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Knoxville Webb
14-16 1/3/08
20
THE 2008 WEBB SPARTANS WILL BE AN
INEXPERIENCED GROUP BUT THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESS. WATCH OUT FOR THE
SPARTANS AT TOURNAMENT TIME BECAUSE AS THE YOUNG PLAYERS GAIN EXPERIENCE
AND CONFIDENCE THEY COULD MAKE A LATE RUN. SENIORS STEELE TAYLOR, JEFFREY
JOHNSON, AND TAD LEE WILL BE COUNTED ON FOR LEADER-SHIP AND TO CARRY THE
LOAD UNTIL MORE WEAPONS ARE ADDED TO THE SPARTAN ARSENAL. RETURNING
STARTERS JUSTIN ALEXANDER, JASON BERUBE, & PARKER WORMSLEY ,
WITH A YEAR OF EXPERIENCE UNDER THEIR BELTS, WILL BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE
OFFENSIVELY AND LEAD THE SPARTAN DEFENSE.
STEELE TAYLOR AND JUSTIN ALEXANDER SHOULD ANCHOR THE PITCHING STAFF WITH
HAYDEN HALL AND CODY GUINN FILLING OUT THE ROTATION. LEFT HANDED PITCHERS
OLIVER MCLAIN AND DREW PACKARD COULD HAVE A BUSY SPRING OUT OF THE
BULLPEN. COACH WORMSLEY IS HOPING THAT
GRANT MITCHELL, MICHAEL TREMOULIS, AND KJ PARENT WILL DEVELOP AND BE READY
TO PITCH WHEN CALLED UPON.
"STRONG PITCHING AND DEFENSE WILL BE A MUST FOR THE SPARTANS EARLY IN THE
SEASON AS THE INEXPERIENCED HITTERS DEVELOP. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF
COMPETITION FOR PLAYING TIME AS MANY YOUNG, INEXPERIENCED PLAYERS LOOK TO
PROVE THEMSELVES. UNDERCLASSMEN JARROD GRAYSON, COLE MASSEY, AUSTIN
KERNS, CLARK JOHNSON, TRE'' WATERS WILL BE COMPETEING TO WORK THEIR WAY
INTO THE LINEUP," said Coach
Wormsley.
Pope John Paul II
na
2/4/08
67 The Knights
return only one All region player in Senior Pitcher Jordan Snyder. The
Knights return return several players in all grades including many
underclassmen who saw action last season. With a new coaching staff in
place, all positions are wide open for the Knights. Several players return
who were part time starters last season so nothing is certain in the JPII
line-up.
With the 2008 season approaching excitement is high for the JPII Baseball
Program. The off-season has seen a new coaching staff put in place and
stadium lights were installed in December. The Knights have yet to post a
winning season in the short history of the school, but hopes are high for
improvements in the 2008 squad. New Head Coach, Michael Brown and his
staff will have one returning all region player
in Jordan Snyder and a host of young players as well as veterans
returning. Brown comes to JPII after spending 10 years as a head coach at
2 different schools in North Georgia. Brown's career record is 182-62.
“The players have worked hard in the off season and we took a huge step
in building a quality program buy getting lights. Now we can have adequate
time to practice and play night games” said Coach Brown. “ As far as the
team goes, everything is wide open. I have never seen any of our guys play
more than a few innings so I really do not know what to expect. All I can
say is that we will make an effort to out work everybody else and let the
chips fall. The most important thing is getting our system installed. It
is going to take some time. This will
not be an overnight turn around, but the ingredients are her for a good
program" added Brown.
The season opens at Cascade on March 10 and the home opener is against CPA
on March 11. The Knights will play defending state Champions Friendship
Christian, University School of Illinois, the Bozeman school in Florida as
well as regular region powers, BGA, MBA, Father Ryan and Brentwood
Academy. With lights the Knights will play several home games at night
this spring.
"To be successful this year we have to get our system in place. We have to
establish expectations on and off the field. The success of this team may
not be measured in wins and losses. We have to lay the foundation for
building a successful program, " said Brown.
Brentwood Academy
27-11 2/26/08
82 The 2008
Eagles will return six position starters and two pitchers from the
2007 starting rotation. Sr. P/C Jacob Stallings was an early
signee with North Carolina as an excellent defensive catcher. He
notched a 5-1 record after being forced into a pitching role. Stallings
hit .294 with 17 runs batted in. Jr. C/DH Thomas Lundborg is also an
excellent defensive catcher who split duties with Stallings in 07.
Lundborg hit .315 with 23 runs batted in. Sr. SS/3B
Jordan Jones sparked the Eagles from his lead off spot. Jones hit
.378 with 37 runs scored, 7 doubles, 5 triples, and 2 home runs last
season. Sr. RF Mason Graham led the Eagles offensively last season
at .379 with 31 runs scored, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, and 14
stolen bases. Sr. LF Mark Jacobs is a steady player that contributed
with a .360 average, 25 runs scored, 18 runs batted in, and 5 stolen
bases. He handles the bat well and is a
complete offensive player. Jr. D.J. Luna is a scrappy player who
leads by example. He hit .274 with 25 runs scored, 4 doubles, 1
triple, 2 home runs with 8 stolen bases. Jr. LHP Ben LePere is the
other returning pitcher from last seasons rotation. LePere was 5-2
with a 2.66 ERA.
Sr. OF Jeff Davis, Jr. OF Jackson Boyd, Jr. INF Sam Dove, So. INF
Andy Lennington, So. OF Cody Nelson, Jr. Philip Henninger, So. Will
Blalock, Jr. Drew Floyd, and So. INF Jay Luna will also vie for starting
positions and will contribute at the varsity level.
Joining Stallings and LePere in the starting rotation will be Jr. RHP
Drew Floyd and So. RHP Will Blalock. Floyd was 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA before
a season ending injury in late April. Blalock was 1-0 last season
with only 14 innings of varsity work after being "called up" to the
varsity. Jr. RHP Philip Henninger and D.J. Luna will also contribute
with relief appearances.
"To be successful this year we must get consistent, solid pitching from
our starters," said Coach Alexander.
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