-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Webster City baseball are, left to right, Front Row: Aiden Hrnicek, Carter Mickelson, Trevyn Lyons, Josh Griep, Matthew Tesdahl, Jaxon Griffith Back Row: Braylon dyvig, Briar Klaver, Keegan Hisler, Gavin Griffith, Brady AskLund, Josh Standsfield

Records can sometimes be deceiving.

The Webster City baseball team knows first hand what that’s like.

The Lynx finished at the .500 mark a year ago at 16-16. When you dig deeper into the story, though, Webster City had nine losses by a single run. Head coach Addison Kehoe’s squad faced eight state qualifiers, and competed against four that reached the championship round in their respective classes.

“Baseball is such a mental game,” said Kehoe, who is in his eighth year. “We were really close (in 2023) and faced a lot of really solid teams.

“I wanted these kids to play teams that had state aspirations, so we could get to that point. It sounds cliche, but iron sharpens iron. If anything, it made us tougher between the ears.”

The Lynx must now replace five-year starters and regular all-conference veterans Ty McKinney, CJ Hisler and Connor Hanson.

“Losing those three is tough,” Kehoe said. “They were up with us since they were eighth graders.”

The new senior class — mixed with a sophomore class that saw some time on the field as freshmen — has the Lynx chomping at the bit to begin the season.

“With this senior and sophomore group…they’re eager to take the reins,” Kehoe said. “They want their turn.

“There is no question that we have some bulldogs who want to get out there. It’s just a turnover — not a transition.”

Kehoe is excited about the leadership this group is showing.

“This is probably one of the most selfless groups I’ve had,” Kehoe said. “They’re role models through and through and we have a lot of baseball-first kids.

“They are very versatile at everything. We have solid hitters and are good defensively. This is one of the most competitive teams I’ve had.”

Kehoe has a lot of arms in his pitching arsenal, and some young players who have earned time and will log more innings.

Sophomore Gavin Griffin (31 IP in 2023) and senior Keegan Hisler (27.1) are returning staff members. Griffith was 3-1 with a 4.29 ERA and 20 strikeouts. Hisler finished 2-2 with 33 Ks.

Senior Briar Klaver went 2-4 with 17 punch-outs in 25 innings, and sophomore Jaxon Griffin pitched in 20-plus innings.

Senior Trevyn Lyons, sophomore Matthew Tesdahl and senior Josh Griep saw some time a year ago. Sophomores Braylon Dyvig and Carter Mickelson will fight for varsity innings as well.

“Truth be told, I’m pleasantly surprised with our pitching staff,” Kehoe said. “These guys want the ball in their hands. They do the little things right and throw strikes.

“We want our defense to work in our favor.”

Behind the plate will be Josh Stansfield. The senior hit .322 a year ago with a 27 RBI and 28 hits.

“Josh Stansfield is my dude,” Kehoe said. “I’ve been blessed to have great catchers and Stansfield is one of them. He is our anchor and by far our leader. Kids look up to him. He is the first guy at the park and the last one to leave.”

Freshman Kaleb Hansen will see some time at catcher as well.

Standing at first base will be Klaver and Griffin. Klaver hit .343 and drove in a team-high 29 RBI with a time-high 35 hits. At the plate, Griffith hit .262 with 10 RBI.

Lyons returns at second base after hitting .266 with 21 RBI and 21 hits. Mickelson and Dyvig will see some action as well.

Tesdahl is at shortstop. He was one of the Lynx leading hitters in 2023, batting .282 with 12 RBI and 24 hits.

“He was starting as an eighth-grader at third base and now has two years of varsity experience,” Kehoe said. “It’s a tough task to move from third to short, but he’s up for the challenge.”

Dyvig will see some time at third as well.

“He’s a smart baseball kid,” Kehoe said. “He makes the right plays and the right reads.”

Griep, will man left field.

“He really came on at the end of the year,” Kehoe said. “He wants to make a statement.”

In the center spot will be Hisler. Last year, Hisler hit .351 and drove in 27 runs on 35 hits. He had 13 extra base hits.

“He covers a lot of ground and has a strong arm,” Kehoe said. “He has been on varsity since the eighth grade and is really strong.”

Sophomore Aiden Hrnicek is also in center.

Playing right field will be Griffin and Klaver.

“They are interchangeable, and depending on pitching and who’s at first, they will be on the field somewhere,” Kehoe said. “Briar hasn’t played a lot of OF, but I know with him there it will be done right and exceptionally right.”

Kehoe knows he has the talent and the Webster City baseball squad carries high expectations into the season.

“The big thing is to keep them humble and not to get ahead of ourselves,” Kehoe said. “Nothing really changes, and we have to get on the field and see what happens from here. We haven’t proved anything yet.”

The Lynx will once again be in an ultra-competitive North Central Conference.

“This is probably one of the strongest years in a while for the league,” Kehoe said. “Humboldt won it all last year and will have the same aspirations. Algona, Hampton-Dumont and Clear Lake have strong arms.

“Everything is open in the league. It’s going to depend on who’s hot.”

Kehoe has the talent in place. Now, they just have to transfer it to the field.

“We definitely had a sour taste in our mouth from last year,” Kehoe said. “We started with some stuff in January and for the first time in my tenure where there wasn’t much talking.

“They are treating this like a business trip and making a checklist and marking it off. They’re eager and excited.”

WEBSTER CITY BASEBALL

Roster

Seniors — Josh Griep, Keegan Hisler, Briar Klaver, Trevyn Lyons, Josh Stansfield.

Junior — Brady Asklund.

Sophomores — Braylon Dyvig, Gavin Griffith, Jaxon Griffith, Aiden Hrnicek, Carter Mickelson, Jamey Stansfield, Matthew Tesdahl.

Freshmen — Grant Arends, Brayden Babington, Eian Becker, Coyce Bertran, Kaleb Hansen, Jayden Lacey, Jackson Olmstead, Alex Staley.

Schedule

May 14 — Eagle Grove; 16 — Ballard; 21 — Woodbine; 22 — at Newell-Fonda; 24 — Algona; 28 — Storm Lake; 29 — St. Edmond; 31 — at Clarion-Goldfield/Dows.

June 1 — Newell-Fonda tournament; 3 — at Humboldt; 4 — at Saydel; 5 — Clear Lake; 6 — Pocahontas Area; 7 — at Iowa Falls-Alden; 10 — Hamption-Dumont/CAL; 12 — at Algona; 14 — Boone; 17 — at St. Edmond; 18 ­ ­– at Des Moines Christian; 19 — Clarion-Goldfield/Dows; 21 — Humboldt; 24 — at Clear Lake; 26 — Iowa Falls-Alden; 27 — Osage; 28 — at Hampton-Dumont/CAL; 29 — Webster City tournament.

July 2 — at Fort Dodge; 3 — Forest City; 5 — Roland-Story; 9 — at Waverly-Shell Rock.