Mid-Ohio Valley Spring Sports 2026: Calhoun teams hoping to gain experience this spring
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MT. ZION -- When it comes to spring sports at Calhoun County, the theme for 2026 is young.
BASEBALL
Josh Johnson's program had a 13-18 campaign last spring as the bulk of the roster are juniors with the lone senior being Zander Quick (C/OF/P).
Junior Josiah Wilson (CF/P) is coming off a season where he hit .369 with five doubles, three triples and 25 RBIs.
Garrett Carpenter, another junior who will man the corner infield spots while seeing some mound work, is coming off a season where he hit .378 with nine doubles, three bombs and 37 RBIs.
Another junior, Chase Schoolcraft (SS/P/UTL), who along with Wilson and classmate Cooper Morris (1B/P) will be featured in the rotation, batted .322 as a sophomore and had nine doubles, a triple and 19 RBIs.
Junior outfielder Reese Schoolcraft is expected to lead the team on the mound.
The other juniors for the Red Devils are catcher Orion Swearingen, outfielder Logan McCormick and outfielder Charter Cottrell, who returns after missing last year due to injury.
"Honestly, I thought we were going to get more than that," admitted Johnson of lone freshman Cohen Blankenship (1B), who is joined on the roster by sophomores Evan Burch (OF), Evan Collins (2B/P/OF), Ruger Carder (2B/P/3B) and Jerec Loudin (OF).
"I was doing some interest recruiting within the school back before Christmas and I had several freshmen. I don't know what happened. We only got one."
The Red Devils are currently sitting at 0-3 in the early going, but the good news is Johnson believes he has six or seven arms they can use.
"The juniors, as we get through this year and into next year, I think it's the most talent we've seen in baseball in Calhoun County in 25 years or so," admitted the skipper.
"If we can get all the right pieces in the right place and keep everybody healthy, and keep everybody in a real good disposition, I think we'll be pretty competitive."
Of course, Johnson knows the regular season is just practice until the regional.
"It's a special group," added the coach. "I think there's a fair bit of excitement and support coming out of the community, and I think these guys themselves have some pretty realistic expectations for themselves.
"Obviously it's the LKC and everybody knows what that turns into. It's always going to be a fight and nobody is going to give it away. If you can come out ahead, you've earned it."
SOFTBALL
After taking over the basketball program this past winter, CCHS graduate Katie Jones is now leading the softball program.
The Red Devils managed an 11-15 mark a year ago and are currently still looking for their first victory starting 0-6.
A small roster of 11 is what Jones has to work with this spring and that includes sophomores Remedy Riddel and Kendall Snodgrass, who are the Red Devils' starting pitcher and shortstop, respectively.
The three seniors are all outfielders in Faith McClain (RF), Tiara Rogers (CF) and Brylie Wilson (LF). The junior class also has three members with catcher Gabi Smith, first baseman Raylee Cunningham and right fielder Mia Starcher.
"We got six returners from last year and overall we are a pretty young team," admitted Jones, who also has three freshmen in the fold with Karlee Nelson (3B/P), Kaleigha Morris (2B) and Carissa Sands (RF).
"I expect them to win some games, but lots of learning with most of them being such a young team this year."
TRACK
Third-year head track coach Kayla Ware has 10 boys and 11 girls on the roster for a team which is hoping to have representation at this year's Class A state meet.
Junior Kristian Frederick opened the season at the Don Williams Memorial Invitational with a new school record discus throw of 119 feet, 9 inches, which currently places him second for single-A in the Mountain State.
Coach Jones noted freshman Kyrian Mounts started the season with a long jump of 18-1.5, which won the meet and nearly set the Red Devil school record. He's also expected to compete in the hurdles and the 100.
Another freshman, Eli Ferrell, is a cross country runner but is out for track for the first time.
"He attends the Little Kanawha Valley Christian School, but is on the track team," said the coach, who expects him to be competitive in the 1600 and the 400.
He was third in the mile and fourth in the 400 at his first meet.
The coach also said junior Jackson Clawson "has drawn attention for his long distance performances" and has seen college interest for the first time.
Jones is also excited about the prospects of freshman Khloe Cobbett, who is likely to compete in at least the long jump and the 100.
Also competing for the girls are Addie Collins, Destiny Langford, Faith McClain, Gabi Smith, Jasmyne Tingler, Kassidy Frederick, Lilly Falls, Mariah Taylor, Regan Smith and Rylan Smith.
The remainder of the CCHS boys squad consists of Colin Grogg, Dayvon Mitchell, Duke Persinger, Gavin Hicks, Levi Sillaman and Zac Smith.