Juniors carry the load for senior-less Solon

SOLON - It began a while ago, though Nick Day's not exactly sure when. “A long time,” the Solon shortstop said. “Like eight years. I think it was like third or fourth grade. Like T-ball probably.”The specifics aren't that important. The point is this junior class at Solon High School has been prolific from a baseball standpoint.There are 11 of them on a senior-less roster that has produced a top ranking in Class 2A, a 38-2 record and a top seed for the tournament. Solon plays Interstate 35 (19-6) in a quarterfinal this afternoon at 2 at

Principal Park in Des Moines.They've grown up together, they've won together. A lot.“We've been together so long, it's just everybody knows everybody,” Day said. “We pick each other up and stuff. We came in our freshmen year and were pretty good, made it to state. Last year, we just got even better, made it to state again. We were disappointed we lost in the semis again. This year, everything is just clicking.”The sheer dominance of this club has been startling. It averages over 10 runs a game and gives up around two.The team batting average is .411. Two regulars (Derrick Loveless at .522 and Marshall Koehn at .521) have produced hits in at least half of their at-bats, while two other guys (Nick Day at .488 and Tyler Smith at .430) are well above the coveted .400 mark.The lowest batting average among the starters belongs to Brandon Shulista at .337. Then, again, he has 37 career pitching victories, including 10-0 this season and a 1.45 earned run average.He had allowed all of four earned runs all season before being touched for eight in Solon's 15-8 substate final victory over Cascade.“It was probably one of the worst outings he's had as a member of our program,” Solon Coach Keith McSweeney said. “At the same time, it doesn't affect him at the plate, it doesn't affect him (defensively) ... He's still a horse.”McSweeney said the awesome offensive numbers his team has put up are a result of a few things.He said the school's strength program, which also has produced three consecutive state football titles, is a big help. There's also hitting coach Steve Duncan, who was with Duane Banks at Iowa for 15 years.And there's pure talent, of course.“We're calm, we have a routine,” Loveless said. “So we're not stressed when we're up to bat, no matter what situation we're in.”“These kids at a young age were taught the right way to hit,” McSweeney said. “They're not always thinking pull, they're going the other way a lot. They've got a good approach. Four of them started as freshmen, when we went to state the first time. Last year, I think there were five starters. And now obviously. We don't have a senior. I mean we've got some sophomores that can play. But our junior class, there just aren't any gaps in it.”Solon's losses were to 3A schools Marion and Benton Community. It has never won a state baseball championship, though it's the favorite here.That's a role these juniors are used to.“It doesn't matter who we play,” Day said. “We've just got to come out and compete. Get on them early and keep attacking.”Here's the Class 2A state tournament bracket:

10 2A State Brackets