SOLON — Eight seniors and an experienced pitching crew are the foundation Head Coach Keith McSweeney and company are building on for a successful 2024 season. McSweeney is in his 25th season with a 603-331 career record and will be assisted by 14th-year assistant coach Tim Wheeler, 12th-year assistant coach Scott Shulista (1980s Solon grad), and 2nd-year assistant coach Brandon Shulista (2011 Solon Grad).
The Spartans, 22-20 overall and 14-6 in the WaMaC East last year, lost Blake Timmons and Aiden Doyle to graduation but return seniors Brett White, Gehrig Turner, Vince Steinbrech, Tyson Wheeler, Garrett Stebral, Kaden Hanson, Brick Kabela, and Cole Farnsworth. White, a fifth-year starter, will anchor the Spartan lineup at third base. White had a .460 average last year with 58 hits including 17 doubles and seven homeruns. He drove in 39 runs and stole 37 bases and earned Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) Super-Team honors along with being named the WaMaC East Player of the Year (shared with Marion’s Kaden Frommelt). He has signed with Baylor University.
Turner, a fourth-year starter, is Solon’s catcher with a .278 batting average last year for 35 hits including a dozen doubles, a homer, and 36 RBIs. He earned IHSBCA 2nd Team All-State honors and 2nd Team All-Conference (WaMaC). Turner has committed to Wartburg.
Steinbrech, a pitcher and designated hitter, returns to the mound with a 3.39 ERA across 41 innings with 43 strikeouts and a 3-4 record from last year. At the plate he had a .278 average with 32 hits, 23 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Steinbrech received All-Conference Honorable Mention.
Wheeler, a left fielder and pitcher brings a 3.62 ERA with 29 innings pitched and a 3-4 record last year. He hit with a .188 average for 21 hits and stole a dozen bases.
Stebral is a utility player who had a .147 batting average with ten hits.
Hanson, a returning letterwinner, is a pitcher with a 3.68 ERA from last year who had 18 strikeouts and a 3-1 record through 40 innings on the mound.
Kabela, also a returning letterwinner, is also a pitcher with a 2.49 ERA and a 5-1 record through 39 innings of work. Kabela earned All-Conference 2nd team honors.
Farnsworth is a pitcher and outfielder with a 5.73 ERA, 18 strikeouts, and a 2-1 record through 22 innings on the bump.
Juniors Nolan Seagren, Jackson Link, and Tyler Bell are back in the starting lineup this season.
Seagren is a shortstop with a .286 batting average for 38 hits including six doubles. He drove in 39 runs and stole 19 bases to earn All-Conference Honorable Mention.
Link, a pitcher and utility man, also had a .286 average last year with 30 hits including six doubles and brought in 23 runners. On the mound he had a 2.18 ERA through 35 innings with 23 strikeouts and a 2-1 record.
Bell, a right fielder and pitcher, had a .211 batting average with 19 hits including five doubles.
Maddox Kelley joins the team as a freshman utility player and pitcher.
“We return a significant amount of experience. We lost one starter (Blake Timmons), and most of the returning guys have been playing for multiple years. I’m confident that will pay dividends this season,” said McSweeney, who sees Marion (30-7 overall and 16-4 in the WaMaC east to lead the division last year) as the favorite, “…until proven otherwise.” He noted the traditionally tough conference is “really wide open and everybody will be competitive this season.”
The Spartans hosted Prairie, Cedar Rapids on Tuesday in a scrimmage game ahead of a season opening doubleheader Monday, May 13 at home against Bettendorf starting at 5:00 p.m.
Again this year Solon will host the Fight With Flash Crosstown Classic Saturday, June 8 with City High, Clear Creek Amana, Liberty High, Regina Catholic, and Iowa City West High participating in a day of rivalry games in memory of Austin “Flash” Schroeder, who was diagnosed with a form of T-cell lymphoma in April 2014 at the age of 14. After a valiant fight, Austin lost his fight with cancer April 28, 2015.
The Spartans have 13 home dates this season at the SRNA.