SENIOR WEEKS: Henderson’s Caufield proves defense is the best line of attack

Most baseball coaches preach some version of the cliche about good things happening if you just put the ball in play.

The idea is that every so often, some fielder will kick the ball around and put a man on base.

Well, that is one cliche that certainly does not apply when a team plays West Chester Henderson, at least if that ball in play goes to the left side of the infield, where flashy fielding shortstop Casey Caufield patrols the infield and gobbles up everything that comes his way.

Caufield is one of the best glove men in District 1, and the Warriors senior expected big things from his squad this season before the coronavirus crisis put an indefinite hold on the scholastic baseball season.

“To not have the season start is definitely upsetting,” Caufield said. “To have you senior year taken away is not a good thing. Hopefully, they can save some of the season and we can get back out there at some point. We had a young team last year with a lot of sophomores that are juniors now and I felt we had better pitching this year and a good lineup. It is really tough to not be able to play with your high school teammates in your senior year.”

Next fall, Caufield will play his collegiate baseball at Division 1 Monmouth University in New Jersey, where he plans to patrol the left side of the infield, just like at Henderson.

“I just liked everybody up there,” Caufield said. “Everyone at the school and the baseball program was very nice and I feel Monmouth is a good level of baseball that I can play at. I’m really looking forward to it but I would like to get this baseball season started first.”

In his sophomore and junior seasons, Caufield, besides being one of the top fielders in the Ches-Mont League, was also a speedy baserunner who kept opposing teams on their toes when he was on base.

Caufield also hit over .300 in both seasons and was a key member of the Warriors’ attack, as he hit at the top of the Henderson lineup in both his seasons of play.

Henderson coach Steve Fitch said after a Warrior win last season that Caufield can help a team in numerous ways.

“Casey is a very versatile player that puts a lot of pressure on the opposition.” Fitch said.
After his senior season, if there is a 2020 season, Casey Caufield will be remembered as a true Warrior.