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Raiders ramping up offense |
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Written by Greg Bird
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Friday, 19 March 2010 |
The McCreary Central Baseball Team advanced all the way to the 12th Region semi-finals, and was just four outs away from the Championship game last season before a late-inning meltdown put a premature end to the season.
The McCreary Central Baseball Team advanced all the way to the 12th Region semi-finals, and was just four outs away from the Championship game last season before a late-inning meltdown put a premature end to the season.
That loss is still fresh on the Raiders’ minds as they wrap up spring practice and get ready for the 2010 season.
“I think last year gave these kids the confidence that they can play with anyone,” Coach Marc Taylor said. “We aren’t going to be able to sneak up on any body, but we know we have to perform each and every game if we want to be successful.”
The Raiders performed well last season, outscoring their opponents 185-173, but Coach Marc Taylor has made scoring runs a priority this year.
“We were able to put some runs on the board last year, but we had difficulty scoring runs in some critical situations,” he said. “We have to put it all together.”
McCreary’s defense is based on strong fundamentals, and their pitching is stronger than it has been in years, but run production could be the key to making a dent in the 12th Region standings this season.
The Raiders lost a lot of production from the graduation of catcher Colby Lawson, and the coaching staff has had to make some shifts to cover the position, but there are plenty of players competing for open slots in the starting line-up.
“We have 9 seniors on this team, but we also have a lot of freshmen and sophomores who I would not hesitate putting in the line-up,” Taylor said. “Some of them have proven what they are capable of in practice, and we will see if they can do it in a game situation. The competition has been great for this team, it keeps everyone on their toes, knowing they have to produce to play.”
The Raiders’ roster is stacked with players that have worn a McCreary Central uniform for years, some of them from seventh grade, and Taylor believes that will be an asset as the season rolls on.
“Experience is not an excuse for this team,” he said. “They know our style of play, and they know what to expect from each other on the field. “If we can get consistent, I think we can compete with most teams,” Taylor said.
With several strong arms in the pitching rotation, Coach Taylor has several options for the mound that will give the team flexibility and depth in the bullpen.
“I think our pitching will be one of our strong points this season,” Taylor said. “We have 5 or 6 kids that can start, and that means we will have a deep bull pen that can come in and get us outs late in the game.”
One of the major concerns for the squad has nothing to do with personnel – it is the weather. Last season several games were cancelled or rescheduled due to rain, making it hard for the Raiders to really settle in and keep everything progressing.
“What we need is for consistent weather for us to get in a rhythm,” Taylor said.
The Raiders open the season on the road at Wartburg Central Monday afternoon and will play their home opener on Tuesday at 5:30 when they host the Rockcastle Rockets.
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