By Courtney Taylor
news@wbcowqel.com
All eyes are on the Galion Graders this season as the team’s expectations are higher than ever.
The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League baseball team has multiple new players and coaches this season. Sam Fondriest is the team’s new bench coach, and A.J. Cecil, former Graders player, is the new pitching coach.
Brody Basilone, 21, of Lexington, is on his second season with the Graders. He also plays for Northern Kentucky University.
“I’ve been playing baseball my whole life, and I can already tell that we have a good team this year. We have a lot of fun together, and we have a lot of good pitchers,” said Basilone.
Taylore Baker is returning for his third year of coaching with the Graders. Originally from Canton, Baker played baseball for Northern Kentucky University and Malone University. He also coached for Malone for three years. He believes this could be the year for the Graders to make it to the playoffs for the first time.
“I think this group has the most talent we’ve seen so far. They have a great work ethic and sense of camaraderie,” said Baker.
There is a Meet the Graders event at 6 p.m. on June 8 at Heise Park in Galion. Participants can meet the team and get autographs. The team plays their first home game at 7 p.m. on June 10.