Southeast Tropics construct 2023 roster on successful HS programs

CHARLESTON – The potential for success this summer by the Southeast Tropics summer baseball squad is obvious, not just by watching the team play, but by simply looking at the roster.

“We’ve got a lot of talent,” veteran Tropics manager Dustin Schwartz said. “You look up and down our roster, we’ve got a lot of athletes.

“I think this is going to be one of the quickest teams that we’ve had.”

What Schwartz did in constructing this team is simply research winning programs throughout Southeast Missouri, of which there is no shortage, and grab those top players.

“You bring in kids who are used to winning,” Swartz explained, “and they bring that attitude back to the team. We count on guys to be leaders and when they have programs (that win), that is something that spreads to the summer.”

That was evident in the Tropics’ latest victory, a 14-0 beating of rival Charleston Fighting Squirrels.

Cooter High School standout Luke Barnes was incredible on the mound and at the plate in that win.

He threw five innings and limited the Fighting Squirrels to just two hits while striking out six batters.

Barnes was a catalyst on the Cooter squad that has dominated in both basketball and baseball over recent seasons, including advancing to the MSHSAA Class 1 Final Four in baseball recently.

Barnes also had a double in the win, scored a run, and walked twice.

As good as Barnes was, former Portageville High School standout Trey Benthal, who pitched in the opening game of that night’s doubleheader, was awesome offensively.

Benthal had a pair of hits (a double and a triple) while driving in three runs and scoring twice.

Benthal is one of five Portageville High School players on the Tropics, and he helped the Bulldogs advance to the MSHSAA Final Four in baseball in each of the past two seasons.

Not only does Benthal pitch for the Tropics, but he will also catch this summer.

“Trey is a guy, who I’ve watched pitch (at Portageville High School),” Schwartz said. “He is a bit of a Bulldog. He’s a guy who I have some faith in. He has to get ahead of a few more batters, but he knows that. He is going to improve on that.

“He is a kid who I am going to watch for him to get better every game this year.”

Benthal joins Portageville teammates Aaron Dunlap (outfield), Beau Hunter-Warren (second base), Connor Johnson (third base), and Mason Adams (shortstop) on the Tropics.

Dunlap hit lead-off for the Tropics, while Adams hit third and both bring athleticism to this team.

“We’re going to be able to take some bases,” Schwartz said. “We’ve just got to start putting the pieces of the puzzle together.”

Schwartz also has on his roster players from winning programs such as Jo Cook (Woodland, 14 wins this spring), Luke Holder (Scott City, 20 wins, including the Class 2 District 3 title), Reece Eftink and Drew Kilpfel (Kelly, 19 wins), Reece Justice (Bernie, 18 wins, including advancing to the Class 2 Quarterfinals), Steven Henley (South Pemiscot, 15 wins), and Wyatt Friley (Greenville, 23 wins, including the Class 2 District 2 title).

The Tropics will compete in the 3R Showcase on Tuesday in Poplar Bluff.