NTL BASEBALL: HITCHCOCK BELIEVES WILDCATS POISED FOR SUCCESS IN 2019 (2019-03-27)
Valley Sports ReportATHENS "” Athens coach Brendon Hitchcock believes his team has what it takes to sit atop the NTL Large School standings at the end of the season. Now, he just needs them to believe the same thing.
"This team needs to believe in their collective ability," said Hitchcock. "They have the skills to be highly competitive and win often.
"They should aspire to regain the NTL Large School crown and be prepared to win at the District level," he added. "It is their time to believe in themselves and each other."
The Wildcats, who are coming off a 12-6 season, return their top pitchers in junior Keegan Rude and seniors Joe Parshall and Nate Kennedy, as well as other key hurlers from last season in juniors Aaron Lane, Chase Minnick and Brady Smith.
"Our entire pitching staff returns," said Hitchcock.
"Working efficiently and pitching to contact will be key for starting pitchers," he noted. "And, our bullpen will need to be ready for their number to be called in any situation."
Also returning this season for the Wildcats are seniors Ethan Witherow, Kaden Rude, Nick Watkins, Jared Williams and Ed Solomon, junior Joel Maslin, and sophomores Tanner Dildine, Colby Blakeman, Ian Lynch, Justin Lynch, Kyler Setzer, and Ben Vough.
"We return a large crop of players who received substantial varsity time last season," said Hitchcock. "We have high expectations for this group to perform now that many of them have a season of varsity experience under their belts."
The Wildcats also welcome a group of newcomers who could contribute in junior Russel Vanderpool, and freshmen Karter Rude, Dylan Merritt, Jack Barrett, Josiah Stringham, and Nick Vosburg.
"Our newcomers need to work hard and trust the process to make good improvements over the course of the season," said Hitchcock. "If they stick with it, they present some potential to contribute in future years - some may even get a shot to play a role this season."
Hitchcock expects the NTL to be very competitive this season.
"The league will force us to play a good brand of baseball every time out," he said. "I would expect nearly any team to be able to win on a given day, which should keep it exciting down the stretch."
Athens opens the 2019 campaign Thursday at Canton.
