INDY baseball 2005

I hear there have been some xfrs out of Independence HS that could impact their chances of a repeat. What is going on?

 

I've heard of 1 xfer. From what I understand is still returning, Indy will remain a power-house team.

Independence will have to overcome a few key losses to graduation. Replacing Zac Farry, Jeff Rockett and Jonathan McMahon will be difficult. (I'm forgetting the name of the OF who graduated right now ... all will play college ball). Indy will still be an excellent defensive ball team and hit very well. Marc Nicholson and Aaron Bray will provide a great offensive punch at the top of the lineup. They need to polish up a couple more arms to go with Robby Bray on the bump. If they get one more quality starter, they will be a handful for anyone to beat.

Coming out of the west is going to be just plain hard this year. Early scouting report on 4A in the Charlotte area:

Teams to watch
South Meck lost Kyle Shelton at SS, Kevin Spain on the bump, Brandon Stafford behind the plate and Elliot Arrington at 1st but they still have their pitching and a ton of offense returning.

North Meck lost 2 key contributors in 1B/OF Tristan Hollar and 2B Blake Eppes, but are returning everyone else, including all of their pitching and team speed.

Teams hit hard
Butler has lost a few key players. Providence has lost a ton of players. Providence has a deep program and had a strong JV team last season, but they may be a year away from competing for the top spot again.Hopewell was hit hard by graduation. They have a very good nucleus of young players that should be rising out of JV ball, so they may rebound quickly. East Meck was hit hard. These teams may all have a decent record and may be competitive for a top-3 spot, but may not have the depth to make any run in post-season.

Sleeper teams that will have an impact
One of the sleeper teams in the area this coming spring will be Central Cabarrus. Towards the end of the season, the IF was all freshman/sophomores on varsity. With their early experience, they should come on strong, particularly towards the end of the season.

Myers Park was young last year. They lost two key players behind the plate, but should be Ok. I don't know if they can make a run, but they could play a spoiler role.

Olympic continues to improve. They could easily vie for one of the top 3 spots in the SW4A.

West Meck has struggled the past couple of years, but look to have a solid nucleus to build around. Team depth and the depth of the pitching staff will be the telling points.

In other areas
There may be a changing of the guard up in the NW4A. ACHS was hit hard by graduation. South Caldwell has a young, very promising team. It will be interesting.

NC-Dad and others are better qualified to inform us on what's happening up in the Triad area in 4A ball.

 

Indy Transfer

The only transfer I am aware of is Tyler Kirkpatrick going to Charlotte Christian. Tyler either played at third base or DH'd last year for Independence. He is a good kid who will be missed. Not sure of his reason for leaving.

 

from what i know, tyler had some friends from wrestling over at indy tranfer to butler and he knows some guys pretty well from on deck that go to christian. i dont think he liked lindy as much anymore. the players from his on deck team encouraged him to come after they heard he was interested and he wound up at christian. in no way was coach simmons affiliated with bringing him over, the his friends that he knows from on deck encouraged him to common over. this creates a powerful and potent lineup for christian this year and it should be very exciting to see what happens

 

The Son

South Meck lost Kyle Shelton at SS, Kevin Spain on the bump, Brandon Stafford behind the plate and Elliot Arrington at 1st but they still have their pitching and a ton of offense returning.


I know you didn't mean to leave him out but Clayton Erickson was a DH and a outfielder as well. Many people are gone that helped lead that team but there even better guys who are seniors this year that can do the same thing. They lost one pitcher who was a third starter and the relief man but they have more on JV that pitched on varsity some last year too. They will restock and be back at the top again this year.

 

Not being in the SW4A, I can't remember all the players. No, I didn't mean to leave him out..... Thanks for the pickup!!!!!!!

 

The Son

It's all good. I can't wait til the boys trap it on again this year. The Charlotte area and NC baseball is picking up the slack fast. You see more and more names coming out of here. It's great when you have people ask you about someone from your state or ask you who they might want to look at and you can give them a lot options. Keep up the hard work to every that plays and has an impact on the game.