Larry Fleming
— Christian Heritage’s still relatively young baseball program has appeared to be on a road map with its ultimate destination headed straight toward a Georgia Independent Schools Association state championship.
Two years ago, the Lions reached the state playoffs only to lose in the first round.
Last spring, Christian Heritage beat Nathanael Greene in a best-of-three series in the first round, swept Valwood, 4-2 and 9-2, in the second around and lost to Heritage School, 1-0 and 2-0, in the state semifinals and finished 14-9. Heritage lost to Tiftarea, 4-3 and 5-4, in the championship series.
If coach Noah Stokes’ Lions are going to keep the progressive journey on track in 2010, they will need strong contributions from three key seniors and three talented freshmen to make up for the loss of last year’s top seniors – Gray Hutchinson, Jarred Cronan and Derrick Hayes. Hutchinson and Cronan were GISA Class 2A All-State selections in 2009.
“Last year was fun and gave us some momentum,” Stokes said. “It moved our program forward. It was a good year.”
The Lions will start getting answers to their preseason questions on Tuesday when they host Griffin Christian at 4 p.m. in the season-opening game.
The foundation of the Lions this season is a trio of seniors – Parmelee Ward, Landon McClure and Daniel Groce.
“I’ve talked to them about earning the chance to be called leaders,” Stokes said the seniors. “And I’ve talked about them leading by example. I’ve never named captains, but I’m considering it this year. I have told them to take a captain’s role. It wasn’t so much about who was named, but who the other players were willing to follow. Those three guys are ready to take on that challenge.”
McClure and freshman Michael McKinney, at opposite ends of the spectrum age-wise, are similar in their on-field experience. McClure’s main sport is basketball and McKinney has as much baseball experience as McClure due to his travel team play. They are expected to be the top two pitchers this season. Rollins Jolly and Mason Sikes will find their way to the mound as well. That group will attempt to take up the slack for Hutchinson, the Lions’ best player at this point in the program’s history who signed a scholarship at Valdosta State. He was 5-1 last season, batted .484 with eight home runs and earned a spot on The Daily Citizen’s All-Area Team.
Ward will catch and play third base. When not pitching, McClure will play shortstop, Hutchinson’s other position the past few years. Groce can pitch and play either first or third base.
Junior Mason Sikes will play second base and feels confident the Lions can hold their own against top GISA teams this season. Sophomore Pate Duddleston, a backup to Hayes last season, also figures in at second base in 2010.
“I think we’re more balanced than last year’s team,” Sikes said. “Our strength could be pitching if we all do our best. We’re strong up the middle on defense and pretty good hitters.”
Jolly will anchor the outfield and be flanked by Sikes in left and sophomore Chase Kranzlein in right.
“I think this will be a well-rounded team,” Jolly said. “Our pitching should be fairly good, we’ll be a good defensive team and a pretty good hitting team. I think we should finish toward the top of our region (Region 4-2A). I’m ready to play.”
McKinney, a left-hander, can also play first base. Another freshman, Wesley Sheppard, can play leftfield and pitch. Tre Mason, the other newcomer, can work behind the plate and at third base.
“All three of those guys have played a lot of baseball beyond school ball, a lot more than some of the kids who have been here a while,” Stokes said. “Michael has had success at all levels coming up. It will be interesting to see what he can do as a freshman.Tre is a hard-nosed kid. And Wesley has a good glove and a good knowledge of the game.”
With the season opener a day away, Stokes offered his overall assessment of the Lions.
“I think this team will be good defensively,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of power, but we’re going to make contact and move runners. I believe our pitchers will throw strikes. I want us to be a solid all-around team, but whether we’ll pull that off I don’t know.”
Lions Roster
1 Michael McKinney Fr. 1B/P
3 Mason Sikes Jr. 2B/P
4 Pate Duddleston So. 2B/3B
5 Rollins Jolly Jr CF/P
6 Tre Mason Fr 3B/C
7 Landon McClure Sr. SS/P
8 Parmelee Ward Sr. C/3B
10 Evan Suddeth So. 3B/LF
14 Seth Defoor So. LF/RF
16 Daniel Groce Sr. C/P
21 Wesley Sheppard Fr. LF/P
44 Chase Kranzlein So. RF/P
50 Morgan Souther Jr RF/1B
2010 Schedule
March
9 – Griffin Christian, 4; 12 – at Flint River, 4; 15 – Chattanooga Patriots, 4; 16 – at Harvester Christian, TBA; 19 – LaGrange Academy, 4; 23 – at Arlington Christian, 4; 26 – at Furtah Prep, 3; 30 – Heritage School, 4:30.
April
1 – at Griffin Christian, 5; 13 – Flint River, 4; 15 – Polk County, 5; 16 – Harvester Christian, 5; 20 – at LaGrange Academy, 4; 24 – Arlington Christian, 11 a.m.; 26 – at Polk County, 5; 27 – Furtah Prep, 5; 29 – at Heritage School, 4.
May
1 – Unity Christian, TBA; 3 – at Chattanooga Patriots, 4.
