By Chris Parker
Dadeville baseball returns seven total starters from last season’s 12-11 squad.
This year’s team comes back after an off-season dedicated to the weight room.
“There has been a huge commitment by our athletes to our weight training and body conditioning program, and it has been evident in our other sports, so I expect that to carry into the baseball season,” Dadeville head coach Brent Rountree said.
Rountree expects big things out of both the pitching staff and offense.
“I believe our pitching depth will be a strength, and offense should be able to compete with most any team with the return of over 75% of our offensive production from last year,” Rountree said.
Brayden Keathley, Seth Walker, Briar Clift, Payton Crawford, Brittan Jarman, Chayse Coose and Ashton Edwards will make up the pitching staff.
“We don’t really have a defined number one starter, but we do have a lot of arms that are capable to be on the mound on any given night,” Rountree said.
Clift will anchor the infield at catcher most games. He was first-team all-conference and all-district. Keathley, also a first-team all-conference and all-district selection, will also see time at catcher with Brittan Jarman (second-team all-district and all-conference) is a third option.
The infield could have many different looks with Coose, Clift, Ben Groose, James Paul, Walker, Payton Crawford, Joe Graf, Keathlely, Jarman, and Hudson Arnold all options around the infield.
The outfield could consist of any of: Coose, Walker, Gaige Mead, Clift, Wriston Worthington, Crawford, Edwards, Graf, Groose and Worthington.
“As always, I expect our upperclassmen to take on the leadership role as a collective group,” Rountree said. “They all have the same team goals and will work toward those goals.”
Dadeville opens the season Mar. 19-21 at the Forsyth Tournament.
“I hope the identity of this year’s team will consist of players that support each other and strive to do the right things on and off the field,” Rountree said. “I expect this team to be right in the mix for a conference and district championship. I expect us to play until the final out is made or run scored.”
