Knoxville Baseball Coach Joel Johnson knew going into this season he would have to use several young players due to graduation losses from last year. He also knew there would be growing pains. Johnson tells KNIA/KRLS Sports while there were growing pains, he has been pleased with the improvement of the sophomores that were pressed into action this season. He also liked their willingness to step right into the kitchen, as he calls it and start cooking, but he had a little advice at the beginning of the season. He says Sophomores Rylan Cox and Jacob Zuck stepped up and played above anyone’s expectations this season, especially on the mound. Zuck currently has a 3-1 record with a .452 E-R-A while Cox has a .490 ERA and is third on the team with 40 innings pitched. Cox also leads the team at the plate with 24 walks and has raised his average in the last two weeks to .232. Knoxville will take on Chariton Friday in the first round of the Class 3A District in Pella, a game you can hear on AM 1320 and 95.3 KNIA at five.