The Chester Yellow Jackets baseball program is under a new head coach, Jarrod Peters, taking over from previous head coach Jacob Wente. The Jackets are looking to return from a 9-18-2 record and finished 4th in the conference. With a few arms and bats returning, look forward to some sophomores playing key roles this year, since the Jackets have graduated 7 seniors.
Peters is a Chester High School graduate who attended SIUE to play baseball. He majored in kinesiology and posted a 6.75 ERA in college. He is currently the sheriff of Randolph County. He has a past coaching baseball and football and has had success in both.
The Jackets open up their season at home on March 18 against Marissa. Which I predict will be a 6-2 win in Chester favor. Expect at least a 500. win percentage and a top 2 finish in the conference as they take on some of the best southern Illinois baseball teams early in the season.
They have a decent number of arms this year with four returning arms (Tray Peters, Evan Dunning, Kolton Jany, Brenden Malley) and a few more coming up from last year (Tallen James, Tashawn Palacio). They will be missing their top offensive bats but expect breakout years from juniors Ethan Colvis and Tray Peters. Ethan had a strong summer and looks to be on the verge of a great season. Also look for notable sophomores (Alex Blechle, Tashawn Palacio) to play key roles this year.
This year’s Varsity team will consist of Brenden Malley, Devante Palacio, Ethan Colvis, Evan Dunning, Alex Blechle, Max Blechle, Kolton Jany, Trey, Mccartney, Tallen James, Kanon Jany, Jack Heffernan, Kross Jany, Tray Peters, Tashawn Palacio. The Junior Varsity will be Anthony Keeton, Avery Wittenborn, Bently Valleroy, Gage Lynn, Jonathan Hayer, Kale Sprengel, Kanon Jany, Kendall Kreig, Kross Jany, Logan Brace, Paxton Beam, Reed Fricke, Rusty Korando, Santino Decker, and Tallen James.
