CAV Conference

How does the CVAC look this year, and who are the teams to beat?

 

I'll leave the analysis to someone else...but the CVAC is now Conference Carolinas. New name...

http://www.conferencecarolinas.com/sports/bsb/index

 

I might be wrong, but i think DB14 is talking about the 10 team high school Catawba Valley Athletic Conference (CVAC).

 

Oops. That makes sense...since this is a HIGH SCHOOL board. Idiot.

 

I think the CVAC is pretty wide open this year.
As for the 3A...


Last year's conference champion St. Stephens lost 8 seniors including Player of the Year Patrick Johnson, but they still return Wingate signee Jason McEachern on the hill and the versatile Duke signee Brian Litwin in the middle of the lineup.

Coach Greer and Fred T. Foard will be solid as always. Any time you have 2 college pitchers in the rotation like Chad Rothlin and Andrew Wyant, you've gotta like your chances.

Hickory High lost a very good senior group from last year (Derek Boliek, Greg Baker) as well as hard hitting Austin Johnson who enrolled at UT early to get ready for SEC football. But Coach Craft does return 2 of his top 3 pitchers from last year in Kyle Hammons and Tyler Barnette, along with Branson Christopher at 3rd. The Tornados will be pretty darn good as well.

2A...

Bandys returns Zach Hamby and JW Laney as well as others from their 3rd place team from last year. Hamby is an excellent, deceptive left with great control. Coach Fullbright will have his boys ready to roll come march on one of the nicest high school fields around.

Maiden will be improved and will be led by one of the best players in the conference, Justin Sizemore. This kid can flat out rake and has a cannon from the outfield. He'll probably play SS for the Devils, but I would not want to pitch to him with anybody on base.

Bunker Hill may be up and down again this year, but probably more of the "up" than the past few. Coach Curtis is as good as it gets and he has a good bit of experience back from last year's squad that played well against the top of the conference.

I'm not too sure about Newton Conover. They lost a few seniors that I can remember, but you can count on Coach Nunley entertaining while he's out there. One of the funnest (not a word) guys in the conference.

Hibriten will be solid, but they have to replace 6 seniors from last year including 2 starting pitchers. Those kids always play hard though which gives them a chance any time out.

West Caldwell returns one of the better athletes in the CVAC in SS Gordon Hendrix. Great speed. Smooth glove. Good feel at the plate. Heck of a quarterback too. The Warriors should be competitive as well.

Ok that's a long winded way of saying that things will be interesting. I honestly cannot begin to give predictions at this point. There is not an overwhelmingly standout team, like Foard was before last year. One thing for sure though...the CVAC will produce some of the best baseball in the area this spring. Alot of good players and solid teams. It should be fun to watch.

 

Captain brakes down Patton

I confess to knowing very lttle about the CVAC, especially this year. I was very famaliar with the bumper crop of players Patrick Johnson, Derik Bolick, Aaron King, Trent Rothlin, Greg Baker, Ben Gibbs et al. from 2007.

But I'll take a shot at this. I have seen Zach Hamby and JW Laney play a lot. They are very good players. Also famaliar with the younger Rothin. We have also seen Gordie Hendrix over the last two seasons. If their talent is representive of their team's talent, they will be good.
I can, with a certain amount of credibility, break down the Patton High School Panthers.
Coach- Brandon Scott begins his first full year as a head coach after doing a tremendous job of salvaging the final season of Freedom baseball. His work ethic, methods and commitment will serve him well.

As for the "Morganton Little Leaguers" There's not much little about several of them. They have, to a man, been working hard and remained focused. The players are now legitimate talents and their sophomore season should be something. However, it will be the 2009 and 2010 seasons that will really be something.

Start with Dykota Speis. Throws right, bats left, and what a bat it is. Sick power and a swing that will remind old timers of Roger Maris. As a freshman hit a tape measure shot off of future MLB draftee Sam Runion. He has grown over the year, as they all have, and gotten even stronger, which is scary. After recoverying in the fall from a cracked vertabre, he is working hard and appears ready to go. He'll pitch and play third but ultimately his position will be first base. Looks good on the mound and is a super competitor.

So. Aaron Attaway began his varsity career going 17 for 20 at the dish before hitting the wall. Has bulked up in the offseason but will still play shortstop.He is a solid talent and hard worker. Can hit for avg. and power. Strong arm and can pitch when needed.

Both Speis and Attaway played for the Durtbags last summer.

The third head of the 3 headed monster is So. Chris Fine. Fine is an awesome catcher with a strong throw to second. He handles the pitchers well and is a natural leader. He has great foot speed. At the plate he hits for average, power and in the clutch. Can also play equally well in the outfield or at third. Fine is a tremendous worker, and exceptional student. He will have his choice of major DI schools in a couple of years. Played last summer with Heat Showcase Baseball.

So. Trevor Tallent may be the most talented of the group but his development has been slowed due to the injury bug. He missed most of his freshman year at Freedom with a broken foot and now his right hand is in a cast after breaking it playing for the Patton JV basketball team. But Tallent is a clutch player.
So. Ely Lawson will return again as a hardthrowing righthander, very good closer and a speedy outfielder. If he can make the adjustment to hitting HS pitching, he will add to an already potent Pather offense.

Sr. Steve Dyson will probably surprise the CVAC but not anyone that has followed his progress. The lefty worked his way from reserve to a key player for the Patriots last season. He also had some quality outings on the hill for the Pats with his deceptive lefthanded delivery. When not pitching he is a slick fielding firstbaseman with lots of baseball savvy. Battles hard at the plate and seems to hit best with 2 strikes.

Two more seniors, Ryan Hasson and David Carswell will provide experience and senior leadership. Hasson will pitch and play the infield. He has good power in his bat but needs to improve consistancy. He will contribute important innings on the mound as well. Carswell returns after sitting out last season at Freedom. A very good RHP with a smooth delivery but his challenge will be adjusting to varsity play after a year off.

Jr. lefty, Nick Newton will provide another lefthanded arm and will patrol the outfield and also plays first.

Other talented sophomores include Matt Baker, Lane Mauney, Ryan Grady (more former LLWS players). All are solid ballplayers that continue to work hard and improve. They only lack physical maturity to reach thier potential for the Panthers.

Freshman Nick Chapman could also make the Varisty team but may opt to start the season on the JV team to enhance his development.

It will be fun to see this team compete in the CVAC.

 

Great post Captain, but I do have one question. Where's "Biscuit?"

 

Very nice job. Things should be very interesting, as you say. There seems be holes/weaknesses in everybody's lineup. Who were the top three JV teams last year?

Coaching and player development will be much more important this year.

 

Andrew martin stayed at freedom.while I think patton will be good later,I dont think they will be the superstars some think they are.They will be back in south caldwells conference their senior year.

 

Braves

The Bisciut, aka, Andrew Martin, did stay at Freedom ( his mom teaches math there) as earlier reported. He has gotten bigger and probably more of a football player body, which is ggod because he plays football. He still has a nasty round house should help the Patriots this season. Hopefully, his older brother, Ellis will return to the diamond for FHS after a stellar individual season on the gridiron.
Andrew, just like the rest of the players from that LLWS team is a great kid and is working hard to get better.
As for what the future holds for the Panthers, not ready to coronate anyone a "superstar" but these kids have stayed together, worked steadily on thier game. So far they have avoided typical distractions and stayed remarkably grounded considering the circumstances. When you combine those factors with their talent and their experience dealing with pressure and distractions, I'ld say they have a huge opportunity.
Back to the Buiscit, he still has the talent to play baseball if that is the sport he decides to play seriously.
Even if he decides that his best baseball days are behind him, he had a ride few will ever take.
Side note, Andrew took a line drive to the eye last season pitching against the McDowell Titans. Suffering no ill effects.
Baseball has been bery, bery goot to him! (Chico Esqualia)