Young arms, hot bats have Bell City BB on the climb

BELL CITY – No one is expecting the Bell City High School baseball program to tear off with three consecutive MSHSAA Class 1 state championships as the Cubs did from 2015 to 2017, however, it is clear after studying the program over the past couple of springs, and most recently, through this fall season, that Justin Simpher’s program is trending in the proper direction.

“We’ve got some guys who have some ability,” Simpher said, “but, ability only gets you so far.”

That “ability” is doing what it should this fall, however.

The Cubs have won three of their opening four games and are averaging almost 12 runs per outing, however, the Bell City pitching has been just as impressive, and those arms are young.

Junior Dawson Loomes was very good against a young Cooter squad in a dominating 10-2 win recently while sophomore Jake Asher has had two great outings this fall.

“Jake throws a curveball and fastball,” Simpher said, “and he spots his fastball well.”

In a 10-4 rout of Puxico recently, Asher didn’t allow an earned run in 4 2/3 innings while striking out six Indians and limiting Puxico to four hits.

That outing followed a season-opening start where Asher stymied Bloomfield to just two hits in 3 2/3 innings while striking out four batters and not allowing an earned run.

“He also has a different kind of curveball,” Simpher said of Asher. “He kind of throws it a little differently. He does a good job of mixing his pitches and setting himself up by being able to hit spots and throw a lot of pitches for strikes.

“He can throw just about any pitch for a strike. That is good at that age.”

Loomes has a year of experience on Asher and threw well against the Wildcats in his only start, so far, this fall.

The right-hander threw 55 strikes in 97 pitches and held Cooter to five hits in six innings.

“We’ve been really trying to work on mechanics (with Loomes),” Simpher explained, “and getting that same arm slot to give him a chance to consistently beat up the strike zone.”

Loomes only allowed one earned run and only walked one hitter. He also struck out eight Cooter players.

“He was good for his first outing, as far as starting, of the fall,” Simpher said. “His fastball was good, and when you can throw that, then his changeup was good, and his curveball was (also).

“That is the kind of stuff that he has. We just have to continue to work and be consistent with it.”

Bell City only has two seniors this year (Easton Newell and Logan Stubenrauch) while 10 of Simpher’s players have multiple years of eligibility remaining. Both seniors can pitch, as can Baylor Eftink (junior), Kale Richardson (sophomore), and Juan Hernandez (sophomore).

The Cubs have had just one winning season since that magical run to the state titles, but have won eight, nine, and nine games in three other spring seasons.

“I have a lot of arms on people who can throw,” Simpher said. “We just have to try and get them to be as good as they can be.”

The Cubs will visit Meadow Heights (2-0) on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.