South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Young Mehlville team seeks success in ’09

After struggling to a 6-16 mark last season, members of the Mehlville Senior High School baseball team are ready for a “youth movement” to lead the Panthers to success in 2009.

“We’ll be very young,” Mehlville head coach Bob Kern said. “We have days when our pitchers look great and then other days where we’re hitting the ball really good.

“I really love the work ethic of the group this year. I think that we’ve got a lot of talent in this group of players. We’re just young,” he added.

Senior Casey Savage is one of Mehlville’s top returning players after batting .280 last season with two RBI. Savage could see time at left field and as a designated hitter as well as a relief pitcher.

“Casey has the ability to be a productive hitter,” Kern said. “He’s an extremely strong kid and when he puts it all together, he’s a productive player.”

Another senior who could factor into the starting lineup is first baseman/designated hitter Todd Smick.

“Todd’s a good, smart baseball player who has a good approach at the plate,” Kern said. “He had an outstanding on-base percentage of .409 last year.”

Before the season has even started, the Panthers already have been hit by the injury bug as outfielder Kyle Gregg is out for the season with a dislocated shoulder that happened during the football season.

Senior pitcher Josh Hawkins may see action on the mound this season after rehabbing his elbow, but his return date is completely up in the air.

“When Kyle had his second MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) early in the year, his shoulder just wasn’t healing like it should have,” Kern said.

“Josh is also rehabbing an elbow injury and I don’t know exactly when he’ll be back,” Kern added.

The Panthers are set to play host to McCluer at 4 p.m. Friday in the first round of the McCluer Tournament.

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