Who is playing baseball for the United Red Storm in 2022? Find out the answer here...

MONMOUTH — When we last left the United Red Storm baseball team, the Red Storm were fresh off the school’s first regional title, part of a 20-3 season that ended with a 10-8 loss to eventual sectional champion Camp Point Central.

Coach Ryan Molek’s squad might have had a “just happy to be there” vibe last season at sectional, but with six of the eight players returning who had at least 40 at-bats, the bar is set even higher this spring.

“Our guys know that if you practice hard and play the game right way, the wins will take care of themselves,” Molek said. “The success they had last season in baseball and their success this year in football and basketball have proved that formula for success.”

Four of those six top returners earned All-Lincoln Trail Conference honors last season: seniors Cormaic Flynn, Colin Jenks, Nolan Leffler and Aidan Parkins. All four also made the IHSBCA Academic All-State Team, an honor for players who make an all-conference team with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Flynn posted video game numbers with a .515 batting average and a 1.333 OPS while leading the team in RBI with 28.

“Cormaic was All-State in football and basketball, and I thought he should’ve been All-State in baseball last year,” said Molek. “He’s a leader by example for us. During COVID, he totally changed his body in the weight room.”

Flynn will again be behind the plate, catching a pitching staff headlined by Leffler, who has committed to play baseball next year at Spoon River College.

“Nolan throws three pitches for strikes, and he can throw them at any time in the count,” said Molek of Leffler, who was undefeated in six decisions last year while posting a 2.35 ERA. “He’s just a competitor, a bulldog-type of pitcher. He doesn’t back down from challenging hitters.”

A year ago, Parkins was 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA, but Molek might prefer to keep him at shortstop this spring. His position at the key infield spot is no surprise, considering “AP” led United’s successful football and basketball teams this year from the quarterback and point guard positions.

“I’ve been coaching for 15 years, and AP is by far the best leader I’ve ever coached,” said Molek of Parkins, who hit .371 with a 1.105 OPS last spring. “He knows when to be vocal, and he knows when to joke around. As far as the qualities of a leader goes, he has empathy, and a lot of that comes from home. His parents have done a great job of raising him.”

Jenks was also an offensive standout for the Red Storm a year ago, batting .443 with a 1.160 OPS and finishing second to Flynn with 27 RBI.

“He’s going to be huge for us,” said Molek of Jenks, who’s a candidate for the No. 2 pitching slot behind Leffler.

Jenks will be the Red Storm’s regular center fielder, flanked, most likely, by Matt Holmes in right and sophomore Derrick Sargent, who hit .400 a year ago, in left.

Other Red Storm players who started a year ago were seniors Jon Smith and Parker Cassidy, who play on the right side of the infield, and “Swiss army knife” junior AJ Jenks, who can play third base, catcher or outfield. Mason Hootman is also a candidate to first play first base, which would move Cassidy to designated hitter. Smith, who’s had terrific bullpen sessions this spring, according to Molek, is another candidate to log lots of innings on the mound behind Leffler.

United's schedule

Thu., March 31 at Camp Point Central, 4:30 p.m.

Sat., April 2 at Nazareth and Fenton, 11 a.m.

Mon., April 4 vs Louisiana, Missouri, 5 p.m. in Jacksonville

Tue., April 5 vs Annawan/Wethersfield, 4:30 p.m.

Thu., April 7 vs Galva, 4:30 p.m.

Sat. April 9 vs Henry, 11 a.m.

Tue. April 12 at Princeville, 4:30 p.m.

Thur., April 14 at Stark County, 4:30 p.m.

Fri., April 15 at Mercer County, 11 a.m. (DH)

Wed., April 20 at Lewistown, 4:30 p.m.

Thu., April 21 vs North Fulton, 4:30 p.m.

Fri., April 22 vs Knoxville, 4:30 p.m.

Sat., April 23 vs Knoxville, 10 a.m.

Tue., April 26 at Kewanee, 4:30 p.m.

Fri., April 29 at Abingdon-Avon, 11 a.m. (DH)

Mon., May 2 vs Ridgewood, 4:30 p.m.

Sat., May 7 vs Monmouth-Roseville, 11 a.m.

Tue., May 10 at Southeastern, 4:30 p.m.

Thu., May 12 vs Bushnell-Prairie City, 4 p.m.

Sat., May 14 vs West Central, 11 a.m. (DH)

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: IHSA Baseball: Meet the United Red Storm