After losing the first round of the County tournament last year, this team is hot and ready for revenge.

After last year’s 11-1 loss to the Franklin Community Grizzly Cubs, the only thing on this team’s mind is getting their revenge. The Woodmen will go into this year’s county tournament with a loaded roster after losing key seniors, like centerfielder Ethan King, left fielder Nicholas Pruett, second baseman Mavrick Pauley, and catcher Sam Thompson. New additions like sophomore Parker Cook, junior Ian Grismore, junior Parker Jarboe are excited and ready to step into their new roles and make huge additions to this team.

“Stepping up into the second base position is going to be difficult, but I feel like I am ready for the job. I know how much winning this tournament would mean to all my teammates and coaches so I feel as if I owe it to all of them, especially the seniors on this team whose last chance at winning this thing,” Ian Grismore, second baseman, said.

Knowing that this could be the last year to do something like this, athletes have to soak in every moment and put their all into winning it. This group of seniors is hungry to win this county tournament. 

“With this being my last year, I really have to put my all into winning it this year. I feel like we have a really good roster and coaching staff to win it this year. This past off-season we have been working hard in the weight room, cages, and on the field,” senior Jayden Pierce, center fielder, said.

Greenwood drew Edinburgh for the first round of the tournament. Edinburgh went 7-16 last year, but the Woodmen cannot overlook them. In baseball, any team can beat anyone at any point. With Edinburgh losing their leader in batting average, on base percentage, home runs, and hits, this gives the Woodmen a massive advantage.

“Both of us lost key seniors, but with me and other of us stepping up, I like our odds a lot more than theirs. With winter workouts wrapping up and tryouts coming up, I am confident with who I think is going to make the team. I think we have a good chance to have a much better record than we did last year,” senior Carter Williams, first baseman, said.

Going into this first round of the tournament, the Woodmen will most likely throw new Division II commit Blayne Reitmeyer. Reitmeyer recently committed to Glen Oaks Community College located in Centreville, Michigan. Reitmeyer posted a 3.32 ERA last season while also striking out 40 batters over 52.2 innings pitched.

“Coming off my pretty good season last year I am hoping to lower my ERA below 3 and strike out over 50 batters. This off-season I have watched a lot of film on this Edinburgh team and seen which pitches their batters struggle with. I am confident that I can win us this first game of the tournament,” senior Blayne Reitmeyer, pitcher, said.

Game 1 of the county tournament is tomorrow.