Thanks to Rick Reed for a great article BY RICK REED News-Gazette Sports Editor Union City's dugout will feature an abundance of talent as the Indians embark on a baseball season filled with the highest of expectations. Senior Camden LaFuze headlines an all-star cast as the two-time defending Class A sectional champion Indians try to build on a banner season in 2022. Jason Dowler's ball club finished with an impressive 18-7 final record, won a sectional for second straight year before bowing out at the regional, 12-2, to eventual state champion Lafayette Central Catholic. Third-year Coach Jason Dowler knows the Indians have the talent, but says the biggest key to doing great things this season is to band together as a team. "We've go to play for each other and not as individuals," says Coach Dowler, entering his third year. "Great things can happen this year, but they won't if we're not united. Our focus this year is on team stats, not individual stats." Union City lost three starting players to graduation in Brenden Wright, Braydon Hoggatt and Colin Anguiano and their contributions will need to be replaced. But six starters return from last year's championship team, including the team's top two pitchers and the team's top four batsman. LaFuze, the ace on the mound, also put up some incredible numbers at the plate with a .514 batting average and a .770 slugging percentage. He had 6 wins and 5 losses on the mound with a stellar 1.88 earned run average. Zack Fulk, just a junior, is coming off a stellar season on the mound. The southpaw Fulk was efficient and highly effective, leading the team with an 8-2 record, a stingy 1.86 ERA, walked just 16 batters in 64 innings with 54 strikeouts. He also led the team in appearances with 18. Fulk also carried a big stick as well for the Tribe, rapping out hits at a .386 clip and leading the team in at bats, runs a tied for stolen bases. Yet another player coming off a banner season is junior first baseman Owen Dowler. Dowler's .395 batting mark was second on the team and he lad the team with 25 runs batted in. Add in three more returnees – junior Jude Conner, sophomore Brayden Huggins (.300) and junior Corbin Richards, and rest assured, the Indians will be wearing out the base paths with a talented a deep batting order that is sure to ne nightmarish at times for opponents. There is some new talent coming in, a few players who could make an immediate impact. The three other starting positions look to belong to talented freshman Jayson Connor in left field, Trendon Spence in center and Brennan Hoggatt at second base. All three are skilled and should blend in well with the returning starters. There are some others who are sure to contribute in some form. They include Luke Collins, Angel Nieto, Kolton Mills, Johnta Hill, Gabriel Tapp, Blake Curry, Kory Jeronimo, Gavin Puccini, Caleb Lutz and Keton Tipple. "You can't put the cart before the horse," notes Coach Dowler, who not only wants his team to win in the postseason, but also capture a county title and and Tri-Eastern Conference crown for the first time since 1973. That's certainly a distinct possibility for a team that on paper is loaded with talent. After bad weather postponed Union City's scheduled opener on Saturday against Knightstown, the Indians were scheduled to face Cowan at home on Tuesday.