SW4A
BASEBALL
SW4A News and Notes
1/2/2012
SW4A Home Runs 2011 While
the sample size may not be statistically significant, using the 2011
SW4A season as a data base, the following is an analysis of the data: 1. Statistically
interesting that SW4A teams averaged the exact .61 HRs per game both on
the road as at home. 2. Size
can be deceiving – East Meck, playing in the league’s
smallest park, had the largest differential away from home, averaging
better than a half of an HR more on the road than at Dave Jones Field. 3. Providence
averaged a half of an HR more at home than on the road, the largest
margin in the league, but still averaged the most HRs on the road at
1.08 per contest. 4. Twenty
HRs were blasted out of Dave Jones Field in contests with SW4A teams
playing, but 13 of the 20 came in the CBC/East Meck Spring Break
Classic and only two HRs were hit by opponents in SW4A contests–
If you are looking for the long ball at East, play a day game. 5. Team
Adjustment was derived by taking the difference of the school’s
Away and Home means and then adding that to the field mean as a way to
offset the relative strength or weakness of the home team at the site. 6. Not
surprisingly the two largest parks, Sabre Field and Myers Park’s
Jack Sink Field were the toughest to homer in, but they both also
generally play into the wind as does Dave Jones Field, a reason why the
smallest park is also on the low end for dingers. Team HR
Total Games Mean HR
Home Games Mean HR
Road Games Mean Away vs Home Diff Ardrey
Kell 25 29 0.86 16 15 1.07 9 13 0.69 -0.37 Butler 22 26 0.85 5 9 0.56 17 17 1.00 0.44 East
Meck 18 26 0.69 6 14 0.43 12 12 1.00 0.57 Independence 8 23 0.35 4 11 0.36 4 12 0.33 -0.03 Myers
Park 7 26 0.27 4 13 0.31 3 13 0.23 -0.08 Providence 36 27 1.33 22 14 1.57 14 13 1.08 -0.49 Rocky
River 2 23 0.09 1 10 0.10 1 13 0.08 -0.02 South
Meck 8 26 0.31 1 10 0.10 7 16 0.44 0.34 Totals 126 206 0.61 59 96 0.61 67 109 0.61 0.00 Site Total
HRs Games Mean Home Total Mean OPP Total Mean Team
Adjustment AK
Knights Field 30 16 1.88 AK 16 1.07 OPP 10 0.63 1.50 Butler
Bulldog's Field 7 9 0.78 Butler 5 0.56 OPP 2 0.22 1.22 EM
- Dave Jones Field 20 20 1.00 EM 6 0.43 OPP 2 0.14 1.57 Indy
John Matthew Field 11 11 1.00 Indy 4 0.36 OPP 7 0.64 0.97 MP
- Jack Sink Field 16 22 0.73 MP 4 0.31 OPP 6 0.46 0.65 Providence
Panther Field 31 14 2.21 Prov 22 1.57 OPP 9 0.64 1.72 Rocky
River Ravens Field 9 9 1.00 RR 1 0.11 OPP 8 0.89 0.98 South
Meck Sabre Field 5 11 0.45 South 1 0.10 OPP 2 0.20 0.79 Totals 129 112 1.15 Home 59 0.53 OPP 46 0.41 1.15 Site Prevailing
Wind AK
Knights Field Out
to Center Butler
Bulldog's Field Out
Left Line EM
- Dave Jones Field In
from Left Center Indy
John Matthew Field Out
to Right Center MP
- Jack Sink Field In
from Left Center Providence
Panther Field Out
to Right Center Rocky
River Ravens Field Out
to Center South
Meck Sabre Field In
from Left Center
12/21
11/25
SW4A 2012 Preview
Persistence and Determination William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United
States, is probably the President most closely associated with baseball. Taft, a baseball
enthusiast, is credited with starting the tradition of throwing out the
first pitch to begin a game when on April 14, 1910 at the season
opening game between the Washington Senators and the Philadelphia
Athletics the President was spontaneously handed a ball after the
managers meeting by umpire Billy Evans and asked to throw it to home
plate. Taft happily obliged, and the tradition has continued with every
President, less one (Jimmy Carter), starting the season with a
“first pitch” at least once during their tenure in the Oval
Office. In 1924, Calvin Coolidge became the
first sitting President to cheer the “home town team” in
the World Series as the Senators won their first American League
championship. President
Coolidge would address the Senators following the game (the ones from
the baseball team and not congress) while nearly 100,000 fans would
stand and watch on the White House lawn after clenching the pennant
saying: “While baseball
remains our national game, our national tastes will be on a higher
level and our national ideals on a finer foundation. By bringing the
baseball pennant to Washington you have made the National Capital more
truly the center of worthy and honorable national aspirations.” The Senators would lose the opening
game of the World Series in 12 innings to the New York Giants, with
Coolidge in attendance, but would come back to win the seventh game in
12 innings securing Washington’s only Series title. Later, Coolidge
would say: “Nothing in the world can take the place of
Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful
men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a
proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” Juxtapose
Coolidge’s quote with this past SW4A baseball season and the 30th President seems to be
prophetic. The 2011 version of the SW4A was
loaded with talent like never before. Twenty-one seniors
signed National Letters of Intent to continue playing at the next level. Five of the 30, 4A
all-staters were from the SW4A. Three of the 17
North Carolina high school athletes selected in the 2011 Major League
Baseball amateur draft played in the SW4A. This after a total of four
players (Jack Reinheinmer 2010, Ardrey Kell; Richie Shaffer, Providence
2009; David Mailman, Providence 2007; Ryan Morris, South Meck 2006) had
been selected from the league in the previous decade, a decade where
the SW4A had dominated in the state playoffs having nine teams reach
the regional in 10 years, with five advancing to the state championship
series. The
league had two high school players drafted in the years 1975 (Dickie
Noles, Harding; Richard Alexander, Myers Park), ’82 (Kevin Davis,
West Meck; Andre Crawford, Harding) ’83 (Steve Wiley, Myers Park;
Doug Emery, East Meck) ’84 (Stu Cole, South Meck; Mike
Montagnino, Harding) ’89 (Sam Shannon, South Meck; Cornell
Caldwell, Independence) ’93 (Chad Griffin, Garinger; Ken Wilson,
South Meck) and in ’97 (Barrett Wright, Myers Park; Bennie
Harris, Myers Park) but never before had three in the same year. Yet with all that
talent, no SW4A team advanced past the sectional round and only Ardrey
Kell was playing after the first week of the North Carolina High School
Athletic Association (NCHSAA) playoffs had concluded. You want more evidence on how deep the
talent ran in the SW4A in 2011? How about the
conference had co-players of the year, and neither one was the
supplemental first round draft pick of the San Diego Padres. More still? OK. There were 18
players on the league’s all-conference roster plus the two
co-players of the year. Add
the two honorable mention selections and yet a player who was talented
enough to be the 46th round
draft pick of the Texas Rangers still did not record any league honors. Providence romped to their third
consecutive loop title and second straight league tournament crown
going 25-2 behind supplemental first round selection Brett Austin and
all-state Jake Fincher before being stunned in the second round of the
state playoffs. Ardrey
Kell also won 24 games off the strength of all-stater Logan
Ratledge’s bat and 35th round selection Chris
McCue’s right arm before dropping a heart breaker 2-1 in the
sectional. Butler
and South Meck were pleasant surprises, both going 16-10. Butler flashed early
in the state playoffs, upsetting Central Piedmont Conference champion
Davie in the opening round, before stumbling at North Davidson in round
two. The
Sabres were stopped in the first round for the second consecutive
season. In
fact while South has appeared in nine consecutive NCHSAA tournaments,
they have failed to advance past the second round since reaching the
finals in 2005. East
Meck was the fifth state playoff qualifier from the SW4A in 2011,
playing eventual 4A west regional champion TC Roberson tough in the
opening round before the Rams scored late to win 5-2. The 2012 version of the SW4A may not
have quite the star power of 2011, nevertheless the persistence and
determination will certainly be present. South Meck was
loaded with young talent last season that surprised many, finishing
third, and will be one of the favorites to win their first league title
since 2004 this season. Butler
and Myers Park, both full of baseball genius, will be reenergized with
new field bosses. Independence
and East Meck have shown steady progress and growth under the
leadership of coaches Dymecka and Koppe, now in their fifth and third
seasons respectively, and should continue to rise up the conference
standings. Rocky
River will improve as they will have upper classmen for the first time
this season and a year’s experience of competing in the SW4A. And while 25-3, and 24-5 sounds nice,
nothing less than a drive for the state championship is going to
satisfy the persistence and determination of coaches Hignight and
Bagwell at Providence and Ardrey Kell. Next week, the dead period for the
NCHSAA baseball teams concludes with the resumption of eight-man and
individual workouts. Players, coaches,
and fans start looking pass the holidays and forward to the start of
regular practice and opening day and before you know it, the season
is here. And
if you need some encouragement why you can look forward to another
exciting season of SW4A baseball actionwhile “the moon on the breast of
the new-fallen snow gives the luster of mid-day to objects below,” here
are two: Persistence
and Determination.
For release: November 25, 2012 SW4A Preview – 2012 Ardrey Kell Knights – Coach: Hal Bagwell
(312-119) – 6th season (16th SW4A) 2011
Record: 24-5, 9-3
SW4A – 2nd Last
Conference Title: 2008 Last
SW4A Tournament Championship: None Last
Play-off Appearance: 2011 – Sectionals Last
State Finals: 2009 Last
State Title: 2009 Key
Losses: Logan Ratledge
– SS (All-State, Co-SW4A POY) Chris McCue –
P (All-SW4A, 35th Round
selection, Yankees) Alex Leach –
1B (All-SW4A) Top
Returns: Trent Thornton – P/OF All-SW4A (North Carolina) Brad Stone – P
(North Carolina State) Preston Tiller
– OF (Appalachian State) Justin French
– P (West Point) After
finishing behind Providence for the third straight season and being
upset in the opening round of the SW4A tournament, the Knights advanced
further than any SW4A team in the state playoffs, losing a heart
breaker 2-1 in the sectionals, a step away from their third NC 4A
Western finals appearance in four seasons. And for the first
time in four years, Coach Bagwell will not be writing Logan Ratledge
into his line-up card. The
loss of Ratledge, who holds 13 AK records, including the most hits,
doubles, and home runs, leaves a large hole in the Knight’s
line-up. In
fact, six of the next seven leading hitters for the AK in 2011 are gone. However, the
cupboard is certainly not empty. North Carolina
signee Trent Thornton, batting next to Ratledge in the line-up, slugged
eight HRs (second in the SW4A) while batting .402. Leadoff man Preston
Tiller (Appalachian State), who started the season strong but trailed
off after several injuries took their toll, will be counted on to
frequently set the table if the Knights are to win their first title in
four years. If
runs will be at a premium for the Knights, scoring against the AK staff
will be just as difficult as ever with two ACC signees on the staff. Thornton (7-2, with
2 saves in 2011) will be back for this third season on the hill. The right hander,
playing for the South Charlotte Panthers, was also 11-0 (a SCP record)
during the Showcase season and concluded his summer session with a two
hit, nine strikeout, zero walks complete game shutout at the Perfect
Game World Championships in Jupiter against one of the premier showcase
teams in the country. Left handed NC State signee Brad Stone
with 52 strikeouts in 42 innings (5-1, 1 save) will be part of the
regular rotation this season after being a spot start and closer for
the Knights in 2011. Behind
Thornton and Stone are seniors Brian Hummel (0.42 ERA) and Justin
French (1.05 ERA) plus a host of hard throwing probies including Logan
Beehler and Doug Norman itching for their chance. Look for Forster
Machicote to provide some pop in the Knight’s line-up. Improved run
production from Myles Garner and Jacob Gavin and AK will be at or near
the top again. Butler Bulldogs – Coach: Rick Sambrotto (0-0) – 1st
season Last
Play-off Appearance: 2011
– 2nd Round Ryan Hodge – SS Tommy Hibbard – 3B Tyler Revell – 2B Top Returns: AJ Larson – OF
(All-State, Co-SW4A POY) Dalton Eisenbath – P/1B
(All-SW4A) Chase Gehringer
– CF (All-SW4A) Matt Baltimore – P After 14 seasons under the direction of Kim
Cousar, the only head coach the Bulldogs have ever known, the reins
have been turned over to Rick Sambrotto who has been Cousar’s
assistant since the beginning. And unlike many
times when there is a change in management because of less than
satisfactory results, Sambrotto inherits a team loaded with experience
and talent that is more than capable of winning the SW4A. Only Providence
returns more all-league honors players than the Bulldogs. Start with SW4A
Co-Player of the Year AJ Larson and his sweet left handed swing who
stroked eight HRs (2nd SW4A)
and drove in 23. Butler
has two other returning all-conference players in 2012. Four year varsity
starting center fielder Chase Gehringer, who lead the team in hits
(33), average (.363) and stolen bases (14) in 2011 plus three hole
hitter Dalton Eisenbath who batted .357 with 30 hits and was 5-3 in 12
starts with a 2.75 ERA. Matt
Baltimore became one of the league’s premier relievers last
season striking out 28 in 32 innings relieving in 12 games with two
saves posting a 1.53 ERA. Look
for Tommy Ollis, who hit a two out pinch hit three run homer to send the game into extra
innings that the Bulldogs eventually won in 11 versus Hopewell in the
East Meck/CBC Spring Break Classic, and Alex Hummel to possibly fill in
some of the holes at second, short and third left from graduation. If the Bulldogs play
solid defense, they will challenge for the title. East Meck Eagles – Coach: Clint Koppe (29-22) – 3rd
season 2011 Record:
14-12, 6-8 SW4A – 5th Last
Play-off Appearance: 2011 – 1st Round Lou Trosch – P/OF (All-SW4A) Jonathan Crews – P/1B Jackson Reisterer – 2B Ian Ashworth – P Justin Strong – 3B Any team that loses two four year starters, both
who were two time All-SW4A selections plus another three year starter
could be expected to possibly step backwards in the league ranks in
2012. After
finishing in the basement in 2006 & 07, the Eagles have steadily
improved increasing their league win total each of the next four
seasons. In
2011, the Eagles matched their league win total of the previous year
and made the state playoffs for a second consecutive season, losing to
a late inning rally by the eventual western 4A champion TC Roberson in
the opening round. Gone
are the Eagles’ top slugger in David Daniels and unofficial SW4A
record holder for career starts (34) Lou Trosch but the Eagles look
poised to continue their upward trend. Returning is catcher
Logan Sherer who pounded out 34 hits, including 13 for extra bases (4
HRs), while batting .391 as a sophomore earning him all-league honors.
Juniors Justin Strong (3B) (.375) and David Marvin (RF) (.342) produced
44 hits and 25 RBIs between the two of them in their first varsity
season of SW4A action. And
that still leaves the Eagles’ most feared batter in lefty
swinging second baseman Jackson Reisterer who homered thrice, driving
in 18 while being walked 19 times. Both the speedy center fielder Sport
Frazier and left fielder Tennant Gardner return to the Eagle’s
line-up in 2012. The
Eagles pitching staff will be built around Ian Ashworth. Ashworth
demonstrated one of the top curveballs in the league last year fanning
41 in 31 innings of work, mainly out of the pen where he recorded four
saves. The
only other returning Eagle to see work on the bump was Marvin who
allowed opponents to hit just .167 in 10 innings of work. Find some complement
to Ashworth on the hill and do not be surprised to see the Eagles
continue their rise through the standings as they seek out their first
loop title in 18 years. Last
Play-off Appearance: 2009 – 1st Round Taylor
Cook – P Brandon
Wolf – P/2B Top Returns:
Nick Salisbury – SS (All-SW4A) Tyler Fay –
P/OF Cody Lekavich
– OF Clay Tiderman
– P/1B For
the first time in four seasons, Independence did not finish at the
bottom of the SW4A standings, tying with Myers Park for sixth while
going 11-12 on the season and posting double digit victories for the
first time since 2007 when the Patriots were 12-12. Like fellow member
East Meck, the Patriots are on the rise. Five one run loses
after leading late in games were the only thing that prevented the
Patriots from posting their first winning record in five seasons and
qualifying for the state 4A playoffs. The Pats lose four year starter
and all-conference pitcher Carson Plyler who also hit .459 to lead the
team, but return seven regulars to the line-up including the
league’s top shortstop in junior all-leaguer Nick Salisbury. The switch hitting
diminutive lead-off hitter solidified the Indy defense with his move to
short early in the season while setting the table at the plate hitting
at better than a .380 clip. Left handed swinging right fielder
Tyler Fay was ninth in the SW4A home run race, including two on opening
day last season. Converted catcher David Fowler, who
hit .355 with 22 hits, 17 RBIs and 13 steals; center fielder PJ
Sardinia, back for his third varsity season; first baseman Lane Polk,
who was on the all-tournament team at the East Meck/CBC Spring Break
Classic; and spark plug left fielder Cody Lekavich all return for their
senior season. Senior
lanky lefty Clay Tiderman returns to lead the Independence pitching
staff and he will be joined by Tim Miller who was a “late April
call-up” and went 1-0 with a save down the stretch for the
Patriots. Find
enough solid pitching for Independence and the Patriots are an upper
division team this season. Myers Park Mustangs – Coach: Matt Burnett (62-39) 5th season – (1st SW4A) Last
Play-off Appearance: 2010 – District James Snover – OF (All-SW4A) Top Returns: Zack Blalock –
C John Beaver –
P (Lenior Rhyne) Last
Play-off Appearance: 2011 – 2nd Round Jake Fincher –
SS (All-SW4A, All-State) Alex Rogers - P Ty Buttrey – P/OF (All-SW4A –
Arkansas) Mike Herbert – P/OF (All-SW4A) Xander Maddox – OF (All-SW4A) Andrew Maclatchie – C (Furman) Jacob Rothman – 1B Josh Black – 2B Tommy Dejuneas - INF Last SW4A Tournament Championship: None Last Play-off
Appearance: None Key Losses:
None Ryan Schulte –
P Gabe Hutchings
– P Unlike Providence, who was supplied with talent
from South Meck coming off a state title when the Panthers were created
in 1989 and shortly become a baseball power themselves leading to a
state crown five years later; Butler, who was fortified by Providence
in similar circumstances in 1997 and goes to back to back 4A West
Regionals in 2000-01; and Ardrey Kell a decade later, drafting enough
prowess from both SW4A powers South Meck and Providence that supported
two 4A Western Regional championships and a state title by just their
third season; Rocky River was not so fortunate. First the Ravens
were stocked with players from Independence who had been in a down
cycle and second, another new school in the same region was opening at
the same time even further diluting the talent in the redistributed
pupil assignment zones. It is without doubt that the Ravens will be
improved in 2012 after being seasoned in their first year of existence,
if you can call 22 straight losses after an opening day win and being
outscored 202-30 in SW4A games, seasoning. The Ravens had no
seniors and eight of 15 varsity players were freshmen and sophomores in
2011. While
quite possibly it will still be a struggle for the Ravens in 2012 to be
a top division team in the SW4A, they do have enough players of note
that they will be able to catch a sleeping giant. Devryn Galloway was
the Ravens leader in 2011 despite just being a freshman. Galloway, batting
leadoff, hit .380 and had 27 safeties including two home runs and 14
stolen bases. For
his efforts, he was rewarded with All-SW4A honorable mention honors. Galloway also made
seven SW4A starts from the bump. Senior Ryan Schulte
was the opening day starter for Rocky River and recorded the lone Raven
victory with a 5-4 win over Highland Tech. Schulte (1-7) was a
workhorse on the mound appearing in 13 of the 23 games the Ravens
played. Senior
Gabe Hutchings missed five games to start the season but hit .341 when
he returned and was tied with Galloway as team RBI leader. Hutching was a
regular starting pitcher for Independence his freshman season and will
be a key factor on the mound for Raven success this year. The double
play combo of senior second baseman Ken Martin (.298) and sophomore
shortstop Danny Dunning (.311) will have a year of experience together
which will help the middle of the Raven defense. Look for Rocky River
to pick up their first SW4A victory this season. Last SW4A Tournament Championship: 2006 Last Play-off
Appearance: 2011 – 1st Round Key Losses: Chris Pearlman
– P (All-SW4A HM) Tim Youtsey
– OF Daniel Brown –
OF Andrew Mauldin
– SS Earl Oliver –
1B/P Brooks Kennedy
– 2B Michael Smith
– 3B McKay Wrenn – OF/P Like in 2010, the Sabres were once again the
surprise team of the SW4A. But unlike in the
first year of Coach Tuscan’s leadership, where a senior dominated
team came together to finish tied for second, this time Tuscan took a
group loaded with underclassmen and once again won 16 games. The Sabres started
freshmen at second and third and sophomores at first and behind the
plate and had three other freshman and sophomores on the varsity roster. And while departed
pitcher Chris Pearlman was the only Sabre to record any post season
honors, All-SW4A honorable mention, you can expect the SW4A all
conference team in 2012 be littered with players from South Meck
starting with Logan Koch. The
switch hitting junior is a South Carolina early commitment and the top
receiver in the league. He led the Sabres with four home runs, eighth
in the SW4A in 2011 while batting .330. First base slugger
Earl Oliver (.320), also a junior, was the number two starter for the
Sabres going 4-2 (3.12 ERA) on the hill. And while it
took a half a season or so to become comfortable, sophomores Brooks
Kennedy (2B) and Michael Smith (3B) were two of the toughest outs in
the Sabre line-up by season’s end. Seniors shortstop
Andrew Mauldin, All-SW4A HM in 2010 (.325, 12 SB) and the speedy Adam
Nix make the South Meck defense extremely strong up the middle with
Koch and Kennedy. Junior
OF McKayWrenn was the Sabres top stick
for average at .345. Look
for Harris Yett to
fortify the Sabre line-up at first or behind the plate when Oliver or
Koch is on the hill. Senior
Tyler Aiello saw some action out of the Sabre pen and could be counted
on heavily in 2012. Effective
pitching from the South Meck staff and the Sabres can make a deep
playoff run.
2011 Record: 16-10, 8-6 SW4A – T3rd
Last Conference Title: 2007
Last SW4A Tournament Championship: 2007
Key Losses: Brandon McWhirter
– P (All-SW4A)
Last Conference Title: 1994
Last SW4A Tournament Championship: 1983
Key Losses: David Daniels
– SS (All-SW4A)
Top Returns: Logan Sheer – C (All-SW4A)
Independence
Patriots – Coach: Matt Dykema (33-59) – 5th season
2011 Record: 11-12, 5-9 SW4A – T6th
Last Conference Title: 2001
Last Tournament Championship: 2001
Last State Finals: 2004
Last State Title: 1984
Key Losses: Carson Plyler
– P/3B (All-SW4A)
2011 Record: 11-15, 5-9 SW4A – T6th
Last Conference Title: 2003
Last SW4A Tournament Championship: 2009
Last State Finals: 2003
Last State Title: 1970
Key Losses: Tyler Powell –
3B/P (46th Round
Selection, Rangers)
Matt Hedberg – P
Mysteriously, the Mustangs started
slower than a Mike Hargrove “the human rain delay” at bat,
losing eight of their first nine, including their first five league
contests, while scoring only 18 runs in those nine games, being shut
out three times, and plating only one run twice. And though they won
10 of their next 17, including five of their last seven, the playoffs
had spiraled away from their grasp and they were left to play the
spoiler roll. With
help of some new blood off the JV squad, the Mustang kicked up their
heels in the SW4A tournament, scoring four runs in the first inning to
upset Ardrey Kell in the opening round 5-4 behind the pitching of Tyler
Powell. Next MP took advantage of two South Meck errors in the sixth
inning of the tournament semi-finals to score five times and come from
behind to upend the Sabres 5-3, advancing to the tournament finals for
the second time in three years. There (in the
finals) the Mustangs trailed 6-1 before roaring back only to have the
would be tying run thrown out at the plate to end the contest, keeping
the Stangs out of the state playoffs as the SW4A tournament champion. While many of Myers
Park’s top players return in 2012, popular head coach John
Spencer is not. Replacing Spencer is Matt Burnett who
comes to the SW4A from Southern Lee where he was 62-39 in four seasons
including last year where he was 16-10, 10-2 in the Cape Fear Valley
Conference capturing the loop crown for the second time in four years.
Coach Burnett will find plenty of talent to work with in Mustangland. The Mustangs will
have three of the top sticks in the league in catcher Zack Blalock, who
will be one of the best receivers in the league, and corner infielder
Ross Groom, both juniors, plus senior outfielder Vinnie Gau. It is on the bump
where the Mustangs must still prove themselves. The only returning
pitchers to record a decision for MP in 2011 are lefty Charlie Gordon,
who started the conference tournament championship game for his first
SW4A start lasting just an inning plus, taking the loss and John Beaver
who was 1-0 as he was the winning pitcher over one win Rocky River. If the pitching is
as good as the hitting, the Mustangs will contend.
Providence
Panthers – Coach: Danny Hignight (172-51) –
9th season
2011 Record: 25-3, 13-1 SW4A – 1st
Last Conference Title: 2011
Last SW4A Tournament Championship: 2011
Last State Finals: 1997
Last State Title: 1995
Key Losses: Brett Austin –
C (All-SW4A, All-State, 1st Sup R
Selection, Padres)
Top Returns: Jackson Campana – 3B (All-SW4A –
Clemson)
Rocky River
Ravens – Coach: Shawn Schmitt (1-22) 2nd season
2011 Record: 1-22,
0-14 SW4A, 8th
Last Conference Title: None
Last State Finals: None
Last State Title: None
Top Returns: Devryn Galloway – OF/P (All-SW4A HM)
South Meck
Sabres – Coach: John Tuscan (32-20) 3rd season
2011 Record: 16-10, 8-6 SW4A – T3rd
Last Conference Title: 2004
Last State Finals: 2005
Last State Title: 1989
Top Returns: Logan Koch – C (South Carolina)
|
Ardrey Kell |
Butler |
East Meck |
Independence |
Myers Park |
Providence |
Rocky River |
South Meck |