XENIA, OH – Last season was the most successful season in the brief history of the Xenia Scouts. The team finished with a 23-19 record, their best ever and first over .500, along with a playoff victory in the first round over the Hamilton Joes. At the helm was Coach J.D. Arndt. Arndt brought to the team an impressive background as both a head coach and as a hitting coach. As hitting coach at NAIA Powerhouse Missouri Baptist, Arndt coached 14 All-American position players and never had a team hit less than .300. Following his days at Missouri Baptist, Ardnt served as hitting coach for the Rockford Riverhawks of the Frontier League from 2003-2005. He then took over as manager in 2005 and compiled a 101-90 composite record, with two playoff appearances in his two years as manager.
This past season the Scouts set a team record with 15 homeruns as a team, second best in the Great Lakes League. Among the individual player records to fall were Caleb Palensky’s .374 batting average and 32 runs scored. Palensky was named first team all Great Lakes League, and finished third in the race for the league batting title. On offense the Scouts also led the league in doubles, walks drawn, and sacrifice flies.
This season will be Arndt’s second with the Scouts, and third with Athletes in Action Baseball. Arndt was previously the head coach of the AIA Fire (now Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks) in the Alaska Baseball League.
