North Piedmont Conference 3A

West Rowan

West won both the conference and conference tournament titles last year and will return the bulk of that team. Lost to graduation were Paul Link (LHP/1B) and Shane Graham (2B), both had key roles in West's success.
West will be counting on big numbers from senior returning starters, Patrick Adams (RHP/OF)(Elon), Ryan Wilson (C)(WCU), Bryan Graham (SS)(Catawba), Seth Waller (3B/OF), Luke Overcash (OF), and Chris McDaniel (RHP/1B). Sophomore starter, Wade Moore (RHP/OF), will also be an important element both on the field and at the plate. He could also see considerable action on the hill as well.
West will need the help of other returning players, Daniel Cauble (RHP/1B), Winston Horton (Sr.,2B), Peter Allen (Sr., RHP/OF), Adam Taylor (Sr., OF), Brett Hendrix (Sr., OF), and Brian Aycoth (Jr., RHP/C).

Kannapolis

Like West, Kannapolis only lost a few key players from a very strong team. They will miss the play and leadership of Ryan Petty, Drew Mahr, and Daniel Smith but they have a very capable group of guys that can step up and get the job done.
Key Returning starters will be Brett Bartles (RHP/SS)(Duke), Ryan Query (C), Andrew Mead (RHP/C/IF/OF), Garrett Sherrill (RHP/IF), Eddie Boger (IF), and Jeremiah Worthington (OF).
In Bartles, they may have the best all around player in the conference. Query did a tremdous job behind the plate as well as at the plate for a youngster and projects to be even better this year. Although Sherrill will help with his glove and bat, it will be his arm that The Wonders will count on most. On the hill he's a battler, he's not afraid to come right at ya. Boger has proven himself as a solid infielder, but look for his bat to come to life this year as well. Worthington probably has the most speed on the team, keeping him off the bases will be an important part af any opposing team's stradagy. What can you say about a guy like Andrew Mead, the kid can play anywhere defensively, and play it well. He can hurt you with a bat as well. He can deliver a key hit or he can take it deep to any field.
Kannapolis will be a tough contender this year. With a few solid additions from the JV team they could be the team to beat.

Northwest Cabarrus

Northwest is probably the team that is most hurt by graduation lthis year. Last years senior laden team was as good as anybody but ran into some hard luck down the stretch.
The loss of players, Lucas Dalton, Matt Stack, Jonathan Goodman, Nolan Patterson, and Josh McKnight, will leave a big hole for Coach Joe Hubbard to fill, but I understand that he has quite a number of very talented JV players that he will be able to count on.
Coach Hubbard will have to find a blend to go around the talents of returning starters Blake Ketner (RHP/IF) and Jarred Faggart (C). Ketner is a player to watch, he is good pitcher and is solid with both a glove and bat. Faggart did a great job for the Trojans last year when their regular catcher (McKnight) went down with a shoulder injury. I look for both to have all-conference years.
The only question that eludes me is whether Michael Hamilton (1B) and Jonathan Hamby (2B) will be returning this year. If so, they would also be of significant value to an otherwise young team.

Mooresville

Mooresville is another team that lost several key players to graduation this year, but will return a strong nucleus of returning players to build on.
The loss of players like Josh Haire, Nathanel Barker, David Whitehill, David Bowles, and Daniel Sherrill would put a big dent in any team, but look for the Blue Devils give a good showing this year.
Both Mooresville's offence and defence will be centered around returning starters Geoffery Ballard (C), Tyler Lackey (RHP/IF), and Justin Ogle (IF). As a catcher Ballard is as good as anybody that I've seen. He's a good reciever with good hands, blocks the ball well, good arm, and knows how to call pitches and handle his pitchers. At the plate, he's the kind of guy you hate to see come up in a key situation. He's a 3 way hitter, base hit, power to the gaps, or just hit it over the fence, to all fields. You name it.....this guy can hurt you with a bat. If they gave an award to the best pitcher with the worst record, Tyler Lackey would win it hands down. Last year Lackey pitched some tremendous games against the best teams in the conference only to end up with a sub .500 year. But don't let his record fool you, he's a battler, he'll fight you for every pitch. This year could be his year, when he takes the hill the Devils will have a solid chance to win. Ogle started at 2B last year and projects to take over the SS position vacated by Haire. The youngster has good speed to go along with his glove and bat. He's going to be a good one to keep an eye on in the next couple of years.
Mooresville will also count on the talents of returning players Timmy Sullivan (RHP/IF) and Alex Medley (OF), along with JV standouts Matthew Skidmore (RHP/IF) and Justin West (RHP/IF).

East Rowan

Although the East Rowan jugurnaut that dominated the conference for years has slipped a little in the last couple of years , look for 1st year head coach Allen Wilson to put together a competitive team this year. He's done it before and with the talent pool he has there, it's almost a certainty that he'll do it again.
East lost a tremendous talent in Spencer Steedley this year. The hard throwing lefty was unable to pitch this last season due to off-season shoulder surgery but his play at 1B, his bat, and his leadership was invaluable. Had he been able to pitch, there's little doubt that he would have been the conference player of the year. Also lost to graduation was Tyler Poole (C) and Tyler Morgan (LHP/OF).
Look for Coach Wilson to build on the talents of returning starters Michael Gegorek (IF), Jason Cauble (RHP/IF), Dexter Burris (IF), Craig Lyerly (RHP/IF), and Jarred Hinson (RHP/OF) as well as returning players Caleb Kluttz (OF), Matt Miller (OF), Tristan Frick (IF), Taylor Osborne (C), and Derrick Talbert.
Also look for Jacob Cooper (LHP/ OF) to return to form this year after suffering some shoulder problems last year.

The last 3 teams of the conference are more difficult for me to come up with information as to who will be returning and who will not. I will give as much info as I can, but will have to rely on other members and readers to fill in the blanks.

Lake Norman

Although my information on them is questionable at best, sources do tell me that they were young last year and are looking forward to a successful season this year.
The only player that I know that they lost is crafty lefty Brent Frye. Although not a hard thrower he gave them a chance to win when he took the hill.
Returning players to watch this year (that I know of) are Matt Marshall (LHP/OF) and Joseph Seaford (IF).
Lake Norman is a relatively new school and many of the upper classmen that would've gone there chose to stay with their present school, using the "grandfather clause" to do so. For this reason I believe that their starting team was comprised of mostly underclassmen that will return this year, but this would have to be confirmed. A little help here would be greatly appreciated.

North Iredell

North is another one of those teams that seemed to be just short of having the right combination to have a really good team.
Again my info is scetchy but I know that they lost a really good player in Steven Hancock. Hancock may not be big in stature but the size of his heart showed in every game I saw him play. He's a competitor. He will be missed.
Charles Taylor was another outstanding player for them. In my opinion probably their best pitcher last year. He held West Rowan to 2 hits for 6 innings before tiring in the 7th. If he returns they'll have at least 1 solid pitcher.

Statesville

Like North Iredell, Statesville at times showed they could be competitive with anybody especially with lefty Tim Johnson (LHP/1B)(UNC-A) on the mound. If half their starting team from last year returns they should have a good year.
One youngster to watch that I know is Todd Poole (3B). He started as a freshman last year and had a good year. I know he comes from a family of very talented baseball players and he should be no exception.

I know I've missed some kids that should be mentioned here. Please feel free to include them. More information on Lake Norman, North Iredell, and Statesville would be greatly appreciated also.

 

Wow! Awesome report!

 

Rcbbfan.. Yes, Jonathan Hamby and Micheal Hamilton were lost to graduation last year for Coach Hubbards Trojans; and the loss of Dalton(UNC-G),Goodman(BELMONT ABBEY),Stack(ERSKINE),Patterson(PFEIFFER)and Mcknight(NC-A&T) will be a big void to fill. But as you mentioned there is a very talented jv bunch (16-3 last year) coming up. The Trojans should hold there on this year and keep building on the renowned program. This team will be mostly tenth graders,so the future continues to look bright at NW Cabarrus.

 

Dont forget about Mooresville rising juniors Thomas "Hacksaw" Harris C and "Lefty" Caleb Diggs OF, both of these players have years of experience and were THE leaders at the plate for the JV team last season despite playing in the shadows of the afore mentioned Blue Devils, West and Skidmore.

Good report IMO.

 

What little I know.............



Mooresville: Lefty Caleb Diggs should definitely make a impact with the varsity Blue Devils this year.....a big bat, great glove and excellent speed on the bases and in the outfield.

Lake Norman:Seniors Matt Marshall, Nick Berry and Junior Joesph Seaford will lead a very young team. Senior Ben MaClain (former South Iredell stand-out Mike's younger brother) should move from the bullpen to the rotation. Soph Sean Cotten should make a tremendous impact this season for the Wildcats. He can play any position and is very well coached (will probably see action at catcher/shortstop/bullpen) Juniors A.J.Kindley (pitcher/infield) and David Ward (1B) will also move up and see action. JV standout Robby Gurley transferred to NW Cabarrus.

 

AUSTIN POWERS, TANK, LakeNormanFan......

Thanks for the updates guys.........The NPC should be fun to watch this year. Good luck to your teams

 

skin or grass?????

has Mooresville put enuf money from FOOTBALL to baseball to upgrade their infield?????????

 

still dirt, sorry.

 

This year West Rowan will play on a grass infield for the first time, ever. (44 years) Mooresville, as far as I remember, has always played on a dirt infield. Which brings me to my question. What difference does it REALLY make?

Sure, everybody loves a beautifully manicured field. If nothing else it gives bragging rights to the school, but it doesn't change the game. It may change the way you play the game, but the game remains the same. The bases are still 90 ft., the pitchers rubber is still 60' 6" from the plate, you still have 3 out per inning, and you still play 7-9 innings in a game.

I can remember when I was a kid playing in a cow pasture. We even used dried cow pies for bases. We didn't have a back stop or an outfield fence. Only fences we had were barbed wire and you can bet we didn't run into it to catch a fly ball. The one thing we DID have was a love of the game, where we played didn't matter.

Today, a tremendous amount of money can be spent on the construction and maintenance of a baseball field. No doubt our kids enjoy playing in these cathedrals erected as momuments to our chosen sport, no doubt that they love the game as much any kid ever has, and i'm equally sure that most of them would love the game even if they had to play in a cow pasture.

 

wellllll......

theoretically it probably doesn t mean anything at all yet realistically when was the last time u saw a hs college or major league diamond with a "skin" infield? I mean come on a few hundred dollars for laying of some nice if not "decent" sod! Plus the infield is much faster to play and defend on skin! The likeniness of rain outs is higher judging depth for the infielders is also sometimes a problem for the less experienced one! I think it is a shame that a CITY WIDE school system ALONE does not see this as a blackeye.....