Bethel Boys To Open

Season 4/24

By Laurie-Jean B. Gauthier

Well, it’s official! The shortest sports season of the year is upon us and already scrimmages and games have been scheduled, cancelled and rescheduled as we wait for all the snow to melt and disappear so that the ball fields can dry out and we can enjoy a few games of baseball. In Bethel, that means practices in the gymnasium and/or in the school parking lot as the Whitcomb Hornet boys baseball team prepares for the season.

Last year the Hornets were short-suited until eighth graders Sam Taylor, Ethan Sennett and Dan Noel joined the team. The Hornets didn’t win a single game last year, nor did they lose every game either, thanks to a tie against the Williamstown Blue Devils, but hopefully that will change this year as these "seasoned" players take to the field.

Fourteen young men will represent Whitcomb this year under the guidance of first year head coach, Jim Noel, who replaces Mike Crane, and first year assistant coach Jeff Irish.

Seniors Jacob Hunt and Ryan Rogler return for their fourth and final season, while Kyle Ketner and Ryan Litchfield rejoin the team, and Matt Durfee suits up for his initial hardball season. Hunt pitches and plays first. Rogler pitches and plays both second base and shortstop. Litchfield pitches, catches and also plays shortstop. Ketner plays third base and Durfee moves around in the outfield.

Juniors Ben Cayer and Adam Sennett suit up for the third time, and are joined by foreign exchange student Clemens Garve, who has never played baseball before, but said he was very excited to play. Cayer plays first base and Sennett plays second.

Sophomore Joel Wright returns for his second season, while freshman Brandon Kendall and eighth grader Brody McClure joins the team for the first time. Wright pitches and catches. Kendall and McClure will join Taylor and Sennett playing in the outfield. Noel plays second base. It appears that the Hornets are well prepared in the pitching department and also have some experience at the catcher position.

The Hornets are scheduled to play the Rochester Rockets Thursday, April 24, the Twinfield Trojans Saturday, April 26, and the Williamstown Blue Devils Tuesday, April 29. All three games are supposed to be played in Bethel. Their season opener scheduled against the Blue Devils for Tuesday, April 15 has already been postponed.

____________