VYPE Concordia Lutheran 2023-24

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Jones Emboldened for Another State run in 2025

\\ By Matthew Ogle

GIVEN ALL THE TALENT INSIDE THE CONCORDIA LUTHERAN PROGRAM, IT’S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PICK OUT ANY ONE PLAYER WHO CAN BE DEFINED AS THE TEAM’S PRIMARY DIFFERENCE-MAKER. The 2024 Crusaders featured a slew of athletes who were recognized for their talents on the state level, including second team, all-state selection Connor Jones, who enjoyed a breakout season. With first-teamer Eoghan Collins departing for St. Edwards, coach Royce Kennedy will look to Jones to be the ace in 2024. “I’m definitely going to have to take on the role of a more active leader,” he said. “I do feel like I made an impact in that sense this past season, but I’ll need to step up even more now that all of last year’s seniors are leaving. “We have a really young team, so I’ll be one of the only senior starters. Because of that, I’m going to have to be the one who shows them how to get things done.” Being a pitcher can easily be the most stressful part of baseball, considering the outcome of most games tends to rely on how efficiently one can stifle the opponent’s lineup. Despite that fact, the Crusader righty remains unphased on the mound. “I like to think that I enjoy the pressure,” said Jones. “But, whenever I’m pitching, I don’t really think about it. I’ve fought for these guys the past three years, so my focus is doing anything I can to give our team the best shot at winning. “It’s not like I’m intending to strike everybody out. It’s more about getting weak contact to let my team work. I have confidence in the defense, which is all you need as a pitcher.” After narrowly falling 3-2 to Central Catholic in May’s TAPPS-I State Final, how will Jones and company prepare for next year’s campaign? “We’re definitely going to have a lot of toughness, especially since we’re having a lot more underclassmen who are moving up,” he said. “I feel like we’ll have more maturity, since the guys have been there (the State Final), and now see what it takes to get to that level. Seeing how we lost several seniors last offseason, and still made it, will instill more confidence in us to get back.” Considering the historic success of the program, paired with the level of conviction the players embody, it should be safe to say that Jones and the Crusaders will likely make their 11-straight State Tournament appearance a year from now. If all goes according to plan, next Spring will mark the program’s first title acquisition since 2015.

Connor Jones

CONCORDIA LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL \\ 31

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