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Team Previews Huntingdon
24-8 1/21
Offense- Offensively, we return the
core of our line-up. Tyler Warbritton (.380, 13 2B, 8 HR, 37 R) returns as
a 4-year starter at shortstop and lead-off. Our three and four holes will
once again be filled by senior 3B/1B Matthew Fuller (.418, 14 2B, 3 HR, 37
RBI) and senior OF/DH Brandon Huss (.433, 16 2B, 5 HR, 35 RBI). Other
returning seniors that saw significant playing time offen-sively last year
are Cord Maddox (2B) and Will Espey (OF). Seniors Trevor Cloar, John Odom,
and Dakota Maness have been tremendous role players for our program and
are looking to contribute in 2012. What will be the deciding factor for us
offensively are the contributions that our underclassmen bring to the
table. Junior Jacob Warbritton returns as a utility player. His strongest
asset is being able to produce under pressure. Sophomore Taylor McCarty
looks to compete for the 2 hole as he has the tools to produce what is
expected from that position in the line-up. Junior Seth Fields is also
expected to contribute if he can put it all together and produce as he is
capable. Other juniors that have steadily improved and will look to
compete for time this year are Trevor Burlison, Garret Green, Will Tucker,
Dylan Hindman, and Dylan Poole. Sophomore Trevor Bradley could be a
sleeper as he has baseball skills and has greatly improved swinging the
bat since last year.
Pitching- Senior RHP Cord Maddox (5-2, 40 IP, 36 K) and junior Jacob
Warbritton are the returnee's with the most experience. Both threw in big
games last year and will be expected to do so in 2012. Senior Brandon Huss
has the ability to emerge as one of our top pitchers if he can stay
healthy. Juniors Garrett Green and Seth Fields have shown promise in the
pre-season and will be looked at to produce critical innings this season.
Junior transfer Devin Lawton has also shown glimpses of being a
contributor for us this year on the mound. Sophomores Chase Cursey, Trevor
Bradley, and Thomas Wheatley will look to fill the gaps and will be
expected to grow up quickly. Wheatley has the chance to be that crafty
lefty that always poses challenges to opposing hitters.
Defense- Defense will be an emphasis and is expected to be a strength with
several returning starters. IF's Tyler Warbritton, Jacob Warbritton, Cord
Maddox, and Matthew Fuller all return. These players will be expected to
play multiple positions based off who is on the mound. Seth Fields and
Dylan Hindman will compete for time on the corners. Outfielder Will Espey
is the only returning outfielder who saw significant time last year.
Taylor McCarty, John Odom, Dakota Maness, Trevor Burlison, Trevor Cloar,
Brandon Huss, and Devin Lawton look to battle it out for playing time in
the outfield. The big question is at catcher. Seth Fields, Dylan Hindman,
Mathew Fuller, and Josh Furr all bring something unique behind the plate
but we are waiting for one of them to emerge as the front-runner.
New-comers Brandon Baker, Ethan Kreuziger, and Tyler Bush will play role
as soon as they learn our system.
Wrap up- As always, we will have high expectations. This is a great group
with good leadership and team camaraderie. There is a nice blend of
experience and young talent. We will go as far as our senior leadership
takes us. Our ability to produce in big games has been non-existent the
last few years and this group has the ability to get us back to where we
want to be if they will believe in themselves.
Halls 17-20
1/23 As the 2012 baseball
season approaches, the Halls Tigers are hoping to return to promi-nence.
The team is talented but young. The players have made a commitment not to
let their youth lessen their expectations for the upcoming season. The
Tigers have stated that winning the district is their top priority.
Offensively, the Tigers have the potential to be very explosive. There
will be speed at the top of the order with guys like Noah Goodwin (CF),
Cody Young (SS), and Daniel Crutchfield (RF). They are excellent contact
hitters and they have great speed. Power in the middle will be provided by
Zach Harris (3B), Justin Ford (C), and Cody Davis (1b/ DH). Hayden Hogue
(2b) and Cole Nichols (LF) will provide depth and balance to the line-up.
Clayton Dew, Skyler Harrison, Chisholm Vaughan, Trevor Belton, and Kesean
Gooch will also provide the lineup with depth and punch.
Defensively, the Tigers will be much better. Noah Goodwin and Daniel
Crutchield are excellent outfielders with speed, range, and strong
accurate throwing arms. There is a wide-open competition for LF between
Cole Nichols, Chisholm Vaughan, Trevor Belton, Clayton Dew and Kesean
Gooch. The Tigers will be vastly improved behind the plate Justin Ford
catching with Trevor Belton as his backup. The infield will will have:
Zach Harris (3B), Cody Young (SS), Hayden Hogue (2B) & Cody Davis (1B).
One key to the team's overall success will be the play of utility
infielders such as Skyler Harrison, Clayton Dew, and Alex Broglin. These
players will rotate in for pitchers.
The strength of this Tigers team will lie in its pitching staff. The
Tigers' staff will be headlined by Zach Harris (Soph), Skyler Harrison (Soph),
Cody Young (Soph), Justin Ford (SR), Daniel Crutchfield (Soph), and Hayden
Hogue(SR). The fate of the team could very well be determined by the
performance of its relief pitchers Cole Nichols, Chisholm Vaughan, and
Trevor Belton.
The Tigers hope to compete for the District 14-A championship. The team
knows that Union City and Greenfield are the two favorites, but they feel
that with their continued hard work that they could win the district.
Clarksburg 11-13
2/1 2012 we will be as good
as our senior leadership wants us to be. This is my first year as head
coach, I come from being the hitting coach at Greenfield for the past
couple of years. This team is as talented as any team in Single A and we
can have a great year if the kids are willing to put in the work and come
every day ready to get better. Logan Hampton and Jordan Cary will anchor
the pitching staff and are two of the best pitchers in the district. Our
defense should also be a strong point and if we can pitch and play good
defense we should have a good year. We play in a great district with some
great teams and coaches so every district game is a key match up. The key
to our season is work, and if the players put that in we will be a good
team by tournament time.
The infield will be a real strong point for us this
year. Seniors Logan Hampton, Jordan Cary, Dallas Butler, Drake Simpson and
Matt Foster make this our most experi-enced area. Hampton will pitch and
play third, Cary will pitch and play SS. Butler will hold down 1B, and
Foster will be the man behind the dish. Simpson will pitch and be a
utility man moving around both infield and outfield. Second base will be
the only position not held by a senior. Freshmen Hunter Peterson, and
Trent and Trevor Gooch will all compete for the position.
Matt Foster returns as catcher for his Sr. year. He is a very hard worker
and great kid who will do what ever it takes to get the job done. Spencer
Edwards will also see some time behind the plate to give Foster a break
and to prepare him for the future. Ryan McDaniel, a freshman will also
begin work behind the plate to get him ready for the future.
Outfield will see changes depending on the days pitching situation. Trent
and Trevor Gooch will both compete for playing time in the OF, Spencer
Edwards is also likely to see some time in the OF as well. Matt Foster may
get some time in the OF when he is not behind the plate. Drake Simpson
will also see time in the OF depending on that days lineup. Jr Colton
Moore will be seeing action in the OF as well. 8th grader Brett Altom will
also be getting his feet wet from time to time in the OF.
The pitching staff returns the top two starters and is poised to have a
great year. Logan Hampton a SR will anchor the staff this year. He has
been the rotation number 1 since he was a sophomore and has been working
hard in the off season to get better. Jordan Cary, a SR, will be the
number 2 and is a great pitcher to go along with Hampton. He is a tough
kid, and will battle with anyone that steps in the box. Drake Simpson will
be our number 3 and he is an experience, tough pitcher who will help us
compete every day. Relief pitching will consist of Dallas Buter, Trent and
Trevor Gooch, Hunter Peterson and Brett Altom.
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