Bryan Wilhoite is the Park Hill South returning short stop from the 20-14 squad in 2022.
The Park Hill South baseball team will lean on its veteran outfielders for leadership this season where there is uncertainty on the mound.
Brody Huft, Collin Morris and Evan Demint are all senior outfielders who started for the 20-14 Panthers that made it to the Class 6 District 8 Semifinal a season ago. Senior shortstop Bryan Wilhoite is the other returning starter with a few others who saw time on the field.
“We should be athletic and quick,” Park Hill South head baseball coach Josh Walker said. “A lot of young talent, but we do have great senior leadership.”
Luke Russell, Aaron Boutz, Evan Demint, Quinton Chindome and Michael Cook are set to compete for time on the mound this year. Park Hill South had a talented 2022 senior pitching class so there won’t be many who have much experience heading into the season.
“Pitching is our key; if our young pitchers compete, so will we. We’re going to be young on the mound since we aren’t returning a lot of innings pitched last year,” Walker said.
Junior Michael Good and sophomore Carson Lett were both infielders who earned playing time throughout last season with the expectation of larger roles, along with Cook and Boutz. Sophomores Quinton Chindomo and T.J. Parker are also some sophomores that are looking to contribute. Park Hill South switched over to the Silver Division of the Kansas City Suburban Conference and will have some different opponents than in years past.
The Panthers have had a winning season in each of the last four springs and seven of the last eight years. Being in Class 6, Park Hill South has a tough road ahead against the largest schools in the state.