What a difference a summer can make in high school baseball. Just ask Buffalo Valley baseball coach Shane Fry.

“We were coming off a losing season last spring and struggling a little so in the fall we embraced the role of underdog and battled our way up through the rankings to end up ranked ninth with a record of 21-6. We beat No.8-ranked Granite to get to the state tournament where we lost to eventual state champion Fort Cobb/Broxton.”

So what changed over the summer?

“I’m not sure I have an answer,” said Fry, who is a Buffalo Valley grad in his third year as head coach. “Guys just started stepping up in a timely manner. Maybe it was just a time of maturing over the summer because we are a pretty senior-heavy team now. Or maybe there was just some magic in the air over the summer,” chuckled Fry. “I remember our second-round game in the regionals against Asher and we got down 10-0 in the first inning but came back to win that game and then beat Granite.”

Strong pitching is something needed to make it all the way and the Buffaloes have that according to Fry.

“Our best arm is Jace Hunter who is committed to play at Murray State next year and was a big key to our turnaround in the fall. He had 98 strikeouts and a 3.7 ERA with seven home runs. Our gold glove guy is shortstop Zane Collins and he also led the team in hitting with a .538 average. Brendan Champlin is another of our seniors who is a mov- in from Clayton. He hit .519 last fall and plays catcher and first base.”

Playing a tough schedule is important to get a team ready for state and Fry thinks the Buffaloes will be ready.

“It’s a little tougher in the spring with the combined classes but we’ve got high expectations. Our schedule includes Kiowa which has a strong pitching corps, Crowder, Red Oak, Caney who has a lot of talent and the Moss Tournament where we’ll see several good teams.”