While baseball season has not started yet for Camp Verde, the Cowboys hitters are ready to get swinging.
Camp Verde returns multiple key contributors from last year’s youthful team.
“It is going to be a tough lineup for anyone playing us this year,” Camp Verde coach Will Davis said. “We do not have a lot of big, strong guys but we have gap-to-gap double power.”
Last season, the Cowboys went 10-8 in regular season play and finished 5-3 in the region.
Camp Verde split the 2A Central title in 2018 with Northland Preparatory Academy and Paradise Honors High School.
Dominiq Bruno returns for Camp Verde and is coming off a 2018 2A Central Player of the Year campaign.
Bruno batted .582 in 79 plate appearances last season and registered 39 hits, 27 runs and 18 runs batted in.
“Our offense was good last year but I believe it will be even better this year,” Davis said. “I feel very comfortable in our offense’s ability to come through in scoring opportunities this season.”
The Cowboys also return 2018 first-team all-region members Dakota Battise and Mason Rayburn to their lineup.
Last season, Battise hit .437 with 11 RBIs while McCune batted .392 with 14 RBIs and six doubles in 95 plate appearances.
“I would say the biggest key to our success is how Dakota and Dawson lead the team,” Davis said. “We will have a great season if they can carry the team mentally as we know Dominiq will be the best player on the field.”
On the mound, Bruno went 10-1 in 12 outings with a 2.21 earned run average in 50 innings.
“We have a control guy in Bruno and a power guy in Battise at our disposal and their games complement
each other well,” Davis said. “If we have one game to win with both of them eligible, it will be tough for any 2A team to defeat us.”
Davis also said he expects big things from Rayburn after a strong freshman campaign.
“Last year he hit in our top five as freshman, which is very tough to accomplish so he is very important to our team,” Davis said. “He is bigger and stronger this season so I am expecting a really big year from him.”
Davis said he believes the Cowboys’ work ethic during the offseason should lead to an even more explosive
offense.
“Our players came out all offseason determined to develop and improve their swing and learn the strike zone,” Davis said. “Hard work is the key to success and a lot of kids have been putting in the time since last season ended.”
One player in particular that Davis singled out was Cowboys player Coke Bast.
“His ears are always open while his mouth is always closed,” Davis said. “His game has come leaps and bounds and he might be the hardest worker I have encountered.”
With pitchers keying on Battise and Bruno, Bast and Rayburn can fly under the radar for Camp Verde.
“Pitchers are not going to be looking at them so they will be seeing a decent amount of fastballs,”
Davis said. “We have a senior-laden top four that can stroke so Bast and Rayburn will see some good pitches this year.”
Before the regular season begins, the Cowboys had the opportunity to learn from former Camp Verde baseball players.
Camp Verde hosted its first annual alumni fundraiser game on Saturday, Feb. 9.
Former Cowboys pitcher and minor league player Gavin Collins was among the returners in attendance.
Davis said he believes the young Cowboys could learn from Collins’ determination.
“Even when the odds were stacked against him, he never took no for an answer when it came to chasing his dreams,” Davis said. “I hoped the younger players take after his approach to the game.”
Camp Verde’s season begins on Wednesday,Feb. 20, when the Cowboys host Mayer High School.
The first pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
Last season, Camp Verde defeated Mayer 16-3 on Feb. 23, 2018.
Battise registered three RBIs in three plate appearancesand scored one run.
