Diamond Panthers launch rebuilding season Saturday
Published 6:00 am Thursday, February 17, 2005
Rebuilding is the word Randy Spring prefers to use whendescribing his 2005 Brookhaven baseball team. Spring’s Ole BrookPanthers made history last season, winning their first Class 4Astate championship and amassing a school-record 30 wins.
The Panthers kick off their season Saturday, hosting the WessonCobras on Moyer Field. A junior varsity game begins the twinbill at11 a.m., followed by the varsity at 1 p.m.
From that championship squad that finished 30-8, Spring mustreplace seven starters: all-state pitcher Scotty Smith, catcherAdam Ogden, shortstop/pitcher Brooks Hall, third baseman CodyDunaway, centerfielder Xavier Qualls, right-fielder W.T. King, anddesignated hitter Josh Patrick.
“We will definitely be rebuilding,” said Spring. “We’ve had areal good preseason defensively, but we have some big shoes tofill.”
Spring’s two returning senior starters, Grant McDonnieal (.371)and Darius Perkins (.418), will use their broad, muscular shouldersto carry the young Panthers. McDonnieal (6-2, 250) is making themove from first base to catcher and Perkins (6-3, 245) is holdingdown left field when he’s not on the mound. They also started onBrookhaven’s 2004 state championship football team, Perkins atlinebacker and McDonnieal at center.
Also back at a starting position is sophomore second basemanElliott Warren who wilt be taking his turn at the plate thisyear.
At the plate, Spring will have a nearly completely new lineup.Freshman Paxton King, a transfer from Brookhaven Academy, will workat first base. Sophomores Zach Watson will start at shortstop andMitchell Pappas at third base.
In the outfield, juniors Marlon Dixon and Brandt Hinton willrotate with seniors Guy Orr and Giles Langston.
On the mound Perkins and Hinton will anchor the staff. King, theonly southpaw on the staff, and right-handers Josh Coon, ColeNewell, Langston, Pappas and Watson will see time on the mound.
Last year, Hinton was 3-0 and Perkins 4-3 on the mound.
Division Race
Asked about the Division 6-4A race, Spring said, “Everybody inour division is young. I’ll give the edge to Lawrence Countybecause their young players have experience.
“Terry should be a contender,” Spring continued. “McComb and usshould be in the mix, too.”
South Pike, Jim Hill and Wingfield are other divisionmembers.