Michael Sandman didn’t feel like he had to assert his authority when he took over the New Albany baseball program just before the start of the school year.

After all, the Eagles enter the season having won a Division I state championship, four consecutive district titles, and a pair of league crowns over the last four seasons that have been played.

Sandman, who went 50-37 at Utica (two seasons) and Johnstown (one season), has an upbeat personality with a passion for the sport that was apparent in his first meeting with the team last fall.

“It’s nothing he really said – it’s just the way he acted,” said senior infielder Oliver Shroyer, who was first-team all-district and all-league after batting .417 with 31 hits and 17 RBIs last season. “He came in with a big smile on his face the day we met and had our meeting. He was really sick, which he was sad about because his voice was gone. But he was still smiling the whole meeting. He actually cares about his players. He wants to know who his players are on a personal level.”

Sandman, who is a history teacher at Utica, replaces Dave Starling after he guided the Eagles for six seasons and now coaches at Hilliard Bradley.

“A change in coaching staff, you never know how it’s going to go,” said senior pitcher Tom Bohman, who recorded a program-record eight saves last season and was honorable mention all-league. “(The coaches) been absolutely amazing. It’s like they’ve been here forever, honestly. They just fit right in with the guys. (Sandman) is just a real guy. He’s down to earth. He’s humble, but at the same time imposing and firm. He’s just genuine.”

The Eagles return a wealth of talent that has the potential to continue their recent success, including Shroyer and classmates Ben Clark (C), Elijah Griffith (P) and Eli Henderson (OF), who all played in the Eagles’ 6-5 win over Cincinnati Elder in the 2021 state title game.

They were also key players on last year’s team that finished 24-7 overall before falling to Grove City 2-0 in a regional final. The Eagles and the Greyhounds shared the OCC-Ohio Division championship at 12-3.

“I just told them that I’m a relationship guy,” Sandman said. “I said everybody has a clean slate here. I just wanted to see them compete. We had open fields in the fall and our attendance was awesome. They worked their tails off and trusted what we were talking about. We just wanted to come in and build relationships. We didn’t need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to baseball.”

Henderson returns after batting .409 with a team-best 36 hits, including one home run and 36 RBIs on his way to second-team all-state, all-district and all-league honors.

Clark batted .350 with 35 hits, including a homer, and drove in 20 runs and classmate Owen Johnson (2B/P) hit .356 with 26 hits, a homer and 21 RBIs.

Clark was first-team all-district and all-league and Johnson was second-team all-district.

Griffith, who was honorable mention all-district and second-team all-league, went 7-3 with a 2.77 ERA, 33 strikeouts and 13 walks in 43 innings last season.