|
|
|
|
 |
|
MEMBERS OF THE Grundy
Golden Wave baseball team for the 2006 season are, (from left)
kneeling: Cody Billiter, Justin Childress, Josh Lester, Kevin
Vandyke, Brandon Woods and Jerami Bartley; standing: Josh
Keller, Nathan Blankenship, Matt Baldwin, Andy Stiltner, Jimmy
Ashby, John Hagy, Holden Raines and Travis Clevinger. Not
pictured is Wayne McClanahan.
(Staff photo/Mike Stiltner.)
|
|
|
|
|
Wave Returns Five Regulars And a Host
of Young Talent
Clarke Co. Scores Final Seven Points to Claim Group A
Championship, 51-49 |
|
by Lloyd Combs
Sports Reporter
|
|
Grundy
baseball has been in what seems like a perpetual state of
rebuilding for several years now.
Second year coach Scotty Bostic, who was
around when the Golden Wave was one of the most respected programs
in the Southwest District, hopes to change that.
A lineup of five juniors and three
sophomores, given a little time to develop, offers the former
Grundy standout a chance to put this once proud program in the
right direction.
The lineup includes five returning
regulars.
Sophomore catcher Cody Billiter, juniors
Jimmy Ashby, Andy Stiltner and Holden Raines and senior outfielder
Josh Lester are joined by four new starters with tremendous
potential.
The 6-foot-4 Ashby is the team’s top
starting pitcher, Stiltner mans first base, Lester is in center
and Raines holds down right field.
The new starters include sophomore shortstop John
Hagy, junior second baseman Kevin Vandyke, junior third sacker
Jerami Bartley and sophomore Josh Keller in left field.
“I feel pretty good about just having one
senior,” Bostic said. “Next year, maybe the next two years we have
a chance to do something.
“If we can keep them interested and
keep improving I think we have a chance to be competitive in the
district.”
This is a team that needs work and
time to develop defensively, but the Golden Wave can already field
a fairly potent batting order. Billiter and Stiltner are among the
leaders, while several of the new starters have hit well early.
“Cody Billiter is solid behind the
plate,” Bostic said. “He’s also one of the best hittters we’ve
got. Andy Stiltner has hit well. John (Hagy) has hit the ball well
so far, so has Jerami Bartley.
“Bartley is just a first-year player,
but he has baseball smarts. He’ll do anything you ask him to do.
We may see what he can do on the mound.”
On the bench, junior Nathan
Blankenship brings experience. Juniors Matthew Baldwin and Wayne
McClanahan and freshman Travis Clevinger are also trying to work
their way into the mix.
“Clevinger has good speed,”
Bostic said. “We need to teach him to bunt. He plays harder than
anybody, but he hadn’t played before, so he needs some time. Wayne
McClanahan may work his way in.”
For more of the story, see the print
edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now. For
more information on how to subscribe to the
Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.
|
|
|
Twin
Valley's
Lester,
Moore
Earn
Region
D's Top
Honors |
|
Twin Valley claimed the top honors on the 2005-2006 All-Region D
boys basketball team as voted by the region’s coaches.
Senior forward Jeremiah Lester, who
averaged a double-double for the season, including double figures
in both scoring and rebounding, was named Region D Player of the
Year.
Brian Moore, who guided the
26-3 Panthers to BDD and Region D crowns and a runner-up finish in
the state, was named Coach of the Year.
Twin Valley placed one other
player on the All-Region D First Team, senior guard Kent Goodman.
Only two other BDD players made
the first team, Council senior D.J. Barton and Haysi senior Kevin
Viers.
Twin Valley junior Matthew Baldwin,
Haysi senior Ryan Jones and two Honaker Tigers, senior Jacob
Shortridge and junior Justin Newberry, received honorable mention.
Rounding out the first team are
junior Mark Dockery and senior Keith Warner of Twin Springs;
sophomore Patrick Fisher and junior Drew Justice of Castlewood;
Rye Cove junior Adam Hood, Gate City junior Josh Kilgore; senior
Lorenzo Miles of J.I. Burton and Coeburn freshman Andrew Adkins.
All-Region D
Boys:
First Team:
Jeremiah Lester, Twin Valley and Kent
Goodman, Twin Valley;
Mark Dockery, Twin Springs and Keith
Warner, Twin Springs;
Josh Kilgore, Gate City;
Patrick Fisher, Castlewood and Drew
Justice, Castlewood;
Andrew Adkins, Coeburn;
Kevin Viers, Haysi;
D.J. Barton, Council;
Lorenzo Miles, J.I. Burton;
Adam Hood, Rye Cove.
Honorable Mention:
Haysi—Ryan Jones; Honaker—Jacob
Shortridge, Justin Newberry; Twin Valley —Matthew Baldwin; Gate
City—Jamie Hackney; Coeburn—Brian Pate; J.J. Kelly—Evan Bolling;
Pound—Adam Keith; St. Paul—Brandon Phillips.
Player of the Year— Jeremiah Lester, Twin Valley.
Coach of the Year—Brian Moore, Twin Valley.
For more of the
story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at
newsstands now. For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer,
call 276-935-2123 today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
