Prep baseball preview capsules
BIG SOUTH 3A CONFERENCE
ASHBROOK GREEN WAVE
Last year: 7-16, 2-10 Big South (sixth). Did not qualify for playoffs.
Coach: Josh Cobb, first season
Assistant coaches: Mike Bogaert, Charles Dixon
Returning starters (5): Garnett Bullock, IF, So.; Austin Buchanan, IF/P, Sr.; Austin Scott, OF, Sr.; Justin Shempert, OF, Jr.; C.J. Long, IF/P, Sr.
Other key players: Jimmy Sukhdeo, IF, Sr.; Brandon Usery, IF, Sr.; Bradley Edwards, IF/P, Jr.; Carson Dixon, C, Jr.
Outlook: Cobb, a former Cherryville High and Belmont Abbey College standout, takes over for Guy Spader. He inherits an inexperienced team that finished sixth out of seven teams in the Big South last season but hopes to compete for one of the league’s four playoff berths. None of the team’s three .300 batters from last spring return.
FORESTVIEW JAGUARS
Last year: 14-11, 8-4 Big South (third). Reached second round of playoffs.
Coach: Brian Horne, fifth season (60-40)
Assistant coaches: Ben McMillan, Phillip Trantham, Wes McCall
Returning starters (4): Zach Daly, OF/C, Jr.; Jared Silver, OF/C, Jr.; Logan Craig, 1B, Jr.; Demetri Harakas, 2B/SS, Jr.; John White, IF/P, Sr.
Other key players: Josh Branch, P/OF, Jr.; Reilly Hovis, P/SS, So.; John McCuen, C, So.; Ryan Wilson, OF/IF, Jr.
Outlook: Despite having only one projected senior starter, the Jaguars have plenty of experienced players returning.
Daly (.342 batting average, 2 HR last year) and Craig (.333) are the top returning hitters from last season. The pitching staff should get a boost from Hovis, who is already drawing interest from North Carolina, Clemson, Virginia, South Carolina and UNC Greensboro. He sat out last year due to eligibility rules after pitching Grier to a county title as an eighth grader, finishing that season with 101 strikeouts and a 7-0 record.
HUNTER HUSS HUSKIES
Last year: 3-19, 0-12 Big South (seventh). Did not qualify for playoffs.
Coach: Brent Mellon, first season
Assistant coaches: Jason Cabe, Ben Harris, Lee Shuford
Returning starters (6): Justin Blair, CF, Sr.; J.T. Stillwell, RF, Sr.; Cesar Garcia, P/IF, Sr.; Brandon Sparks, LF, Sr.; T.J. Green, C, Jr.; Zac Badger, P/1B, Jr.
Other key players: Brett Cullen, P/IF, So.; Darren Stillwell, P/OF/IF, So.; Caleb Smith, OF, Jr.; Cody Terry, P/IF, So.; Matt Withers, P/IF, So.; Michael Knights, P/IF, So.
Outlook: Mellon takes over for Terry Radford, who resigned after 22 seasons. A head coach only one previous season (Highland Tech 2006), Mellon has his hands full, as he inherits a program that has won more than seven games in any of the last nine years. The team’s only .300 hitter (Tyler Radford) is gone, and sophomores make up half the roster.
KINGS MOUNTAIN MOUNTAINEERS
Last year: 20-3, 14-1 Southwestern 2A/3A (first). Reached second round of playoffs.
Coach: Eric King, seventh season (85-59)
Assistant coaches: Jason Bridges, Brad Melton, Tom Lease
Returning starters (4): Cody Austin, SS/P, Sr.; Dylan Smith, C/3B/P, Sr.; Chris Allen, OF/SS/P, Sr.; Brian Brown, OF/P, Jr.
Other key players: Michael Homesley, 2B, Jr.; Michael Grooms, 3B, Sr.; Dustin Stone, OF/P, Jr.; Tyrielle Parker, 2B, Sr.; Brandon Gantt, C/DH, Jr.
Outlook: Kings Mountain lost five all-conference performers, the biggest being Gazette and Southwestern 2A/3A Conference player of the year Jeffry Howell, a pitcher/third baseman who now plays at Gardner-Webb. Of the Mountaineers’ four returning starters from last year’s conference championship team, two were all-conference selections: Austin and Smith. Charleston Southern signee Austin (3-0 on the mound last year), a four-year varsity starter, should lead the pitching staff. Smith, who batted .329 last season, is drawing interest from Pfeiffer and Wingate.
NORTH GASTON WILDCATS
Last year: 13-10, 6-6 Big South (tied-fourth). Reached second round of playoffs.
Coach: Jesse Martin, third season (18-23)
Assistant coaches: Beau Norwood, Andy Leigh, Chris Cloninger
Returning starters (6): Justin Parker, C, Sr.; Dustin Bridges, 1B/3B, Sr.; Joseph Laye, 1B/P, Sr.; Zade Denton, SS, Jr.; Henry Rundio, 2B/P, Jr.; Matthew Khamsahnlong, OF/2B, Jr.
Other key players: Brandon Bridges, OF/2B, So.; Micah Smith, OF, So.; Jarred Wallace, P/OF, Fr.
Outlook: After a couple of youthful rosters, experience is back on North Gaston’s side with six guys having started on the varsity team for two years. Denton (.481 batting average last season) and Rundio (.306 batting, 4-4 on the mound) are the top returnees. Both are drawing recruiting interest from Gardner-Webb and UNC Greensboro. Martin has confidence in the defense and the top of the batting order, but pitching depth will be a concern.
SOUTH POINT RED RAIDERS
Last year: 17-7, 11-1 Big South (first). Reached second round of playoffs.
Coach: Jason Lineberger, fifth season (70-36)
Returning starters (8): Weston Lawing, P/1B, Sr.; Ryan Huneycutt, SS, Sr.; Dariel Rogers, CF, Sr.; Jimmy Henning, 2B, Sr.; Jeffrey Springs, P/1B, Jr.; Jordan Edgerton, 3B/P, Jr.; Patrick Horne, 2B, So.; Derek Treffinger, LF, Jr.
Other key players: Jonathan Ray, C, Sr.; Spencer Wiles, RF, Jr.; Chris Harkey, P/RF, So.
Outlook: With almost every starter back, South Point has the experience and depth to make a run at another Big South title. The Red Raiders return their top two pitchers in Lawing (7-3, 0.57 ERA), a Lander signee, and Springs (8-1, 1.84 ERA), who’s being recruited by UNC Greensboro and Gardner-Webb. Huneycutt, a two-time all-conference selection, was the team’s top hitter a year ago at .427 while Rogers hit .320.
SOUTHERN PIEDMONT 1A/2A CONFERENCE
BESSEMER CITY YELLOW JACKETS
Last year: 16-9, 9-7 Southern Piedmont (fourth). Lost in first round of playoffs.
Coach: Brian Thornburg, first season
No information submitted.
CHERRYVILLE IRONMEN
Last year: 18-9, 12-4 Southern Piedmont (tied-second). Reached 1A regional finals.
Coach: Scott Heavner, fifth season (76-37)
Assistant coaches: A.J. Henley, Chesley Walls
Returning starters (7): Thomas Bess, P/OF, Jr.; Ryan Craft, P/Utl, Jr.; Blake Mosteller, P/C, Jr.; Blake McLeymore, Jr.; Kevin Elmore, Sr.; Brandon Heavner, Sr.; Lindsey Shealy, Sr.
Other key players: Alex Van Dyke, Sr.; Steven Shealy, Jr.; Dylan Hastings, P/IF, Jr.; Jordan Lyles, Jr.; Morgan Costner, Jr.; Marquis Redd, Jr.; Zach McNeely, So.
Outlook: Pitching will be this team’s strength, led by Bess (6-4, 2.41 ERA last season). Craft should log more innings after going 1-0 with a 3.59 ERA. Craft (.325 BA, 23 RBIs) is also the team’s top returning hitter, followed by Bess (.320) and Mosteller (.315). The Ironmen have reached the Western finals three straight seasons, and Heavner believes this team could be fun to watch come playoff time.
EAST LINCOLN MUSTANGS
Last year: 22-3, 15-1 Southern Piedmont (first). Advanced to second round of playoffs.
Coach: Chris Matile, fifth season (63-32)
Returning starters (2): Jarrett Ross, CF, Sr.; Jake Carter, SS, Jr.
Other key players: Parker Hills, P/C, Jr.; Eian Fowler, 3B/P, Sr.; Seth Hutchinson, OF, Sr.
Outlook: Graduation took a heavy toll on the Mustangs, who return just two starters. Ross batted .381 with a limited number of at-bats last season while Carter hit .296. Hills (5-2, 1 save) will anchor the pitching staff after he logged a team-high 46 innings last spring. Fowler (1-0, 1 save) pitched 10 1/3 innings.
HIGHLAND TECH RAMS
Last year: 3-19, 1-14 Southern Piedmont. Lost in first round of playoffs.
Coach: Rob Schafer, fourth season (11-56)
Assistant coaches: Justin Moore, Bob Schafer
Returning starters (4): Eric Froneberger, P/1B, Sr.; Heath Leagon, P/OF, Sr.; Blake Smarr, 2B/C, Sr.; Joe Deese, SS, So.
Other key players: Cameron Byrd, 2B, So.; Cole Cartee, 3B/1B, So.; James Taylor, C, Fr.
Outlook: Winning has always been difficult at Highland Tech, but Schafer looks for this team to double its win total from a year ago and be more competitive within the conference. Not only does Schafer consider this a good defensive team, but the Rams return two experienced pitchers in Froneberger and Leagon. At the plate, Deese was the team’s second-best hitter last year as a freshman.
LINCOLNTON WOLVES
Last year: 8-14, 7-9 Southern Piedmont (tied-sixth). Did not qualify for playoffs.
Coach: Cole Sigmon
No information submitted.
NORTH LINCOLN KNIGHTS
Last year: 7-13, 7-9 Southern Piedmont (tied-sixth). Did not qualify for playoffs.
Coach: Jon Carpenter, first season
Assistant coaches: David Rutledge, Zac Rutledge, Alex Pederson, Zac Beam
Returning starters (7): Byron Sherrill, P, Sr.; Johnny Walker, C/P, Sr.; Drew Belk, P/IF, Sr.; Daniel Courtney, OF, Sr.; Tucker Mozeley, OF, Sr.; Nate Hitt, DH/IF, Jr.; Tyler Lawing, 3B, Jr.
Other key players: Andrew Stidham, P/IF, So.; Gabe Allran, C/OF, Sr.; Dylan Lawing, IF, Sr.; Kyle Fulton, IF/P, Jr.
Outlook: Carpenter replaces Sean Andrews and takes over a talented roster that some consider the SPC favorite. Among the top returnees are Lander signee Walker (.400 BA, 2 HR, 1-1 pitching record) and Louisburg signee Belk (.339, 1 HR, 2-5 pitching record). The Knights also return two other .300 batters in Sherrill (.359, 3 HR) and Hitt (.345).
WEST LINCOLN REBELS
Last year: 19-7, 12-4 Southern Piedmont (tied-second). Reached 2A West semifinals.
Coach: Allan Chapman, 15th season (193-169-1)
Assistant coaches: Matt Lytton, Brad Gates, Sean Andrews
Returning starters (3): Trey Drewery, P/3B, Sr.; Dustin Richardson, 2B, Sr.; Spencer Gardner, SS, Jr.
Other key players: Taylor Braun, P/OF, Jr.; Brennan Beal, C, Jr.; Caleb Beal, P/OF, Jr.; Kyle Wyantt, 1B/P, So.; Zack Ellis, P/OF, Jr.; Zach Mason, IF, Jr.; Jake Adkins, P/IF, Jr.
Outlook: Chapman says this is the deepest pitching staff he’s had, and it starts with Drewery (6-2, 2.33 ERA). Drewery also led all area public schools with a .515 batting average last season and belted six home runs. Richardson hit .430 and committed only two errors at second base last season. Gardner hit .350 and is drawing recruiting interest from USC Upstate. The Rebels once again are expected to be one of the teams to beat in the SPC.
OTHERS
CLOVER BLUE EAGLES
Last year: 14-14, 4-6 Region III 4A (tied-third)
Coach: Darrell Van Dyke, fourth season (39-43)
Assistant coaches: Judd Dye, A.J. Main, Robbie Wiggins, Keith Harris
Key returnees: Chaztin Venezia, P/OF, Jr.; Hayden Hendry, OF, Jr.; Kris Thompson, SS, Sr.; Evan Jackson, P, Sr.; Travis Heffner, P/3B, Sr.; Brian Allen, 2B, Sr.
Key newcomers: Taylor Whitley, IF, So.; Ryan Stollar, P/OF, So.
Outlook: The Blue Eagles return 12 lettermen, including a trio of all-region picks: Venezia, Hendry and Jackson. Venezia (.375), Hendry (.370) and Thompson (6 HR) are the team’s top returning hitters. Jackson had a 5-3 record on the mound last spring.
EAST GASTON WARRIORS
Last year: 10-12, 6-6 Big South (tied-fourth). Lost in first round of playoffs.
Coach: Randy Sellers, fourth season (123-99)
Assistant coaches: Josh McSwain, Andrew Cooper, Kenneth Pasour, Brad Mulkey
Returning starters (4): Dylan Abernathy, OF/P, Sr.; Logan Armstrong, 1B/P, Jr.; Ethan Frazier, C/3B/P, So.; Jay Puckett, 1B/P, Sr.; J.P. Wilder, SS, Sr.
Other key players: Brandon Bates, OF/1B/P, Jr.; Justin Bolin, C, Jr.; Zachary Bumgarner, OF, Sr.; Kevin Conn, OF, Sr.; Russell Hick, IF, Jr.; Matthew Grimmett, IF/P, Fr.
Outlook: East Gaston moves from the Big South into the MEGA 7 3A/4A Conference, where it looks to be competitive and earn one of three 4A playoff berths. The Warriors have a strong pitching staff, led by Belmont Abbey signee Puckett (6-4, 2-08 ERA last season). East Gaston returns its top batter in Armstrong (.477, 4 HR) as well as two other solid contributors at the plate in Abernathy (.300) and Frazier (.286).
