#13 - Team Preview: Francis Howell Vikings
December 21, 2018
Missouri's countdown of the top 20 Most Read Stories of 2018 already includes high school team previews from Liberty, Staley and Holt. Today, the Francis Howell Vikings take their spot at number thirteen.
The Vikings finished at 12-21 in 2018 and landed Dalton Grantham, (2019) on the All-State Team. Here is a look at the Howell Vikings Team Preview that ran on Jan. 9
2018 Team Preview: Francis Howell Vikings
Tue January 9, 2018
preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.
Team: Francis Howell HS
Nickname: Vikings
Class: Class 5
Conference: Gateway Athletic Conference - South
Head Coach: Tony Perkins
Years as head coach at school: 23
Twitter Handle: @howell_baseball
2017 Overall Record: 17-16
2017 Post Season Finish: Lost in District Final
Team Website: www.angelfire.com/mo2/fhbb
Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 2
Number of Returning Starters/Position Players: 3
Players to Watch
Brad Beckman, P/1B, 2019
Joe Faron, OF/P, 2018
Chris Dansberry, INF, 2019
Zack Hunsicker, P/INF, 2018 (Central Florida)
Michael Collins, INF/P, 2018
Dalton Grantham, OF/P, 2019
Daniel Fick, P, 2019
Garrett Payne, C, 2019
Evan Ostermeyer, UT/P, 2018
Matt Schark, UTL, 2020
Season Outlook
Francis Howell will play one of the most competitive schedules in Missouri in any class in 2018. This spring the Vikings will take on Rock Bridge, Hickman, and Joplin and also add a trip to the western half of the state to battle with Staley and Liberty North. The Vikings also compete in one of the top conferences in Missouri as well, The GAC - South. When the Vikings start district play, they will be battle tested and will have competed against several top ten teams in Class 5. Francis Howell will have several seniors on the roster this spring. Zack Hunsicker, a Central Florida commit, will be the ace on the mound and see the bulk of the innings. Seniors Micheal Collins and Joe Faron will round out the pitching rotation along with junior Daniel Fick. Collins and Faron will will play important rolls as two-way players with Collins moving to second base and Faron playing the outfield. Look for Garrett Payne to see an increased roll behind the plate, while junior Dalton Grantham returns as an everyday starter in the outfield. Watch Francis Howell make another push into the state tournament, a place the Vikings have been very familiar with in the past several seasons.
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