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Baseball is here! Who will have a year?

Compiled by SportsMic broadcaster/Coach Bill Beatty

As baseball begins to heat up – just finishing up its second week – we thought we’d give you a glimpse into the coaches’ thoughts of their team’s outlook and/or players to watch.

 

Houston County

The Bears, now 6-1, return seven starters, seven pitchers and 11 seniors. “We have made another tough schedule to test us early,” said Head Coach Matt Hopkins. “Expect this team to compete for all of our major seasonal goals: Win county, win region and compete for a state championship.”

Top hitters include: Drew Burress, a 10th grader infielder, outfielder; Gage Harrelson, an 11th grade outfielder and left-hand pitcher; Treyson Hughes, a senior outfielder and right-hand pitcher and Andrew Dunford, a 10-grade first baseman and right-hand pitcher.

And speaking of pitchers. Some of the top counted on are: Coleman Willis, a senior, 0-1 with a 2.5 Earned Run Average early in; Brodie Chestnutt, another senior with a 2-1 record so far and a .667 ERA and Trent Ringer, another senior, who is 1-0 with a 1.31 ERA.

Top newcomers include: Kaden Galson, an 11th grader, who will be competing for a starting spot in the lineup, Hopkins said; Blaydn Alaniz, another 11th grader, who will “provide much-needed depth,” and Elijah Smith, a 10th grader, who will compete for a spot in the outfield.

 

Northside

The currently 2-6 Eagles, per Head Coach Dyron Adams, are sophomore-heavy this year. “We return some experience with seniors Levi Walker, Cam Staten, Hunter Johnson and Andrew Heinisch, but we are going to have to count on 10th graders at key positions, and they are going to have to grow up on the run as we aim to get better by region play.”

Top hitters include: Walker, who can pitch, play shortstop or center field and hit .464 last year; Staten, who can pitch, play shortstop and third base; Johnson, who can play first or pitch; Doug Sapp, a senior, who can play outfield and hit .333 last year and Gabe Bautista, an 11th grader, who can pitch, play outfield or shortstop.

Pitchers include Walk, who was 1-1 with a 1.82 ERA last year, the aforementioned Staten and Heinisch.

Top newcomers include Rhett Adams, a ninth grader, who can pitch and play second. Expectations, Adams said, are him leading off and providing depth on the mound. There is also D.C. Coney, a 10th grader who can pitch and be used as a designated hitter. He can “provide power potential,” Adams said. There is Dylan Herlong, a 10th grader who can catch or play third. He represents a “plus arm behind the plate.”

Add in Drew Rice, a 10th grader, who can pitch and catch. A “power arm,” said Adams. And finally, pencil in Brayden Smith, a 10th grade outfielder with “speed”. That’s “speed” with an exclamation mark, Adams said.

 

Veterans

The Warhawks are currently 2-2 but boast 10 seniors and many returning starters from last year, Head Coach Mark Tallant said. “Our expectations are to make the playoffs and play for a chance to win a ring.

“The players have worked extremely hard since the COVID shutdown and are very hungry and excited to be playing baseball again. They told me that they want to make every day count.”

Top hitters for Veterans are: Blake Ethride, a senior; Al Lorenzo, also a senior and with the highest batting average last year; Clifford Pless, who is “hitting good so far (and is) speedy on the bases,” and Mark Lauritsen, who has also been “hitting the ball good so far.”

Top pitchers include: Ethridge, Brent Robinson, Evan Bussell and Hunter Dryden.

A top newcomer to look for is Tanner O’Neal. He’s a sophomore catcher who “looks really good this season behind the plate,” said Adams.

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