“We have a lot of key returning players this year,” Coach Fye says. “We have sophomores that saw very little time last year that are ready to fight for a starting spot and we have eight freshman that came up .. we have a great group of players that are all itching to get on the field and prove they belong at this level and come ready to work.”

Fye points to a trio of seniors as players he is looking at to help lead his young squad.

“Our three seniors .. Erik Berkan, Cody Fleming and Ayden Sprague .. have played since their sophomore season,” Fye says. “They all have a combination of being able to field, hit and pitch very well and all three will play a key contribution to our success.”

Berkan, who plans to play baseball at Elmira College after graduation, hit .407 for the Warriors last season, with a .500 OBP, 24 hits, 20 runs scored and 13 RBI. As Williamson’s ace, Berkan threw 35 innings last season with a 4.20 ERA and 57 strikeouts.

As Williamson entered last season, Fye was excited with a large group of freshmen that actually outnumbered his entire roster of 10 players in ’21 when the Warriors won three games. The Warriors doubled their win total from the ’21 season, but it was the playing time that his young players got that has hopes high in Williamson this year.

“Last season we finished with a 6-14 record but it was not due to a lack of talent,” Fye says. “We had anywhere from five to six freshman starting every game for us. The lack of experience at the varsity level with the faster-paced game, faster pitching and difference in power in hitting was a significant adjustment for most of the freshman. As the season rolled on we saw a lot more success and being able to stay in the game against a lot tougher opponents.”

A strong core of those now-sophomores includes Loagan Stickler (.424 BA, 25 hits, 16 runs scored, 14 RBI), Cody Fleming (.367 BA, 18 hits, 17 RBI), Jack Nolan (.257 BA, 9 hits, 7 runs), Connor Monroe, Sawyer Carlton, Kade Ficks and Christian Ling.

“With a year of experience under their belts, we should see a lot of contribution and success from many of them,” Fye says.

Getting a large group of freshmen (8) for the second straight season has Fye’s numbers significantly higher than he’s had previously, and the veteran coach is pleased with his first-year players.

“Over the last few years there have been about 10-16 players coming out,” Fye says. “This year, we have 20-plus players coming out for the team .. significantly up. It’s still early to tell how many of them will contribute immediately, but lots of effort, determination, and hard work is being put in by the freshman.”

The Warriors got an early start to their regular season when their opener with Towanda was moved from Friday the 24th to this past Tuesday due to impending weather. Williamson lost 10-6 to the Black Knights, but the goals remain the same as when they wrapped up pre-season practices.

“The team goal for this year is to continue to work together and feed off each other,” Fye says. “To work as a team and help each other get better to succeed. We believe we have the talent and skill to do exceptionally well this year. Our goal as a team is set very high .. goal one is to qualify for districts, then keep fighting through and get to States.”

Williamson is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday at Wellsboro, before returning home and hosting three straight .. North Penn-Mansfield next Friday, Northeast Bradford on April 6th and Galeton on April 8th.