GALION — Head coach Phil Jackson is back for to lead Galion’s baseball team after a 2018 season that saw the Tigers finish 14-11 overall (4-9 in conference play), a sectional championship and a district semi-finals berth. Jackson will be completed b Brian Vredenburgh, Isaac Keinath and Josh Riggle. Mike O’Leary and Phil Harris will lead the junior varsity.

The Tigers will have to make up for the loss of Ethan Pigg, Mitch Dyer, Chase Castline and Aaron Barnhart to graduation and Wilson Frankhouse, Matthew McMullen and Kaleb Harsh who opted not to play this season.

However, six returning letterwinners return. They will be joined by some talented newcomers.

Gavin Pennington, Ryan Utz, Cameron Payne, Clay Karnes, Jacob Lear and Markis Lawson will be called upon to provide valuable senior leadership. Also back are Carter Keinath, Troy Manring and Spencer Keller. Jackson hopes to get contributions out of juniors Gage Dameron and John Abouhassan, sophomore Jackson Staton and freshmen Brody Symsick and Sam Albert.

“This year’s group will have multiple sophomores who benefited from quality playing time last season,” Jackson said. “When combined with the quality upperclassmen we should improve this year.”

“Every year our goal is to improve on the previous season and compete to win the league and a district championship. To do that, we need to solidify the catching position, play smart baseball and embrace the concept of team. The Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference is an extremely difficult There truly are no weak teams, so you must be ready to go every game. I expect our team to be right in the mix of things.”