Oakton Baseball to Rely on Experience This Season

Coming off an 8-12 season, the Oakton High baseball team is looking to bring their record to above .500. Boasting a roster with 10 seniors, having only graduated three last year, Coach Justin Janis thinks his seasoned players can bring them just that.

"We're hoping the experienced roster will turn out to be a strength for us," he said. "It promises to be a great season."

The Cougars have plenty of reasons to stay positive about their chances to remain competitive in the Concorde District, including a roster with two players already committed to play Division 1 baseball next year: Luke Willis and Chad Carroll, for Coastal Carolina and James Madison University, respectively.

Both Willis, center field, and Carroll, shortstop, made first-team All-District last year. Willis, a four-year starter, also earned second-team All-Region honors.

"They're both really fast. They're not big guys, but they're strong," Janis said. "And I think the biggest thing they bring is a lot of athleticism to the field every day."

Janis also named Chris Hanson, who earned All-District honorable mention last season as a catcher, as a player to watch.

"He's a very versatile player. We can put him anywhere. He played catcher for us last year, and I think he's going to catch this year, but if we need him to play anywhere else, he's able," he said. "He's very unselfish and solid wherever you put him."

But Janis also concedes practices have shown an inconsistency that could leave the Cougars as their own worst enemy.

"Right now we're having some really good days in practice and then there are other days where we look like a totally different team," said Janis, who also had to deal with inconsistent weather last week as an interruption to their normal practice regimen. "If we can put together the details, I think we'll have a good chance to compete consistently."

He points to the many seniors to help him solve the problem, with hope that some of them can step out as leaders to guide and motivate the rest of the team.

"I think we have the guys on the team to do it, we're just kinda waiting for it," Janis said. "I think if we just continue to mature as a team, that'll be the key. We need to show a maturity day in and day out."

The Cougars kick off the 2011 season 6 p.m. Tuesday on Yorktown's home field, then play their home-opener 1 p.m. Saturday against crosstown rival James Madison.