Division IV Team Of The Week: Antwerp
May 22, 2019
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Division IV Team Of The Week: Antwerp
Could this be the year one .. or perhaps both happen?
The Ohio Prep Baseball Report Division IV Team of the Week has a shot at each.
“Goal number one is down, a sectional title,” seventh-year head coach Zac Feasby said. “That next big goal would mean a lot to the program. It would be huge for the school and the kids.”
The Archers are two wins away from a district crown and one from claiming first place in the league.
“It all started last year with a successful 11-10 year,” explained Feasby, an Antwerp graduate. “That helped a lot. It got the underclassmen more into it. Our expectations were very high coming in this year and I expected to compete for the conference.”
Perennial league power Tinora stands in the way, with Antwerp 6-0 and Tinora 5-0 in the GMC at this point in time. But first is district play with Edon tonight’s opponent.
“We have very baseball-minded guys compared with year’s past,” Feasby said. “They’re all in for baseball.”
Results have followed on the field for the 8th-rated team in the state in Division IV.
“They’ve stepped up and made plays when they were needed,” Feasby noted. “Everybody in our lineup from one through nine at some point has come up big.”
Freshman Luke Krouse (Video) is hitting a team-high .446 with 25 RBIs with senior Keaton Altimus right behind at .436. Sophomore Austin Lichty averages .397, sophomore Dylan Hines .365 and junior Jacob Savina .348. Krouse plays first base, outfield and pitcher while Altimus is at second, Lichty pitcher, third or short, Hines at first or third and Savina at shortstop
“One through nine all are contributing, there are no weak spots,” Feasby explained. “Everyone has stepped up with big hits. Blake Schuette bats eighth but is second on the team in RBIs (21) and our number nine guy Jason Geyer has had some big RBIs as well. The bottom part contributing is a big deal, that’s rare in high school baseball.”
Krouse, a left-hander ranked fifth in Ohio in the 2022 class, and Lichty headline the pitching staff. Krouse is 5-0 with one save and 44 strikeouts in 30.1 innings with a 0.69 ERA. Lichty, a right-hander who threw a perfect game in the sectional finals, is 3-0 with one save and a 0.00 ERA, fanning 35 in 25 innings.
“It’s been really fun to watch,” Feasby said. “These guys really want to win and they have a passion for the game. They love baseball.”
Savina adds depth on a staff that has six pitchers that have thrown 10 or more innings to date. The junior right-hander is 3-1 with a save, striking out 22 in 16.2 innings with a 2.94 ERA.
“Early on we had in our minds Jacob could be the number one, he was number two last year,” Feasby explained. “But we knew what Austin and Luke could bring so Jacob has taken on a new role of a closer-type guy.
“Austin and Luke are a close one and two. I’m confident whichever one we put on the mound will be able to do it. I’m impressed with how they’ve handled themselves.”
Feasby points to veteran leadership as a key to success.
“We have a good group of seniors that keep everything together,” Feasby noted. “Cole Seslar (center field and leadoff hitter) is a great leader. His leadership is very important to us. Keaton is another important part of the lineup. He’s a leader-by-example guy.”
Playing as a unit has been another key for the Archers, which also get help from DH Brett Fulk and catcher Chase Clark.
“Early in the season we had different groups of guys that were close to one another, but as the season has gone on guys are trusting one another,” Feasby said. “Every kid generally cares about everyone on the team.”
The hope is a district title and league title are part of the future.
“Our pitching needs to continue doing what its been doing and make the pitches we want to throw,” Feasby concluded. “Offensively we need to continue having good quality at-bats with everyone stepping up to give us big hits.”