Greene County head baseball coach Mark Sawhill told Raccoon Valley Radio that he’s looking forward to the 2014 season and their could be competition for starting positions. Greene County was 15-18 overall in 2013 with six of the 10 regulars returning. Add in nearly everyone from the Junior Varsity squad that went 20-2 and the coaching staff may have a team next summer with more depth than in recent seasons. “That’s something that’s been missing in recent years,” said the head coach. “We’ve not had a lot of competition for starting spots and not had a lot of depth on our bench. I could see both as we look ahead to 2014.”

The Rams were seventh in the 10-team Heart of Iowa Activities Conference and although the coach hopes to move up in the conference standings he also understands that it won’t be easy. “Our conference has two teams playing in the Class 2A State Tournament today (Monday) in North Polk (Alleman), the league champion, and Roland-Story (Story City). Those two, plus Saydel (Des Moines), Nevada, Gilbert, and others, will all be returning some very good players, so we’ll have our hands full.”

The 15 wins were the most in five seasons for a Jefferson-based varsity baseball team. The Rams also won a postseason game for the first time since 2008 when they won on July 19 in Creston vs. Creston’s Panthers by a score of 8-5. Greene County lost in the Class 3A District 15 title game to Creston on July 22 to eighth ranked Glenwood, 7-2.