Leopards are eager to start the 2021 season

TEXARKANA, Texas - Before the season was canceled in 2020, the Liberty-Eylau baseball team was surging.

The Leopards are looking to pick up where they left off last season.

"We're excited about this group," Liberty-Eylau head baseball coach Zach Fowler said. "They've kinda come up through the program together the last four years. They have a lot of experience. They also work really hard.

"That's about all you can ask for from your guys. We think they're going to give us everything they got and we know they'll have some success when they do."

Austin Gonzalez, Braylon Blair, Bryce Blackwell, Colby Brooks, Dylan Garton, Gage Bellatti, Hunter Burks, Krayson Battle, Nate Moore and Parker Goodman return for L-E in 2021.

"Anytime you bring back guys, there's a certain continuity there that you don't have to work on in the preseason," Fowler said. "They grind together, they sweat together and I think that has brought a lot of camaraderie.

"Hopefully, all that will carry over onto the field. It's all about trust when you're out there on Tuesday and Friday nights."

Ron Garza, Tanner Rankin, Trevon Martin, Xander Worthey, Zachary Bush and Zander Hall round out the rest of the Leopards roster for this upcoming season.

"We never want to get too high or too low after a game," Fowler said. "We just want to be as consistent as possible. Successful teams have a certain level of consistency about them. We've been telling the guys to never panic.

"They know what we expect in practice every day and consistency will carry over to our games. We just want to remain consistent through the good times and the bad times."

The Leopards will open their regular season Feb. 22, traveling to Queen City.

"We're returning a couple of guys who threw a lot for us last year before everything shut down," Fowler said. "Blackwell threw a no-hitter last year and Parker Goodman was 2-1 when everything stopped. We're returning those guys and a few more that have pitched a bunch of varsity innings.

"We have some arms we think, so as long as they stay healthy, we should have a shot. The preseason is to get ready for district play. We've been talking about March 9 collectively as a group. Until that point, that's what we're focused on. You have a real good chance at going at Austin if you win this district. We want to win the district and hopefully, that'll set us up with a good seed to make a playoff run."

 

2021 Leopards Baseball Schedule

Feb. 22=at Queen City, 4 p.m.

Feb. 25=at Paris Chisum Tournament, TBA

Mar. 2=at Pine Tree, 6 p.m.

Mar. 4-6=at Texas High Tournament, TBA

Mar. 9=x-Gilmer, 6 p.m.

Mar. 11-13=at Hallsville Tournament, TBA

Mar. 16=x-at Pittsburg, 6 p.m.

Mar. 19=x-Pleasant Grove, 6 p.m.

Mar. 23=x-Paris, 6 p.m.

Mar. 26=x-at North Lamar, 7:30 p.m.

Mar. 30=x-at Gilmer, 6 p.m.

Apr. 2=x-Pittsburg, 6 p.m.

Apr. 6=x-at Pleasant Grove, 6 p.m.

Apr. 9=x-at Paris, 7:30 p.m.

Apr. 13-x-North Lamar, 6 p.m.

Apr. 16=x-Gilmer, 6 p.m.

Apr. 20=x-at Pittsburg, 6 p.m.

Apr. 23=x-Pleasant Grove, 6 p.m.

Apr. 27=x-Paris

Apr. 30=x-at North Lamar

x-District 15-4A Game

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