BASEBALL TAB -- WCDS preview

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 15, 2014 11:12 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Just days before Wayne Country Day's first official baseball practice, head coach Michael Taylor had separate meetings with junior Mason Bland and senior Jacob Parks.

The discussions were short and sweet.

Taylor encouraged the duo to emerge as leaders for the youngest team the Chargers have ever put on the diamond. The lone upperclassmen with the most playing experience, Bland and Parks have displayed the leadership Taylor wished to see in preseason workouts.

They're guiding a mix of seventh- and eighth-graders, freshmen and sophomores who hope to extend Wayne Country Day's current string of 11 consecutive playoff appearances. The Chargers won the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A title in 2007 and finished runners-up in 2011.

"They've been big leaders out there," said Taylor, whose 12th season as WCDS head coach started March 11 against Trinity Christian of Fayetteville.

"We're going to be a very young team, but I like what we've got ... it's unproven talent. I don't have that one standout guy, but I have a lot of all-around good baseball players. It's going to take each one of them to do their job and know their role to have a successful season."

Interchangeability could be the Chargers' calling card.

All of the 11 players either participated on travel ball teams or competed in the inaugural Eastern Carolina Baseball League during the offseason. Taylor quipped he could go the entire 18-game schedule without the same starting lineup since his players have experience at numerous positions.

"I can do a lot with these guys," grinned Taylor. "There is a lot of competition and any of the 11 guys I have right now, I'd feel OK putting any of them on the field. We're doing a lot of good things at practice. The guys are working extremely hard.

"I'm excited to get started."

Freshmen Mitch Turnage and John Strickland are back for a third season. Taylor considers each player a junior due to the amount of experience they gained as seventh- and eighth-graders. The tandem ate up some innings on the mound last season behind all-state performer and alum Cody Neal.

Bland is also in the pitching rotation but didn't throw much in 2013 due to a foot injury. He'll be called upon on occasion along with sophomore Parker Smith, sophomore Jacob Magera, freshman Jonathan Bryan and newcomer Amane Godo.

Magera, Bryan and sophomore infielder/outfielder Patrick Hall had planned to sit out this season, but each opted to play. Sophomore Lance Davis and freshman Zac Barfield are battling for time in the outfield.

Eighth-grader Godo and seventh-grader Drew Barnes have impressed Taylor.

"We nicknamed Godo 'Tsunami,'" Taylor said. "He's got some baseball skills which are unbelievable. Barnes, you can tell he's grown up playing travel baseball. He has some skills and a very strong arm. He will see time in the infield and outfield.

"Honestly, I'm not scared to put a seventh-grader in the lineup. It's been fun to watch him with the older guys. He takes in everything that you teach him."

Taylor and assistant coach Michael Render plan to take the "pitch-by-committee" approach most of the season. They could run as many as four pitchers out to the mound during any game, but admit they'll stay with a hurler if he's throwing the ball well and has a low pitch count.

Run support is crucial, too.

The Chargers will have to manufacture offense the old-school way -- bunt, hit-and-run, connect on backside pitches and take extra bases when the opportunities arise.

"We don't have a lot of speed and we have to do the small things right," Taylor said. "We're going to work to make the other team get us out (in the bunt game). Everybody thinks that's the easiest out to get, but a lot of things are happening because people are moving all across the diamond.

"We have to do a good job on the basepaths."