2017 Durant Baseball Preview

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

The Durant baseball team had another good year with 16 wins last season.  The win total marked the second straight season Durant has won 15 or more games.  Just three seasons ago, the Wildcats had nine wins and a sub-.500 record.  The Wildcats fell 8-6 to state ranked NE Goose Lake in the postseason to end their season.

Graduation losses mounted heading to this season as only four of the starting nine return from last season.  However, those four are at pitcher, catch and both middle infielders.

Durant will be led by three players that earned all-conference honors last season, all three were RVC South Division selections.  Back are pitcher Reese Bird, infielder Jake Conley and utility player Curtis Lilienthal.

Lilienthal was the leading Wildcat hitter last season with a .360 average in 100 at-bats.  He had 36 hits, 16 RBI’s and an on-base percentage of .413.  He also pitched, starting two games and appearing in 11.  He had an ERA of 3.16 in 24 1/3 innings pitched.  

Bird started 10 games last season and had a 5-4 record in 58 2/3 innings pitched.  He had a team low ERA of 2.15 among the Wildcat starters.  He struck out 49 and opposing batters batted .156 against him.  At the plate he batted .208 with 10 hits and 9 RBI’s.  

Conley has started at shortstop since he because a varsity player for the Wildcats.  Conley batted .372 with 32 hits, 14 RBI’s and 18 stolen bases.

Bird and Conley will play baseball at Blackhawk Community College next year.  Also back is starting catcher Colin Weih.  Weih will begin his third year behind the plate as the starter and batted .275 with 22 hits last season.

Gone are all three outfielders from last season - Joey Tobin (.402 ave., 35 hits 11 RBI’s),  Gavin Meyer (.304 ave., 21 RBI’s, 28 hits) and Adam Wiese (.174 ave) - and corner infielders Brandon Dykes (.341 ave., 28 hits, 13 RBI’s, 2-1 record, 4.50 ERA) and Jake Benischek (.308 ave., 28 hits, 16 RBI’s, 5-7 record, 2.42 ERA).

In early games this season, Durant has filled out the lineup card with sophomore Mason Compton in centerfield, Bryce Lafrenz at third base or first base, Luke Whitlock, Cole Miedema in the outfield.  Marcus Engstler also will see time in the line-up this year.

Durant has a stretch of five straight home games from Monday, June 19-Tuesday, June 27.  Coming to Durant in that stretch are Camanche, Monticello, Mid-Prairie, Iowa City Regina and Keokuk.  The Wildcats also host West Liberty, North Cedar, Louisa-Muscatine and Mediapolis this season.  Durant travels to Wilton on Monday, June 12.