Freshman Monigold’s debut a smash hit for Hiland
Hiland freshman Grady Monigold parlayed his success at the junior varsity level into a chance to play varsity ball. It didn’t take him long to get accustomed to the next level. The hard-hitting underclassman smacked three home runs in his first two games for the Hawks.
There are freshman debuts, and then there is the show Hiland freshman Grady Monigold put on in his 2023 debut for the Hiland Hawks baseball team.
After putting up blistering numbers for the junior varsity team earlier in the season, Hiland coach Chris Dages called Monigold up to the varsity level to face Buckeye Trail Friday, April 14 in a home contest.
During a game in which the Hawks struggled to make contact against three Buckeye Trail hurlers, collecting only five hits, Monigold made his debut a success story, collecting three of those five hits, including a double and a laser home run over the right field wall. His four RBIs led Hiland to an 8-3 victory.
In Hiland’s next game four days later at Sandy Valley, Monigold provided quite the encore in a 15-0 blowout victory.
Batting eighth, the freshman swatted not one but two more home runs en route to a fantastic six-RBI contest. His two-run and three-run taters came in back-to-back innings in the fourth and fifth frames, both of them monster blasts to right field.
“My goal was to come in and help us win,” Monigold said following his debut. “I just go up looking for something to attack. That last at-bat I was looking for something out over the plate I could really drive, and I caught it pretty square. I kind of knew that was out when I hit it.”
Monigold said stepping into the varsity fray is something he’s always dreamed about, but he didn’t put any added pressure on himself as he worked to quickly get accustomed to the game at the varsity level.
He said having some experienced and talented upperclassmen who understand the game and know what it takes to be successful at this level made it easier to transition, knowing he won’t have to carry the load.
“I’ve got some great seniors to show me the ropes and lead and help me know what I need to do up here,” Monigold said.
For the youngster, baseball is baseball, and he has been playing for a long time and understands the approach he needs to take.
But this type of a start for any player is one for the record books, let alone a freshman.
Monigold’s rise has given Dages plenty to ponder and some nice options, especially after junior outfielder Cody Yoder suffered an arm injury that looks like it will keep him off the field for the foreseeable future.
“He was swinging the bat so well in JV games, really putting the ball in play hard and consistently,” Dages said of Monigold. “That’s why we felt we needed to give him a shot at some playing time up here.”
Dages said Monigold’s arrival allows him and his coaching staff to create moving parts. Thus far Monigold has manned first base, and if he continues to hit the way he has, it should give Dages plenty of options for the future.