Teams in the East

Who are the teams to be watching for this year? What teams have a legitimate shot at winning their conference?

 

Scotland County

They should win the state championship this year. Unbelievable talent and depth. This group has been groomed since grammar school and has stayed together and gotten better and better. They won 21 games last year and lost only one player (first baseman). Four D-1 pitchers who can dominate (Lowery, Oxendine, Bangs, Patterson). Great athleticism (Bangs, Liles, Norton). Just going to be an unbelievable team.

 

Wow!!!...you are right. The biggest thing they have to guard against is senioritis....a devastating disease

 

The first teams that would definitely come to mind in the east are reigning state champs North Lenoir, and Farmville Central. Due to the realignment, they will be in the same conference this year. They both return a ton of players, and NL will add at least one player who should contribute right away. The key thing for NL is that they return two very good pitchers. I think that FC lost a key pitcher, but I'm not sure. I'll try to find out. Rose should still be competitive though they will not have a bonafide ace on the mound for the first time in a while. They should still be able to mash the ball with the likes of Ryan Graepel, Josh Ashton, Josh Aldridge, Ross Warren, and Matt Board. It will be a interesting year to watch Rose. DH Conley will still be in Rose's conference, but will be 3A for playoffs. They have a decent amount of talent returning led by Alex White. I am not that familiar with the Wilmington area teams, but they usually are very competitive. In my immediate area(Rocky Mount), we have dropped down to 3A in the NEW 6(Nash,Edgecombe,Wilson) conference. The conference includes Northern Nash,Southern Nash,Nash Central,Southwest Edgecombe,Wilson Fike, and RM. I would have to say that NN would be my favorite at this point due to a strong junior class returning. They lost their ace pitcher in Jeffrey Matthews, but Brandon Shannonhouse may wind up being just as effective. Southern Nash would be my very close second pick as they also return most of their team, led by Brian Allen, who can do just about anything he is asked. He is a great player. RM would be my next choice even though we lost 4 starters. Our pitching should be okay as we return ace Chad Womble who was 9-2 last year. Three of our losses were really talented kids, Terrell Hudgins(2005 Male Athlete of the year), Will Johnson(3 yr. starter at ss), and Travis Cobb(3 yr. starter at 2b). We'll need to find some offense in a hurry. SWE lost 7 seniors, but will still be competitive. Wilson Fike lost a lot of seniors, but do have some good young players. Nash Central will probably struggle. And of course, I could be completely wrong about all this!!
Edit to add, "How could I leave out CB Aycock, and West Carteret in 3A"? CBA will be led by pitchers Garrett Davis, and Grant Sasser, plus a host of capable ballplayers. West Carteret will return Drew Poulk, and Lonnie Chisenhall, two players who can almost beat you singlehandedly anytime.

 

SouthernNo1


What about Millbrook? I think I have the name correct, anyway they have 2 pitchers who pitched for the Cubs this fall and both were impressive, one's going to State and the other to UNC.

 

Millbrook

They really do have two stud pitchers, BJ Dail and Sam Brown. I would hate to play them in a series. Not quite sure how they didn't go deeper in the playoffs last year with that kind of staff. Must not have alot of depth behind those two guys.

 

Sorry Yankees. I have lived in the "georaphic" east all my life, and just can't get it through my head that anything west of I-95 is actually east. I'll do a little homework, and try to be more thorough. Coach May could add way more than I about the triangle, and his part of the state. Whadda ya say Kenny?

 

Triangle Area

Millbrook- BJ Dail / Sam Brown Need I say more? BJ to UNC Sam to NC State. No team in the state in my opinion can put a better combo on the hill in back to back games. BJ is a stud. And a great young man. You hear that all the time but Im telling you this guy is just quality. He can flat out hit as well. Sam is just coming on like crazy. I watched him this fall and he is just dominate. If he continues to pitch like he did this fall dont be surprised to see him go in the draft pretty high. He has upside that is unreal. 6'5" built like a brick (well you know). And a great young man. They will be solid behind the plate and if they put 6 other jv players out there with those two guys on the hill they are going to be tough to beat. I watched Sam pitch against a very good Pitt Community College team and he was lights out. Just wait untill he faces HS teams this spring. BJ was just as good all fall.

Wakefield- Lost alot of studs on the hill but they have some guys that will step in and do a good job. They have one of the best outfielders and hitters in the state in Bobby Leeper. This kid can flat out hit. Last Legion season he hit 9hrs and I saw him go yard twice in one game at East Cobb this summer. Kid throws 90+ from the outfield he has a cannon. Logan Issacs a versatile kid that can play mif outfield and hits from the leftside is very good. Both of these guys would be in most teams pitching staffs but Wakefield will have some guys that will take care of that. I look for them to be very good again and challenge Millbrook.

East Wake- They have a kid that no one has really heard of yet but by the end of the spring season you will know who he is. Joe Wagstaff the son of long time coach in the area Brinkley Wagstaff. This kid is 6'4" around 225 and can flat out pitch. He is another kid that really came on this fall. I look for him to have a terrific year. Another outstanding player for East Wake is Louie Diener LHP 1b OF. Very tough kid that can hit it and really knows how to play the game. These two kids will shoulder most of the load on the hill but if they pitch up to their ability they could make East Wake a contender this year.

My pick for the PAC-6 4-A hands down (Roxboro Person) of course coached by one of our own Steve Evans. They have two of the best pitchers in the area and not just pitchers baseball players. J. Moore and R. Byrd. They return a ton of talent from a team that went deep into the playoffs last year. And they have some kids coming up from the JV that are very talented. Of course they will be well coached as always and I look for them to have a great season.

In the Northern Carolinas 2-AA conference I look for Bunn to be the favorite. They have a crafty lhp his last name is Tanner his first name (well Im getting old). He is a good pitcher and DJ Scott a 3b RHP that is going to be a good one as well. Southern Vance should challenge them they have some young guys that should give them a chance to compete. Roanoke Rapids will be right there with both of them after that it will drop off considerably.

In the Mid State 3-AAA (Now folks this is my teams conference so Im going to be very carefull here for obvious reasons. I dont think anyone can pick against the defending state champs in Southern Alamance. They have one of the top pitchers in the state in Haynes returning and a great group with him. Also there JV was outstanding last year and they should have some really good players move up to fill some holes. After that I have to exclude South Granville because I dont want to push my team Ill let others do that if they want or not thats ok with me. I look for Burlington Williams and Eastern Alamance to be very solid. Followed by Oxford Webb and Northern Vance. One thing some of you might not know but longtime and very sucessfull coach of Northern Vance Jeff Tate has taken the job at Oxford Webb. I look for Webb to be very much improved and over the next couple of years to be very good. Jeff Tate is an outstanding coach and he has some very good young players coming into his program this year and next as well.

Ok thats enough I could go on all night those of you who know me know its the truth. Orange with Coach Dease they will be good because they have a great coach that knows how to develop players and they are always extremely well coached. Northwood will be very good as well Coach Horton in my opinion is the best game situation coach I have had the pleasure of coaching against and watching. See I told you I could go on all night. Ill let someone else get in here.

 

PAC-6 AAAA

There are some well coached teams in our league, while I appreciate Coach May's comments, don't pick us to run away with it just yet. Durham Riverside will be a tough team to beat in this league, with Matt Toffaletti (INF/RHP), Seth Moorman (C, who is one of the better ones in our area besides Jeff May at South Granville), Daniel Benner (INF), among others, and these guys are well coached by Doug Blowe. They will be very solid and we'll be fortunate to best these guys. Chapel Hill (2 time defending PAC-6 Champs) will be led by big LHP Tarron Robinson. They will be well coached and they will be a really well prepared team. They also have a good JV program. Northern Durham will be an improved team this year, and Durham Jordan always gives us fits. Jordan also has an excellent player in Steele Myers (INF) who played this fall with the Dirtbags. Devy Bell does a great job preparing his players and getting the most of his talent, they will be good. I don't know a whole lot about the new teams yet in Southern Durham (they have an excellent middle INF and some other good athletes), and Hillside, but East Chapel Hill under Phil Woodell will be well coached and disciplined.

While we have some pretty good talent and players, we have a bunch of holes to fill, more so than in several years and while we have some good players, don't hand it to us yet, we did lose 8 seniors last year, including our whole outfield and corner guys.