Hope abounds as Cardinals begin 2011 baseball season

The Bloomfield Cardinals baseball team for 2011 includes seniors Eric Bartlow, Tyler Hansel, Payton Karl, Brandon Roudebush and Brandon Thornsbury. Junior Zaq Query, sophomores Travis McClure, John Reinhart and Spencer Warren and freshmen Jared Bond, Steven Bond, David Deem, William Long, Bart Query, Adam Qualkenbush and Kody Sylvester as well as student manager Jeremy Hall. (By Rick Curl/Greene County Daily World).

BLOOMIFIELD -- The Bloomfield Cardinals enter the 2011 baseball season looking to replace seven seniors.

But don't worry Cardinal fans, things are looking fine according to coach Mark Bartlow.

With a roster of 16 players, including five seniors, Bartlow feels the gaps can be filled and progress made.

"We did lose seven seniors last year," he said. "But we've got five good seniors this year that are showing good leadership."

With a roster almost half filled with freshmen, seven of the 16 are newcomers, Bartlow admits there's one key to success for his squad.

"I think our key since we have so many freshmen coming up, is consistency," he said. "Not only batting but also in the field."

There's also a common thread among the ranks early -- unknown. In most areas Barltow knows the unknown is to be expected considering the youth movement that's at hand.

"Pitching is unknown, we've got two or three that show promise," he said. "Catching, we have young catchers, hitting looks good, overall defense is unknown because we need to see them in a game situation."

Early practice has yielded confidence in his defense, but Bartlow admits it will take time to build a consistent product.

"I think it's just the youngness of the team," Bartlow said. "Having so many freshmen, I saw them play through Babe Ruth and Major and Minor League and they're all good ballplayers.

"But when you go to the high school level its a little different. So I'll be real excited when we play our first game against North Knox and get to see what we're made of."

One key intangible is cohesiveness. And right now Bartlow says he can see the foundation for a cohesive team is in the works.

"The past two practices were very good," he said. "The team is starting to come together and they have a good attitude, they have a great work ethic and I rarely have anybody late for practice or do I have anybody that doesn't stay late and keep working -- they all have good attitudes."

Bartlow believes for the Cardinals to have success this year it boils down to two things.

"I think the biggest keys to our success is going to be making sure we don't make any extra errors and being consistent," he said.

When you factor in the youth, the biggest of those two might be the ability to overcome any mistakes. And to learn from them.

"I don't know if they'll be to overcome them," Bartlow said. "One discussion we had yesterday was that players make errors.

"Then you shake it off and learn not to make the same mistake again."

And that's where Bartlow says he will focus his efforts early on.

"That's going to be our focus the first few games," he admits. "Keep their head in the game, then if they do make an error have them snap out of it and prevent future errors."

When they're at the plate, the Cardinals should be able to produce runs according to the coach.

He says there's a good mix of speed, contact and power lurking in the shadows. And if all of that comes together, Bartlow thinks the product on the field will one to be proud of.

"I think getting on base consistently and taking advantage of our power hitters will be key," he said. "So if we can score the runs when we get on base that's going to help a lot.

"We have a lot of good team speed. But the drawback is going to be the lack of experience at this level."

He sums it simply by saying that if it all comes together things will be positive.

"Hopefully they'll come together and play consistent and play better every game."

2011 Bloomfield Baseball Roster

Head coach: Mark Bartlow

Assistant coaches: Casey Rice, Ryan Montgomery, Drew Sanders.

Student manager: Jeremy Hall

BLOOMFIELD BASEBALL

DATE OPPONENT/SITE TIME

Mar. 30 North Knox 5 p.m.

Mar. 31 Northeast Dubois 5 p.m.

Apr. 25 at White River Valley (V-JV) 4:30 p.m.

Apr. 29 North Central (JV) 5 p.m.

May 19 at Jasper 7 p.m.