Diamond Panthers make debut Sat. at Franklin County
Published 6:00 am Thursday, February 14, 2008
Anchored by senior southpaw pitcher Paxton King, the BrookhavenPanthers anticipate a rewarding baseball season in 2008. CoachRandy Spring, 37, launches his ninth campaign Saturday when hecarries his Ole Brook Panthers to the Franklin County Classic inMeadville.
King is a Southern Miss signee and ranked among the top playersin Mississippi. As a junior, King compiled a 7-4 record and wasnamed Mr. Baseball on The DAILY LEADER’s All-Lincoln CountyBaseball Team. He struck out 90 batters and walked 22 in 62.2innings. He compiled a stingy 1.01 ERA. At the plate, King batted.320, collecting 18 RBI.
“I think pitching will be our strength,” said Spring. “We willhave five experienced arms. We have the top position player in BudBritt returning and the top pitcher in Paxton King.”
King will play first base when he isn’t on the mound.Pitcher/shortstop Bud Britt, pitcher/outfielder/infielder NickHelmstetter and first baseman Cody Ratcliff are returningstarters.
Brandon Foster saw spot duty in the outfield and on the mound.Zach Halliwell is a DH/first baseman/pitcher. Freshman Nick Peaveyat catcher, Elliott McKee in the outfield, Bryce Huckaby in theoutfield and catching; Jarvis Wilbert in the outfield and BrentHenderson in the infield complete the tentative startinglineup.
On the mound, Foster (2-1), Helmstetter (3-2) and Britt (4-0)all posted winning records last season.
As a junior, Ratcliff batted .421. He was hit by pitches 16times and accounted for 16 RBI. He hit 5 home runs.
Britt batted .422 as a sophomore. He was runner-up behindgraduated DH Taylor Newman in RBI (40) with 18. Britt also hit 9doubles and 2 homers.
Helmstetter batted .299 as a sophomore. Foster batted .259.
The Panthers finished 20-13 last season. They were third in theDivision 6-4A race and third in the division tournament.
Starters lost from last year’s 20-13 team included three juniorcollege signees: catcher Mitch Pappas and outfielder/third basemanJosh Coone to Co-Lin and pitcher/third baseman Cole Newell toSouthwest. Shortstop Elliott Warren signed with Mississippi Collegebut later elected to attend Ole Miss.
Also lost to graduation were starters R.J. Jenkins in rightfield, and Newman, a first baseman/designated hitter.
Division Outlook
“Lawrence County lost a lot of players but they should becompetitive again,” said Spring. “Coach (Cory) Keyes does a goodjob with them.”
Division 6-4A is missing annual powerhouse Terry which graduatedto Class 5A. Spring said Mendenhall has an outstanding pitcher inChris Jones. McComb lost several good players but thetradition-rich Tigers should be competitive again.
“I don’t know a whole lot about Forest Hill,” said Spring of theformer Class 5A school. “They are new to our division. Port Gibsonhas a new head coach and Florence in rebuilding.”
Spring has a young varsity squad, composed of 22 players. Onlyfour seniors and four juniors are on the roster.
Working as BHS assistant coaches are Dustin Lott, Eric Stokesand Dwayne Oberschmidt. Team statisticians are Anne Claire Aycock,Hannah Culpepper, Courtney Johnson and Eleanor Valentine.
The Panthers are entered in Saturday’s MHSAA Classic at FranklinCounty in Meadville. They’ll play Franklin Co. at 11 a.m. andNatchez Cathedral at 1 p.m.