The Keota Eagles are getting another summer of baseball underway and looking to get back on the winning side of things. A record of 10-11 last year meant Keota fell just one game shy of a winning season for a second straight year.

The Eagles bring back young but talented hitters like freshman Blake Baker, who had a .375 batting average and 18 runs batted in as a rookie. Sophomore Brennan McGuire also returns after hitting .320 and driving in 16 runs.

Baker is also one of Keota’s top pitchers, allowing just four earned runs in over 16 innings of work as an eighth-grader, while senior Billie Kindred also comes back with a 4.07 earned-run average from more than 22 innings on the mound in 2024.

Head coach Austin Waterhouse tells KCII Sports that his team might look young on paper, particularly the batting order, but they’ve built up plenty of veteran savvy.

“I feel like the young guys that got a lot of playing time last year, and some other guys this year, can move right into those positions,” Waterhouse says, “and their defense is really good, as well.”

The Eagles played their season opener Friday night against Twin Cedars and won by a final score of 14-6. Keota hopes to go 2-0 when they host North Mahaska later tonight.