April 23, 2024
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St. Bede baseball preview: Inexperienced Bruins will be work in progress

By Kevin Chlum

St. Bede senior Dominic Bima is one of only a handful of players on the roster who have significant varsity experience despite the Bruins having 14 upperclassmen. (Scott Anderson)

The St. Bede baseball team has 14 upperclassmen on the roster this season.

However, that doesn’t mean the Bruins are experienced.

Of that group of 14, only three have seen significant time on the varsity as seniors Dominic Bima and Braden Damerell have played in 18 varsity games, while junior Luke Story has seen action in 17 varsity games.

Juniors Daniel Dugosh, Logan Humpage, Tyreke Fortney and Colin Nave have also seen varsity action.

The Bruins also have 19 freshmen and sophomores on the roster.

“Many of these young players will get an opportunity this year to see varsity action, especially early in the season,” St. Bede coach Bill Booker said. “Basically, all of our roster is newcomers this season.

“We have good numbers and are attempting to improve daily. Our work ethic and attitude has been a plus to this point. Competition for positions will keep us sharp.”

Booker said the Bruins will look to progress offensively throughout the season.

“Many players are working at being competitive at the plate this year and we hope to see that improvement as the year goes on,” Booker said.

Like the offense, the pitching staff and defense will be a work in progress for St. Bede this spring.

“Our season will begin with a Johnny Wholestaff mentality and continue developing for the postseason,” Booker said. “No pitcher on our roster has quality varsity experience. “We work daily on our fundamentals of defense. To be successful, we will have to get quality pitching and then when it is hit, we will have to field it.”

After missing last baseball season due to COVID-19, Booker said his players are enjoying the process of getting ready to play again.

“The student-athletes are enjoying themselves as we prepare for this season,” Booker said. “I am happy they have this opportunity. Many students here have played three or four sports in the last three months.”

While the Bruins are inexperienced, they hope to build toward the postseason.

In 2019, St. Bede advanced to the Class 2A Kewanee Wethersfield Regional championship.

The Bruins have claimed two regional championships in five seasons under Booker.

“No regionals have ever been won in April,” Booker said. “We will put our daily work into improving and being competitive at the end of the season. We will be inexperienced at the beginning of the season and prepare as the season progresses.”