Calvert's youth filling huge roles during state run

Yes, experience is a key factor at the state baseball tournament.Calvert has plenty of it.But what the Senecas also have are some talented underclassmen, who have accepted their roles and have contributed mightily to this year's tournament run back to Canal Park in Akron.With just one senior – Blake Coleman – the leadership has had to also come from different places on the field and in the dugout. Younger players like sophomore Bishop Watterson transfer Vincenzo Lyons and freshmen Charlie Palm and Tucker Coleman have filled some voids left from graduation off of last year's team, and they've been brought up to speed … quickly."Everyone from the first day welcomed me and I know they love me," Lyons said. "It's a team, but it feels like a community here. It's something I never really had been a part of in my life before this year. We're just unified and wanting the same thing."That one thing would be to win Thursday and then at least play one more game on Saturday for all the marbles.But before the postseason started for the No. 1 ranked Senecas, the young guys had to fit in, accept roles and adapt to varsity baseball.Tucker Coleman and Charlie Palm are freshmen, but have been around baseball for a long time and that includes the Calvert baseball program as Coleman is the coach's son and Palm's older brothers Sam Shelt Palm and Nick Palm both played for the Senecas. "For me, Nick and Sam are the ones that probably push me the most in my family, and obviously my dad too," Palm said. "And even my mom, especially at the beginning of the season because I knew I wasn't being the best teammate because I was just so nervous, and she really helped me push through that."I've talked to Nick a little bit about Akron because he went his junior and senior years, so we've talked about the experience to help me get through it a little bit."Coleman had been around the game and the varsity team since coach Matt Coleman took the job and seeing his older brother on state teams in 2022 and 2023. But varsity baseball takes some time to get used to. "I think at the start (of the season), everyone was just trying to find their roles and see what they needed to do on the team," Tucker Coleman said. "We just wanted to improve as a team."Palm mentioned that he changed up his stance a little bit after struggling a little bit at the beginning of the season. Whatever the adjustment was, it has worked.Palm is hitting .333 with nine doubles, 18 RBIs and 24 runs scored. He's also been a viable option on the mound this season, especially in some situations in the tournament run. He has a 3.07 ERA in a little more than 27 innings pitched with 26 strikeouts."Obviously, a lot of these guys have played travel ball and watched older siblings play for a long time, so I think that definitely helps," Calvert coach Matt Coleman said. "But they still have had their freshman moments throughout the year and they were forced into some roles due to injuries and such, which was a lot to take on, but with Chuck and Tuck, they're confident in their abilities."Tucker Coleman has pitched the second most innings this season behind Logan Ritzler. In 42 innings, he has a 1.33 ERA with 62 strikeouts. He's only given up eight earned runs this season.For Tucker, there really is a sense of family within the team, mostly because he has his brother, dad, cousin and uncle with him at all times."Yeah, it's awesome to have those two – dad and brother – along with my cousin and uncle there too because after a game if I had a rough outing or something, we can just talk at home about it. It's nice to have those guys that have so much knowledge about the game of baseball right there."Baseball IQ … some have it. Some don't.Lyons, who has filled in at the top of the lineup this season admirably, certainly has all the IQ required to shine on the diamond.Lyons, who is the No. 2 hitter in a solid 1-9 lineup, is hitting .352 with five doubles, one triple, 20 RBIs and 36 runs scored, which is second on the team just two behind Blake Coleman."Vinny is a high-IQ kid in the classroom and on the field and he's also played a lot of ball," coach Coleman said. "He's brought a lot to the team and a lot of confidence. He's been ready to go and those young guys have pushed each other. There are even more guys that have been pushing in practice for more opportunities, which has led to the most depth we've had here. "There's been a lot of guys that have contributed this year, but those younger guys have certainly impacted our team."The mindset for Lyons this season has been simple: grind at-bats, work the pitcher and get on base to let the meat of the order drive him in. Simple, but effective."In the first at-bat especially, I try to work the pitcher and try to get to a full count, so the guys behind me can see a lot of pitches," Lyons said. "Then my goal is honestly just to get on because the way Connor (Moyer) and Cam (Moyer) have been hitting, if I'm in scoring position when they're up, there is a super chance I'll be scoring."That's what it takes to win baseball games."