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Team Previews
ECS
27-14
1/21/08 42
The 2008 ECS Eagles Baseball team will be led by
returning seniors Adam Currie, Hal Tashie John Moore, Alex Laabs, and
Chris Moyni-han. Currie, a three year starter at pitcher and first base,
will provide much needed leadership for the eagles, who lost five three
year starters. Last year Currie hit .375 with 3 HR and 24 RBI. John
Moore and Hal Tashie both outfielders, started in the outfield for 34
games
last year. Moore hit .366 with 20 RBI. Tashie, who was injured
the last three weeks of the season last year, hit .246 last year. Three
Juniors saw considerable action last year. Colby Maxwell will move
from
catcher to shortstop. As a sophomore, Maxwell hit .325 with 28 RBI
in 38 games. Jordan Hill will take over in centerfield. Hill hit
.329 in 33 games last year. Grant Sutton hit .379 as a first baseman
and DH before breaking his hand after 28 games. Other juniors that
will be heavily counted on will be Ryan Smyres, who saw limited action
last year, Derek Dean, who will move in at third base, and Rudy Watkins,
who will see time at second.
The Eagle pitching staff will be anchored by Seniors Currie, Laabs and
Moynihan, who all saw action last year. Adam finished the year with
a 7 - 2 record and a 3.30 ERA, and looks to be #1 in the rotation.
Alex Laabs, a Lambuth University signee, had a tough year on the mound,
going 1 - 4 against very tough competition such as Bartlett, Collierville,
and Houston, but will be a major contributor this season. Chris
Moynihan had a successful year last year, going 5 - 1 with a 2.61 ERA.
Other newcomers who will compete for innings include juniors Scott Lord,
Blake Aquadro, Michael Braswell, Sophomore John Jordan, and Freshman Wil
Jamison
"To be successful this year ECS will need to eliminate defensive mistakes,
have solid pitching from its seniors, and have very timely hitting with
runners in scoring position. Home runs will not come as often as in
years past. This team will have to score runs using the bunt and
putting runners in motion," added Coach Heinz.
Briarcrest 20-22
2/26/08
79 The Saints will be led by returning seniors Will
Locante, Matt Amick, Nathaniel Thompson, Colton Ragan, Chris McDaniel,
Tyler Ellis, Taylor Powers and Eric Hutson. Locante is a two year
starter who has committed to UT. He will provide much needed
leadership to a team
that lost 12 seniors a year ago. Will will play in the OF when he is
not pitching. Amick will play 1B and in the starting pitching rotation.
Last year Matt hit .240 in a limited role and will counted on to
contribute much more. Thompson is the starting catcher for the
Saints who had a .406 OB% last season. Ragan will play the role of a
utility IF and be a contributor to the Saints pitching staff.
McDaniel who started much of the season last year in the OF will move to
3B this season. Tyler Ellis is a RHP who had a 1-1 record last year for
the Saints and will counted on heavily to give quality innings this
season. Taylor Powers will play
centerfield and Eric Hutson will play some in the IF and pitch as well.
Other players who will see playing time this season is Juniors Casey
Chilson and Taylor Blaylock, and sophomores Cole Faulconer, Ty Michelotti,
Cody Miller, Chase Newell, Josh Emery and Josh Hutcheson.
To be successful this year, Briarcrest will need to have several players
step up in all areas of the game. We lost 12 seniors last season who
primarily played everyday and helped lead the Saints to the state finals.
Someone other than Will Locante will need to step in our pitching staff.
The chemistry of this team is good and will need to stay strong throughout
the year.
Next School |
Team Previews
Harding Academy 17-18
1/15/08 37 The 2008
Lions will be led by Sr. C/RHP Fletcher Parker, Sr. 1B/RHP Tyler Hickman,
and Sr. OF Hayden Parrish. Parker batted cleanup and hit .310 last season
and will be starting his second full season behind the plate.
Hickman only played in 12 out of 34 games last season due to an injury but
along with Parrish will be counted on heavily for their
leadership skills. Hickman is more of a vocal leader while Parrish
leads by example. They are both hard-nosed players that any coach
would love to have on their team.
The pitching staff will be led by JR. LHP Chris Nunn who at 6'5" can be
an intimidating presence on the mound. Has great movement on his
fastball and when he is on can be un-hittable. Low to mid 80s
velocity. Sr. RHP Fletcher Parker will be 4th in the rotation and be
counted on to close out games early in the week which is a role he is
familiar with. Soph. RHP Tyler Stanford will be number 2 in the
rotation along with Soph. Stephen Hannah at number 3 in the rotation.
Both have out-standing off-speed pitches and have the confidence to throw
them anytime in the count. Hannah had a great summer on the mound
going 5-plus innings in all of his starts with an era. under 3.00.
To be successful this year we will need for our starting pitching to get
us late into games so we can turn to SR. RHP Parker or Sr. RHP. Hickman to
close out games. If our starters can give us 5-plus innings I think
we have a shot in the new Division 2-A to go deep into the playoffs.
JR. LHP Chris Nunn will be the key for us having either a good or great
season. We have a lot of experience from playing tough teams in the old
Division 2 West Region. We are continuing to play those teams this
year to prepare us for our new region. |
