Young Lion baseballers eyeing much improvement

With six returning starters and a host of other lettermen, expectations are up for the Durant Lion baseball team in 2024. If the season opener is any indication they are definitely trending in the right direction for new coach J.W. Parsons’ troops.

A year ago the youth-laden Lions won eight games but already having one under their belts with a 12-10 triumph Saturday over perennial state tournament entrant Lone Grove.

While the Durant statistical numbers were often less than stellar during a virtual baptism by fire campaign last season, the Lions definitely showed some promise with 11 hits in the opener. That also included a massive six-run seventh inning flurry to win the game.

Sophomore Cole Robbins returns at third base and will be one of the Lion mainstays in the pitching rotation, including an inning of relief work to close out the opening win.

Ryder Jones is back at the top of the batting order and will roam centerfield once again. Kaden Neill

Durant Lion Baseball 2024 Schedule

March 5 McAlester Away March 7-9 Madill Tournament Away March 11 Tahlequah Home March 12 Tahlequah Away March 14 Atoka Away March 15 Marietta Away March 18-20 Broken Bow Festival Away March 23 Plainview Home March 25 Sapulpa Home March 26 Sapulpa Away March 29 Madill Home April 1 Coweta Home April 2 Coweta Away April 4-6 Atoka Tournament Away April 8 Del City Away April 9 Del City Home April 11-13 McAlester Festival Away April 15 Tulsa Memorial Home April 18 Sulphur Home April 19 Ardmore Away April 20 Broken Bow Away April 22 Tulsa Edison Home April 23 Tulsa Edison Away showed promise at the plate a year ago and coaches are expecting even more out of the sophomore first baseman this season, likely beginning the campaign in the three hole.

Eli McClure returns behind the plate and will provide a solid backstop with Holdan Robinson back at shortstop and Jared Avalos in rightfield.

Lucas McClure is expected to be a key component in the middle of the order and play leftfield. He showed his wares in the opening triumph by leading the team with three hits and two RBI.

In addition to Robbins on the mound, the Lions will also look to the experience of Reid Thompson, who is not overpowering but a solid strike thrower. Robinson has shown great stuff on the mound in the early going. Look for Jones and Lucas McClure to be regular relievers.

Coach Parsons is also expecting Colton Poore to be a key cog at second base after not playing a year ago with Kolton Mason adding plenty of diversity as a utility infielder.

“I really feel like we have way more options on the mound this year,” Parsons stated. “They have matured a lot and we should have 12 to 14 kids capable of throwing. Last year we were a little outmatched due to our youth. Our defense played well for the most part though but our pitching was a bit spotty. I think we’ll be much better at the plate and have a lot better at bats.

“We scored about 30 runs in our four scrimmages so I’m excited to see if that offensive prowess can continue. We are putting balls in plays and drawing more walks. We are still likely going to have to manufacture runs but try to turn them loose when they are hot. Free bases were a problem on the mound last year so we’ve been trying to preach to them to pitch to contact and keep hitters off balance.”

The schedule for the Lions this season has a lot of similarities but the district slate has changed up some with the addition of Tahlequah and Del City.

Although still having to deal with Coweta and McAlester, Durant will avoid last year’s state runner-up Bishop Kelley, which was switched to the other eastern district.

“The district has changed a little but most of our nondistrict is the same,” Parsons said. “Tahlequah will be solid dropping back down from 6A, Sapulpa graduated a few but will be loaded and McAlester brings pretty much all their arsenal back. It should be a really competitive district for us this year.

“We are in an interesting situation with no seniors, a few juniors and a lot of sophomores. This will literally be our same team for at least two years. We will still have some growing pains but expect to be much stronger this time around. We feel like we are headed in the right direction though and should be able to compete against anybody in future years as this group continues to progress.”