2017 Tipton Baseball Preview

By Ryan Stonebraker

Sports Editor, Tipton Conservative

Nearly everything went right for first year Tipton coach Troy Smock last season.  The Tigers tallied 16 wins and challenged to break the school record for wins in a season (17), finishing 16-16, after a 16-15, winning record in the regular season.  Smock brought new energy and excitement to the program and the team responded.  The Tigers played games at the University of Iowa and at the Cedar Rapids Kernels stadium.

The Tigers graduated starters Griffin Ormsby (of), Adam Hermsen (of), Riley Ford (3b), Mark Becker (ss), Nate Moeller (1b) and Matt Pelzer (UT).

Pezler batted .382 with 39 hits and had a 3-4 pitching record in 43 1/3 innings.  Becker batted .353, Moeller .300, Hermsen .247, Ford .230 and Ormsby .143.

The Tigers roster is made up of seniors Kolton Crock and Daulton Mente; juniors Quinten Mesick, Logan Hoffman and Bryce Deerberg; sophomores Jared Hightower, Luke Becker, Dylan Mente and Jacob Tischuk and freshmen Gavin Belitz, Elliot Cummins, Connor Hermiston, Kael Jauron, Colby Kleppe and Trent Pelzer.

The Tigers will be led by two River Valley Conference all-conference players in senior Daulton Mente and junior Logan Hoffman.  Mente returns to catch after having a fielding percent of 95.3.  He batted .308 with 33 hits, 1 home run and 20 RBI’s.  He also stole 10 bases and was one of two catcher selections to the All-RVC South Division team.  He pitches and had two starts with a 1-1 record in 17 innings and 19 strikeouts.

Hoffman started four games and appeared in four others and had a record of 4-3 in 52 innings.  He had a team best 3.37 ERA and struck out 26 batters.  He batted .371 in 97 at-bats last year with 36 hits and 19 RBI’s.  He was an All-RVC honorable mention selection last year.

Also back from last year are outfielders Bryce Deerberg and Quinten Mesick.  Mesick will patrol center field.  The speedy outfielder batted .313 in 67 at-bats last season, his first as a Tiger.  He stole 15 bases and had 14 RBI’s.  Defensively, he made only three errors all season and had a fielding percentage of 93.3.  Deerberg pitched and played in the field.  Pitching, he had a record of 2-3 in 19 2/3 innings.  He is a lefty hurler and had a ERA of 3.71 in five appearances.  Batting, Deerberg batted .167 and stole three bases.

The Tigers host their home tournament on Saturday, June 3.  The Tigers play at the Pella Christian tournament on June 17 and at the NE Goose Lake Tournament on Saturday, July 1.  Tipton plays non-conference games at Lisbon, Lone Tree, Calamus-Wheatland, Davenport North and a home game with Midland.