2010 Season Preview

TEAM

With a core of seven senior and eight returnees, the Knights expect to compete at the highest level each time out. Four returnees received postseason honors, ranging from Honorable Mention AA All-State to honorable mention All-Battlefield District. The pitching is strong, both in the frontline starters and the bullpen help. The Knights hit .301 as a team last season and return four regulars who carried averages of at least .292. The new additions to the lineup will develop quickly and send a strong nine to the plate. Defensively, the lineup is experienced and solid up the middle. Third base is a strength and the opposing corner will feature one newcomer and a returning starter. The outfield is not up to par yet, but will learn routes, angles and to throw with a base quickly. With a team GPA of well over 3.0, this committed and focused group will gel quickly and round into form in working toward another Battlefield Title – and then some.

 

PITCHING

Senior Matt Houston is the keystone, with Junior Chris Ardiente ready for the second starting role. Junior R.W. Payne is close behind Ardiente. The three figure to split the starts throughout the season. Houston, a William and Mary commit, is one of the most effective arms in the state. Houston’s strength is his command of his fastballs and change, with his breaking pitch a mere step behind and much sharper than previous years. Though not necessarily an overpowering arm, he can run it up when necessary to complement the array of pinpoint accuracy he deals from the bump. Ardiente is an effective control artist with good run and tail on his fastball, complemented by a sharp curveball. Command is also a strength for Ardiente, coupling with Houston to form a duo that keeps hitters off-balance with the best of them. R.W. Payne is an often overpowering left-hander with arm-side run on his fastball and secondary pitches which still need a little fine-tuning. When his command is on, Payne is in control from the hill. Sophomore Josh Ewing will see time on the hill as he sets out on what figures to be an outstanding career. Ewing may get the occasional spot-start and will definitely work innings to develop command, secondary pitches and his powerful right arm. Junior Spencer Hockaday, a pitcher not always easy for hitters to pick up, will see time on the bump in relief. Senior Travis Payne has experience on the mound and may get time when innings open up. Sophomore Jacob King may move up from the Junior Varsity during the season to work a few innings in preparation for the future, if space and conditions allow.

 

INFIELD

Travis Payne leads the middle four from his spot at 3B. Travis provides above-average range and a stout arm from the left-side. With a year at the hot corner under his belt, Payne expects to be the area’s best 3B in 2010. The rangy, strong-armed Ardiente will take over at short after seeing most of his time in the OF last season. Senior Kevin Seay will sit at 2B for the third season. Seay, quick-footed with a quick release on the double-play relay, possesses enough arm-strength to spell Ardiente at SS when Ardiente takes to the hill. Senior Zach Tarleton will see the bulk of the time at 1B. New to the regular rotation, Tarleton provides soft hands and a leading voice from the right side. R.W. Payne will also see time at 1B. Sophomore Trevor Talley will get occasional time in the infield, where he expects to play in the future. Hockaday will see time at 2B and may get the occasional turn at 3B.

 

OUTFIELD

The starting outfield is still in development and may be until May. Many of the squad’s newcomers are battling for spots in the acreage. Talley will take his spot in center, but may move to LF if other plans fail to reach fruition. Houston will start in the OF when he is not on the mound, either in left or right depending on the development of the other outfielders. Senior D.J. Carter joins the contingent after a year off. Athletic and extremely intelligent, Carter may take over a starting role if he returns to baseball form quickly. Ewing will see time in the OF, a relatively new experiment for him. Ewing’s athleticism and general ability are a boon, but learning routes and angles are the first step. Hockaday will need to develop as an OF, but is athletic enough to run down anything. Junior Nate Ennis is well above-average defensively and could work himself into extensive time. Junior Alan Lynch is learning the nuances of the outfield. Senior J.C. Brooks, Juniors John Looney and John Lynch add depth in the OF. Travis Payne, an immediately solid OF when needed, and R.W. Payne will also see plenty of time in the OF, with R.W. Payne receiving early starts in RF. Performance at the plate will dictate starting roles in the OF or the necessity for a Designated Hitter.

 

CATCHERS     

Behind the plate, the Knights figure to be solid with Senior Dylan Wolfrey starting for the second season. Wolfrey has developed physically and can call a good game, while his receiving and blocking skills were already sound. Wolfrey’s intelligent and aggressive approach is an asset to the defense. The tough-as-nails John Lynch will spell Wolfrey on occasion, but after missing a year to injury, Lynch needs time to refine his abilities behind the dish.

 

HITTING

The Knights hit at a clip of .301 in 2009, strong but an average that needs to rise. Hitting with runners on needs to become an area of strength, as does frequent deep contact and an all-around consistent approach at the plate. Seay will lead off as he did in 2009, when he hit .259. His walks need to come up and strikeout totals need to plummet. Seay is a great hitter and lead-off man when he works to his strengths but has yet to reach even close to his ceiling. Talley will open it up in the two-hole. He stays inside the ball well, drives the ball to the middle and has some gap power. Talley will need a brief amount of time to come around, but he has started with the Varsity in the fall the last two years. Travis Payne (.375) possesses one of the most competent bats in the lineup, when he is confident and calm. In the three-spot, Travis expects to add to his RBI totals (13 from the two-hole in 2009) as his gap-drive ability gives the Knights the opportunity to go ahead early in games. Houston will again step up in the cleanup spot, where his .333 average proves he is not aiming to bump from this position in the order. Houston worked as needed at four last year, with 8 2B in addition to his three biscuits and 24 RBI. R.W. Payne will be the regular in the five-hole, after hitting .349 with 5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR and 15 RBI in 2009. R.W. has learned how to self-correct and work the count, which will translate into even more numbers in 2010. Wolfrey, a contact hitter who struck out only once/8 AB last season and finished at .292, should see his RBI numbers increase as an experienced hitter with a solid 1-5 ahead of him. Ardiente helps kick off a second dimension of the lineup as his speed, quick hands and ability to stay connected and make solid contact provide a second leadoff hitter in the seven-spot. Ardiente showed flashes last season and has worked in the offseason to take a more advanced approach that will pay off. Tarleton will open up the season in the eight-spot, where his left-handed bat should be an asset. With a little time to see pitching and adjust to the strike zone, the heady Tarleton should be a routine on-base threat. The man turning the order over is little up in the air. Initially, the spot will be manned by Carter, who must get back into the swing of things rapidly. Carter is quick, strong and learns quickly, but must prove he is comfortable on the baseball field again. Ewing is all-around the most talented of the rest of the group but must adjust to varsity baseball fast. He will never be overwhelmed but bad habits must be worked out to play up to his potential. Hockaday will likely hit in the tail-end when his name is written into the lineup as well, adding another plus runner who drives balls well when his brain does not outpace the task at hand. Alan Lynch will factor into time as well. A speedy, powerful LH bat who adjusts well, Lynch must figure out the OF to become a regular. Brooks brings experience to the table and can be the emotional leader of the varsity outfit. Brooks has been here and knows how to play when his time rolls around. Looney is working out the kinks but will be counted on to show progress when he steps in the box. John Lynch is blessed with numerous natural attributes as a hitter, but must find a position that suits his defensive abilities. Nate Ennis is developing as a hitter, but possesses one of the most impressive work ethics on the squad. A gifted and intelligent athlete, Ennis is ready to play in the OF but needs his bat to come around quickly.