Splunkers Season Preview Served By Lovie’s Frosty Twist
Aidan Miller always fielded a competitive team in the WILL in his previous years as captain, this year he looks to take that extra step to make a run in the playoffs. The Splunkers return to the league for their third year as a team. They open the season on Sunday (June 2) with an opening round matchup against the Beavers in the WILL Opening Day Tournament at 4:30 pm.
Roster: As stated, Aidan Miller captains the Splunkers. This year the Splunks will sport a full 6 man roster. Returning from last season is Austin Abel and Zach Williams. Abel has played both in ‘17 and ‘18 alongside Miller, while Williams enters his sophomore season in the league. Brother newcomers, Noah and Casey Burke, take the fourth and fifth spots on the roster. Rounding out the roster is Cam Walker. Walker returns after a year off in ‘18, previously he played for the Hanger Bangers in ‘16 and Lil Boats most recently in ‘17.
Fielding: Abel and Williams have been the guys patrolling the outfield for the Splunkers in years past, but a mix up could be in the near future. Cam Walker has been known for his smooth hands and plays a nice middle infield in baseball. This should be a revolving door for the most part.
Pitching: Miller is the man for the Splunkers from the rubber. He threw 65 innings for them in 2018. He was third in the league in strikeouts with 13 and walked just 2 men over the whole season.
Hitting: The Splunkers were fourth in the league in 2018 for doubles legging out 22. Miller led the team with 15 of them, which was good for second among the WILL. Power is the lacking component of the team hitting just 22 home runs last year, and their team leader Lou Krivaneck is not returning. Austin Abel paced the team in average, hitting .609. The pickups of the Burkes and Walker only help the offense for the Splunkers. All baseball players, Noah and Cam both division 1 recruits. Cam is the lone with experience in the WILL. In his last season, 2017 with Lil Boats, Cam posted a .636 average in 22 at bats.
Other: The Splunkers lost in the first round of the playoffs last year against their opening opponent for 2019, the Beavers, after winning the Eight Seed Extravaganza. All time the Splunkers sport a 27-21 record in the WILL.
This preview was served by Lovie’s Frosty Twist. Stop down to Lovie’s on South Main Street in Houston for some of the best ice cream you’ll have this summer.
