Luther Lions Baseball
Luther High School’s varsity baseball team enters the new season with a youthful roster, but expectations remain high under head coach Haskell Browning. With five starters returning from last year’s squad and an influx of eight freshmen, the Lions will lean heavily on experience at key positions while developing the next wave of talent.
“We return five starters from last year’s team, although we are still a younger team,” Browning said. “We lost six seniors from last year and have eight freshmen this year, and only one senior. We have some key players returning and have a couple sophomores that we are going to rely on to step up.”
That lone senior is shortstop and right-handed pitcher Bray Mussyal, who will anchor both the lineup and the pitching staff. Mussyal is coming off a standout junior season in which he hit .427 with seven doubles and 17 runs batted in. On the mound, he logged 51 innings with a 2.608 earned run average and 53 strikeouts, numbers that solidified his role as the Lions’ top arm.
“Our coaching staff will look to our only senior Bray Mussyal to lead this young team,” Browning said. “Bray is a great athlete and better person. Bray will play shortstop and look to be our number one on the mound this season. We’ll be looking for him to lead our young team this season.”
Sophomore outfielder and infielder Kyle Coughran is another key returner after starting every game as a freshman, primarily in left field while also seeing time at third base. “We’re excited to see Kyle’s growth this year and are hoping he can help us out on the mound as well,” Browning said.
With Mussyal’s leadership and the development of players like Coughran, Browning believes the Lions can blend youth and experience into a competitive group by season’s end.
