Nik Crider had a standout moment on March 26 at home.
Crider crushed a home run to score Community R-6’s first three runs of seven in the first inning in a 15-0 three-inning victory over …
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Nik Crider had a standout moment on March 26 at home.
Crider crushed a home run to score Community R-6’s first three runs of seven in the first inning in a 15-0 three-inning victory over district foe Marion County (0-3). It was Crider’s first long ball of the season and he finished with four RBIs, but four other Trojans (3-1) each finished with two RBIs.
Crider said it took him a bit to realize what he did in the first inning.
“I really thought it was going to be a popup,” Crider said. “It didn’t seem like it was hit all that hard. I sprinted towards first and had my head down and Coach (Chris Ellersieck) told me it was gone.”
The head coach Ellersieck said there is a lot to like about Crider beyond the accomplishments he brought into this season. Crider was an all-conference player who led the team in several offensive categories, including OPS, batting average, slugging percentage, hits and doubles.
“He stays all over hitting in the cage,” Ellersieck said. “I have to ask him to get out of the box and practice to let other kids hit because he wants to hit so much. It’s 5:30 in the morning and we were going to get in the cage this morning, and he showed up at 6 a.m. That’s the kind of work ethic this young man’s putting in.”
Crider said he likes his hitting the best and believes he needs to work hard at it to help the team. He said the team around him is really good so he wants to do his part.
Lane Carter had two RBIs and one double, and Kaiden Erdel, Connor Maxwell and Houston Hogan each had two RBIs. Every Trojan reached base at least once and also scored at least one run. Cooper Rohan pitched three innings with six strikeouts and two hits.
“In order to win the most, you’ve got to care the most,” Ellersieck said. “These boys care a lot. They put in the time and the effort.”
Crider’s “relentless work ethic,” according to Ellersieck, puts him in a good position in life. Even though Crider finished last season with a batting average over .450 and an OPS over 1.100 to lead the team, he thought his start to the season wasn’t good enough. Going into Thursday’s game, Crider leads the team in batting average and OPS again with marks over .450 and 1.100.
“Last year, I started slow and hit .260 for the first five or six games,” Crider said. “I just try to come in here and do my part for the team and be better than what I was last year.”
Ellersieck said it is great to start 3-0 against district opponents like they have this year. He knows Rohan will “do his job” every time he is on the mound and his teammates will give him support, like what happened against Marion County.
Credit goes to assistant coach Tyler Kobush, according to Ellersieck, because he carried over into this season like many of the boys did. Kobush was Joel Krato’s assistant before he took the Troy Buchanan baseball head coaching job so Ellersieck is aware of how well Kobush knows the boys and Community baseball. Unlike most teams in Missouri, Ellersieck is stationed at first base when the Trojans are hitting while Kobush is at third base.
“He does a lot for us as far as communicating with these boys,” Ellersieck said. “Part of the reason we do that is Tyler was here before. Krato had a system that these boys already understand and have a good feel for. If it isn’t broken, why fix it? We really are a team, and we all do it together. Those boys trust him at third base. There’s no sense in me coming in to try and flex any muscle when we’ve got a good thing.”
Through four games, Ellersieck said Community hasn’t been able to run out its full starting lineup in most of the games. Its intended starting lineup was able to play at district foe New Haven to start the season, but there are other commitments that the boys have, including FFA, golf and track and field.
This does not mean that the Trojans aren’t committed to baseball. Whenever they are able to take the field, Ellersieck said they play with a “selfless” attitude that will allow him and Kobush to put the best lineup out there any given night. Even if all the kids are available, Ellersieck said they might hit in different spots.
“Our order will change, and those kids understand,” Ellersieck said. “They’re selfless enough to not have to worry about where they’re hitting in the order. Those 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 kids are willing to be anywhere. That’s the selfless nature of our baseball team and what makes us good.”
