The Fair Grove baseball, softball, and track season all officially start on March 3rd, and are in preseason to prepare for the upcoming season.
The Fair Grove Track team is operated by coaches Michael Zanzie and Lindsay Martin. They practice after school every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Zanzie stated, “Every year when you sit down and think of the season ahead, championships are always on your mind. We have been blessed to have had some great success throughout the last several years.”
Zanzie feels confident about the season, he added, “The boys are five time Mid-Lakes conference champs, the girls last year upset Clever to be champions in the mid-lakes and got 1st place in their district”. He continued, “These were huge accomplishments as Strafford boys and Clever’s girls had very strong teams. I don’t think conference, district and state plaques are out of the question.”
There are many returning athletes who are seniors. The seniors returning from the roster last year are: Jared Allen, Aiden Baxter, Ashton Bell, Brock Bruner, Kade Brunkherst, Canyon Crowley, Brooke Daniels, Shelby Haskins, Kellen Lair, Steven Lederich, Emma Padgett, Carter Roy, and Emaley Stallings, and Chase Taylor.
The Fair Grove Softball Team is coached by head coach Bill Voorhis and assistant coach Kelly Buffington. Buffington said, “The softball team will return this year with a lot of experience, and many players that played and contributed at the varsity level. After winning districts last year, I would expect them to come hungry for more and ready to jump in and compete.”
In preseason, the team is doing a variety of workouts to prepare. Buffington said, “Preseason workouts consist of two days a week of strength and agility, then a day dedicated to defensive work and a day dedicated to hitting.”
There are four seniors this season: Meadow Carter, Gracie Crandall, Brooke Daniels, and Gretta Morris. Buffington said, “All of them have been a part of the program for a long time so they bring a lot of experience to the table. They are a vibrant group that always brings the energy and never fails to make you smile but when it comes time they are competitors and will be exciting to watch this year.”
The Fair Grove Baseball Team is also preparing in preseason by doing workouts. Baseball Coach William Reed said, “Our preseason work has a couple of different phases. Tuesday through Thursday, guys do speed and conditioning workouts along with working through a throwing program.” Reed continued, “On Friday morning and Sunday afternoon, we do hitting and pitching work in the F.E.M.A. (Federal Emergency Management Authority) building.”
The team’s first game will be on March 21. Reed expressed, “I am excited for the season. We are coming off of a competitive season last year with only one senior. This team should be hungry to take the next step after losing in the District Championship game last season.”
The baseball team this year has eight seniors: Brock Boatwright, Atticus Brandes, Brock Bruner, Nolen Geitz, Kellan Kirkpatrick, Carson Krider, Seth Sekulic, and Spensar Seiger.
All three teams are preparing for the spring season that starts on March 3rd, 2025.
