BASEBALL
Travis Hardman, a 1998 WASHS graduate who inherited the ace pitcher mantle from Matt White, began his fourth season as head coach after the retirement of Greg Chandler (who coached from 1988 to 2020).
The Indians finished the 2023 campaign with a 10-10 record.
Waynesboro’s first regular season game is Monday, March 18 at West York, a non-conference game.
Hardman’s coaching staff consists of Joe Wetzel, Jesse Mowen and Jarrett Biesecker.
The junior varsity coaches are Dan McCleaf, Wyatt Freeman and Daryl Warrenfeltz.
Hardman said, “Several student-athletes trying out for baseball started working out with our Strength and Conditioning Coach (Dave Clagett) in December. We started pitching and catching over six weeks ago at 6 a.m. before school. The six-week program had the older pitchers throwing on Mondays and Thursdays, and the younger pitchers throwing on Tuesdays and Fridays. We have had open practices leading up to tryouts in the evenings for a couple of weeks.
“We held a two-day tryout on March 4th and 5th. We were very fortunate to get outside on March 4th for our first day of tryouts, which was not always the case. We had over 40 student-athletes trying out for two teams. This week is probably the hardest and busiest week of the season. It is the hardest due to student-athletes not making the team, and the busiest due to all the preliminary items a head coach has to address.
“We had 18 student-athletes make varsity: five seniors, 11 juniors, and two sophomores. Out of those 18, 11 were on varsity last year. Mason Gochenour (senior) was our ace last season and is returning. When Mason is not pitching, he plays left field. Ethan Hotchkiss (junior) led us in hitting and again will start at first base. Kellan Smith (senior) will again start in center field. Logan Clapsaddle (senior) will again start in right field. Tyler Caron (senior) will again start at catcher. Seth Dodson (senior) appeared in 15 games for us a year ago as a relief pitcher. Bryan “Tank” Benedict (junior) will again start at third base. Calvin Myers (junior) started at times at shortstop. John Kahl (sophomore) had a solid freshman campaign and will start. Brett Powell (junior) and Blake Daywalt (junior) are returning varsity players. Brody Daywalt (junior), Gunner Shifflett (junior), Eric Jacobs (junior), Bryan Alford (junior), Brayden Zeigler (junior), Brady Mansfield (junior), and Eric Knepper (sophomore) were all on our junior varsity team last year and made varsity this year.”
2024 SCHEDULE
March: 18, at West York, 4:15 p.m.; 20, New Oxford, 4:15 p.m.; 23, Cumberland Valley, 12 p.m.; 26, at Boiling Springs, 4:30 p.m.; 28, Big Spring, 4:15 p.m.
April: 1, Northern, 4:15 p.m.; 3, at Greencastle-Antrim, 4:15 p.m.; 9, West Perry, 4:15 p.m.; 11, Shippensburg, 4:15 p.m.; 15, at James Buchanan, 4:15 p.m.; 17, Boiling Springs, 4:15 p.m.; at Carlisle, 11 a.m.; 23, at Big Spring, 4:30 p.m.; April 25, at Northern, 4:30 p.m.; 27, Chambersburg, 11 a.m.; 29, Greencastle-Antrim, 4:15 p.m.
May: 1, at West Perry, 4:30 p.m.; 2, at Spring Grove, 4:15 p.m.; 7, at Shippensburg, 4:15 p.m.; 9, James Buchanan, 4:15 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Troy Witte takes over for Steven McElroy as the head coach of the Maidens. Witte was McElroy’s assistant the past four seasons.
Waynesboro kicks off the season Monday, March 18 at West York.
Witte said, “In the 2024 season we will have 11 girls on varsity, seven of which are returning varsity players, and four fresh faces. Our pitchers for the year will be Abby McElroy, Alexis Thompson, Emma Bradley, Riley Shetler, and Zoie Singray. Our assistant coach is Jeb Shank, along with two volunteers, Shelly Cump and Jess Silimer. We also have a new head and assistant coach for JV. Open gym really did help things move along and allow us to see the girls before tryouts. It gave us extra time to make decisions and see the talent out there.
“Some of our key players this year will definitely be Abby McElroy, Alex Monk, Riley Shetler, and upcoming freshman Emma Bradley. We had open gyms March 4-6 which gave us a good look at the girls before our first day of tryouts. March 7 was our first day of tryouts. We got to be outside on the dirt. Due to the lack of girls in recent years, we have not had to make cuts, making decisions easier on the coaches. However, when deciding which team girls will be on it comes down to talent, coachability, and the overall player/teammate.
2024 SCHEDULE
March: 18, at West York, 4:15 p.m.; 20, New Oxford, 4:15 p.m.; 25, Chambersburg, 4:15 p.m.; 26, Boiling Springs, 4:15 p.m.; 28, at Big Spring, 4:15 p.m.
April: 1, at Northern, 4:15 p.m.; 3, Greencastle-Antrim, 4:15 p.m.; 9, at West Perry, 4:15 p.m.; 11, at Shippensburg, 4:15 p.m.; 15, James Buchanan, 4:15 p.m.; 17, at Boiling Springs, 4:15 p.m.; Carlisle, 11 a.m.; 23, Big Spring, 4:30 p.m.; April 25, Northern, 4:30 p.m.; 26, at Spring Grove, 4:15 p.m.; 29, at Greencastle-Antrim, 4:15 p.m.
May: 1, West Perry, 4:30 p.m.; 7, Shippensburg, 4:15 p.m.; 9, at James Buchanan, 4:15 p.m.
TRACK AND FIELD
Jimmy Rickett, a 1988 WASHS graduate and a standout in the high jump, returns for his fifth season as head coach.
Rickett said, “The first week for track is always challenging. We have such a large turnout which then could be losing people in a couple of weeks; it’s a lot of organization and trying to figure out
where kids need to be. We only got out for the last hour or so due to meeting with them and going over what is needed.
“The girls are quite strong this year. With many returning such as Jada Creager in the sprints and pole vault, Gracie French in the sprints and hurdles, True Benshoff in the hurdles – each of those are District 3 qualifiers. Others such as Jaeda Dockman and Charlotte Rhodes in the high jump and possibly Charlotte in the hurdles, and Isabelle Rueffle in the two-mile and other distance events, we could have several other girls qualified for Districts.
‘However, the boys, well it’s going to be a tough year. With losing Tanyon Shaull, Jaylon Bean and Joey Jacobs, finding points needs to come from some of the younger athletes. We have a few quality returners such as Ben Williams in the javelin who qualified for Districts, Preston Hammond in the sprints, and possibly Grant Thompson in the high jump. As they say, time will tell.”
2024 SCHEDULE
March: 26, at Boiling Springs, 3:30 p.m.
April: 2, Big Spring, 4 p.m.; 9, at Gettysburg, 3:45 p.m.; 16, Shippensburg, 4 p.m.; 23, at James Buchanan, 3:45 p.m.; 30, Greencastle-Antrim, 4 p.m.
