Local News - March 2003

Rebels look to light up the diamond

TERRANCE THOMAS, LTN Staff Writer

March 7, 2003 - VALE — Last year’s West Lincoln baseball team contended for the conference crown and went into the third round of the state playoffs.

Jay Heafner, Chris Halubka, Josh Carpenter, David Wise, Matt Craig, Dustin Gee, Brandon Mosteller, Mitch Warlick, Justin Pearson and others are all gone.

This year’s team starts a new chapter in West Lincoln baseball.

Enter a bunch of new players, sophomores and freshmen into the mix of some of last year’s contributors.

Despite the youth, pitching coach Sean Andrews said this team should be right in the mix.

“A lot of our guys are young,” Andrews said. “They’ve got to get some experience.  The hitting will come around and (right now) the pitching is a work in progress.  We’ll be all right. At mid-season, we’ll be where we need to be.”

Until the team gains that experience, it will have to rely on top hitters Dylan Anthony, sophomore Daniel Schronce, Brent Gates, Zack Koehler and Brandon Jones to get them by.

The lineup is tentatively set, with Gates at catcher, freshman Jonathan Thomas at first, with Jeff Davis, Koehler at second, with Schronce, freshman Paul Finger at shortstop and Anthony at third.

Several players will get playing time in the outfield, mainly Jones, Toby Lawrence, Cook and McCall Schronce, with Bradley Goins, Juan Troya and Zach Franklin filling in.

The pitching staff looks promising, once it gets settled, according to starting pitcher Lawrence.  The hurlers must focus on their objectives, he said.

“Our pitchers need to do our jobs,” he said. “We need to cut down on walks.”

Lawrence and Koehler are the top starters, Matt Cook is the top reliever.  However, expect Anthony, Thomas, Gates and Jones to pitch many important innings as the season goes on.

West lost its first two games of the season to 3-A schools Fred T. Foard and East Lincoln. The players said this team can rebound and will be there where it counts at the end.

“If we can come together as a team and get some experience early and learn the game, we can make the playoffs,” Jones said.

Getting in the playoffs will be tough for the team, as defending state champion East Rutherford, Bandys, Newton-Conover and an improved Lincolnton team should fare well in the Midwest 2-A Conference race this season.

After the first two losses, the Rebels look to get on track against Cherryville today, with a 4 p.m. home game.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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