The landscape for baseball teams in the Hogoheegee District will be different in 2008. A lot different.
Just take these things into consideration:
Under Virginia High School League realignment, John Battle and Lebanon said goodbye to the Hogoheegee and were shifted to Region D and the Clinch Mountain District.
Both teams were perennially two of the top squads in the district. In fact, Battle ended its stay in the Hogoheegee by winning 12 straight district tournament titles.
Chilhowie must replace eight starters from a year ago. Such mainstays as Keith Fenner, Will Walker, Jared Surber and Adam Clampitt graduated after leading the Warriors to a 20-win season in 2007.
George Wythe, Patrick Henry and Northwood are entering the season with new head coaches.
Those are just some of the storylines prevalent entering the season. Despite the loss of almost its entire starting lineup, Chilhowie edged out George Wythe for the top spot in the preseason coaches poll.
"While the loss of eight seniors from last year’s team is huge, I think our biggest loss was not from our roster, but rather from our schedule," Chilhowie coach Jeff Robinson said. "With traditional powers Lebanon and John Battle gone from our district, it’s pretty much wide open this year.
"I think it will be as well-balanced and competitive from the top to the bottom in the Hogoheegee this year as it has ever been."
The following is a look at each of the six teams in the district (listed in order of finish in preseason coaches poll):
CHILHOWIE
It was a memorable season for Robinson and the Warriors last spring. Chilhowie went 20-5 and came within an out of reaching the Group A state tournament.
This season’s version of the Warriors will have a new look.
Josh Jackson, Aaron Clampitt and Cody Haga are the lone returning starters. Jackson is a three-year starter at catcher and hit .382 last season.
Clampitt will spend time at first base and pitcher. He hit .317 last season and also went 4-2 with one save and a 2.81 ERA on the mound. Meanwhile, Haga is also a dual threat (.432 batting average; 2-1, 2.67 ERA last season).
Newcomers expected to fill big roles for Chilhowie are Seth McKinney, Patrick Henry transfer Marcus Little, Adam Powers, Aaron Phillips, Lucas Dowell, Scott Pennington, Adam Becker, Travis Gilley, Josh Landis and Andrew Russell.
Pitching-wise, Little, Jackson and Powers will join Clampitt and Haga in the rotation.
GEORGE WYTHE
George Wythe went just 9-14 last season, but did make a surprise run to the finals of the Hogoheegee District tournament.
The Maroons lost four key players off that team and head coach Joey Russell resigned following the season. Jason Luttrell takes over after spending the six previous seasons as Russell’s assistant and inherits a strong group.
Senior Devin Smith will anchor the pitching staff after posting a 1.30 ERA and striking out 83 batters in 48 innings last spring. He also hit over .300 and tallied 20 RBIs.
First baseman Vernon Holland, second baseman Jared Mosier, shortstop Brett Grimes, third baseman Michael Jones, outfielder Kelly Kline (.400, 11 RBIs, 21 runs, 20 stolen bases) and outfielder Robert Yonce join Smith as experienced players in the lineup.
Senior Josh Stephens is penciled in as the starting catcher, while Timmy Goins and Johnny Quick will also start. Grimes (6-1, 2.48 ERA), Holland and Kline will be in the pitching rotation as well.
PATRICK HENRY
Jon Boyd enters his first season as Patrick Henry’s head coach and inherits a talented team.
The lineup will be led by catcher Marcus Montgomery (.355, four home runs), shortstop Drew Counts and outfielders Cody Foglesong (.373, one home run, 17 RBIs), Ronnie Groves and Joseph Canter.
Infielder Jared Hamm also started last season and can play a variety of positions. Caleb Frye, Casey Wyatt, Seth Harding, Andy Andis and J.T. Duncan will also see time.
Groves will anchor the pitching staff. The hard-throwing junior spent the fall at a high school in Texas, but has returned to the Glade Spring area this spring.
He hit over .400 and connected for six home runs last year and logged plenty of innings. Freshman Will Copenhaver has also shown promise on the mound.
Boyd was victorious in his debut as PH’s head coach as the Rebels earned a rain-shortened win over Fort Chiswell last week.
HOLSTON
Many are picking Holston to be the darkhorse in the Hogoheegee.
The Cavaliers have a deep pitching staff, some capable hitters and their junior varsity team compiled an 11-4 record last season. Several players on the team were also members of Holston’s playoff football team and will look to have similar success this spring.
Lewis Hand, Jeffrey Bramlett, Derek Barlow, Emory Carty and John Pratt give head coach Adam Moore options to choose from as far as pitching goes.
Meanwhile, the lineup includes Bramlett (.300) at shortstop, Barlow (.329, 10 stolen bases, 17 RBIs) in the outfield, catcher Jordan Carrier, first baseman Evan Phillips, Pratt at second base, third baseman Jordan Orr, outfielder Ethan Cline, outfielder Sam Blevins and designated hitter Mike Doss.
Matt Rouse and Tyler Miller should also see playing time.
NORTHWOOD
Northwood went just 3-16 last season, but the Panthers enter the 2008 season with some promise and some depth.
Returning starters include catcher Cory Norris, shortstop Cannan Davidson, third baseman Jeremiah Thompson, outfielder Chris Call and do-everything senior Zach Delp.
Delp will lead the pitching staff and can play shortstop and third base when not on the mound.
Austin Smith, Caleb Bresnock, David Huff, Shane Jones, J.R. Bowman, Daniel Gobble and Michael Crowgey provide new head coach Tom Prater with other options.
The Panthers appear to be sound at the plate as they pushed across 12 runs in a season-opening victory over Marion last week.
"I am especially pleased to have three senior starters returning in Norris, Call and Delp," Prater said. "You would be hard pressed to find three better leaders for your baseball team."
RURAL RETREAT
The best way to describe Rural Retreat’s lineup is diverse.
"We have some guys with experience and we have some with little or no experience," Rural Retreat coach Jamey Hughes said. "So it will be key for our experienced guys to lead the way for the others at the beginning of the season."
Five full-time starters are back from last season. Pitcher/first baseman Wyatte Pickett (.328, 16 RBIs), catcher Isaac Hayes, infielder Will Whalen (.280, 10 RBIs), utility player David Harmon and outfielder/pitcher Travis Sims (.350; 2.86 ERA) are the veterans for Hughes’ team.
Daron Vaught and Jason Jarvis should also contribute. A key for Rural Retreat will be to come through in clutch situations as the Indians fell short in several close games last season.
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