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Like many around the area, the Washington baseball team took advantage of the recent nice weather.
“We got a lot accomplished (last) week,” second-year WCHS head coach Kyle Wisher said. “We’re probably a little ahead of where we were last year.”
The Panthers soon will begin their quest for a fourth straight Mid-Illini Conference championship.
“We definitely want to keep it going this year,” said infielder/pitcher Marshall Escue.
Washington was 27-10 a year ago and shared the league title with East Peoria and Morton with an 11-3 record.
Included in the Panthers’ successful campaign was a run to the Class 3A Washington Sectional final after knocking off the Raiders and Potters for the Morton Regional crown.
Washington lost three outfielders, two infielders and a catcher to graduation.
Besides leading the pitching staff as a senior, Escue also will play both corner infield spots.
A likely third baseman at the University of Illinois-Springfield, Escue said he is getting pretty comfortable there after working as a first baseman the last two varsity seasons.
Escue, who was a second-team all-conference pitcher as a junior and first-team all-M-I first baseman as a sophomore, is coming off a season in which he hit .454 with a remarkable 46 RBI, .526 on-base average and 17 extra-base hits.
He also led the Panthers with an 8-1 record. Escue posted a 3.17 earned-run average in 57 1/3 innings.
Sophomore Isaac Fisher returns at shortstop after a .336 debut season that featured 21 RBI.
He was one of six Washington players who drove in at least 20 runs last spring.
Among the players vying for infield roles are: juniors Dominick Dalfonso, Sam Best and Mark Roth, sophomores Dakota Bullard and Jared Holloman and freshman Mason McCoy.
The Panthers lost second-team all-conference second baseman David Dalfonso and third baseman Josh Hofer.
Dalfonso hit .325 his senior year with a team-high four home runs and 22 RBI. Hofer batted .316 with 13 RBI.
Zach Little, a sophomore, takes over at catcher for Robert Hodges, who was a first-team all-conference backstop after hitting .339 with 25 RBI and 16 extra-base hits.
Senior Austin Nichols, Bullard and Roth also are catchers available in a pinch.
In the outfield, there is a large cast looking to fill starting positions.
Seniors Seth Teubel and Jacob Burd, juniors Ryan Grebner, Chance Cline, Kyle Donarski and Brett Ernst and Bullard all are in the mix.
In limited action, Burd and Teubel both hit better than .275 the previous year.
Like many around the area, the Washington baseball team took advantage of the recent nice weather.
“We got a lot accomplished (last) week,” second-year WCHS head coach Kyle Wisher said. “We’re probably a little ahead of where we were last year.”
The Panthers soon will begin their quest for a fourth straight Mid-Illini Conference championship.
“We definitely want to keep it going this year,” said infielder/pitcher Marshall Escue.
Washington was 27-10 a year ago and shared the league title with East Peoria and Morton with an 11-3 record.
Included in the Panthers’ successful campaign was a run to the Class 3A Washington Sectional final after knocking off the Raiders and Potters for the Morton Regional crown.
Washington lost three outfielders, two infielders and a catcher to graduation.
Besides leading the pitching staff as a senior, Escue also will play both corner infield spots.
A likely third baseman at the University of Illinois-Springfield, Escue said he is getting pretty comfortable there after working as a first baseman the last two varsity seasons.
Escue, who was a second-team all-conference pitcher as a junior and first-team all-M-I first baseman as a sophomore, is coming off a season in which he hit .454 with a remarkable 46 RBI, .526 on-base average and 17 extra-base hits.
He also led the Panthers with an 8-1 record. Escue posted a 3.17 earned-run average in 57 1/3 innings.
Sophomore Isaac Fisher returns at shortstop after a .336 debut season that featured 21 RBI.
He was one of six Washington players who drove in at least 20 runs last spring.
Among the players vying for infield roles are: juniors Dominick Dalfonso, Sam Best and Mark Roth, sophomores Dakota Bullard and Jared Holloman and freshman Mason McCoy.
The Panthers lost second-team all-conference second baseman David Dalfonso and third baseman Josh Hofer.
Dalfonso hit .325 his senior year with a team-high four home runs and 22 RBI. Hofer batted .316 with 13 RBI.
Zach Little, a sophomore, takes over at catcher for Robert Hodges, who was a first-team all-conference backstop after hitting .339 with 25 RBI and 16 extra-base hits.
Senior Austin Nichols, Bullard and Roth also are catchers available in a pinch.
In the outfield, there is a large cast looking to fill starting positions.
Seniors Seth Teubel and Jacob Burd, juniors Ryan Grebner, Chance Cline, Kyle Donarski and Brett Ernst and Bullard all are in the mix.
In limited action, Burd and Teubel both hit better than .275 the previous year.
With similar defensive abilities, playing time probably will be determined by offensive production.
Alex Wilson, Dustin Grebner and Ben Worner all departed from the outfield.
Wilson, a three-time all-M-I honoree, including twice on the first team, rapped 20 doubles with a .402 average and 29 RBI.
Grebner hit .348 with 27 RBI in left field and Worner batted .391 in addition to throwing 35 2/3 frames on the mound.
Roth, Ryan Grebner and Nichols were battling injuries early in practice, hopeful of receiving good new going forward.
Despite first-team all-conference pitcher Ryan Harkins transferring to East Peoria, there is no shortage of pitchers available.
“We’re blessed to have a lot of arms,” Wisher said.
Behind Escue, junior Nick Finney, Grebner, Holloman, Fisher, Teubel, Ernst and McCoy all could give the Panthers innings.
A season ago, Teubel won three decisions and Fisher did not give up an earned run in 10 innings.
East Peoria, Morton and Limestone, which was only a game back of the tri-leaders in 2009, all appear to be league contenders.
“It should be another good conference season,” said Wisher. “I would like to think we’ll be up there competing, too.”
Washington continues to add to its line-up of night home games.
A pair of regional games at the Panthers’ ballpark in late May also will take place under the lights.
Washington begins the season Saturday with a twin bill at Granite City.
