from those spots or you are going to struggle.”

Gavin Boyer will returns behind the plate, with Garrido at shortstop, Aaron Lockwood at third base and Brandon Kenyon at first while Adan Medina returns as second base.

Puente and Nevitt will play right field and center field, respectively, though Puente may also see time at third base. Kaleb Olejniczak will play in various outfield spots, with the graduation of Kade Van Kirk leaving one spot in the outfield rotation open, Long being unsure who would seize the position.

Puente led the squad with a .461 average and .865 slugging percentage last season. He had 11 doubles and all seven of Perry’s home runs while driving in 38 runs — 20 more than the next player on the list.

Five others — Olejniczak (.395), Medina (.366), Kenyon (.329), Garrido (.321) and Nevitt (.310) — hit over .300 and will be asked to, at the least, repeat those numbers.

Perry visits Roland-Story tonight before hosting North Polk Tuesday and Norwalk Wednesday to start the season.

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