BASEBALL TAB -- 'Premature' playoff loss fuels Wayne Christian in offseason

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 13, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Wayne Christian's players broke the huddle one last time, trudged to the dugout and picked up their gear.

Their parents hugged them as they walked off the baseball diamond at J.P. Riddle Stadium. Not a single player shed a tear after a 2-1, season-ending defeat to eventual independent 1-A state champ Freedom Christian.

A hunger appeared in their eyes, instead.

For the second straight year and seventh time overall since 2009, the Eagles felt their season had ended prematurely.

What could be the difference?

Head coach Curt Hinton summed it up in two words -- offseason work.

"I know the guys took it upon themselves to do a lot of weight training, building strength (and) a lot of the guys played some summer ball and travel ball, and continued to work on their hitting skills," Hinton said. "As a group, they were hungry to work and see what it takes to get to the next step ... the next level."

The Eagles are a year older.

The Eagles are a year wiser.

The Eagles are confident they can play with anybody.

"They're willing to work hard and do what it takes over the next three months to make a run at the state championship," said Hinton, who returns his entire starting lineup that fashioned a 13-6 worksheet last spring.

Behind the plate is "five-tool" catcher Hunter Burt, who swatted three home runs and batted a team-high .529 last season. He never took an inning off and reached base at least once every two at-bats.

A compact player with power-hitting ability, Burt has received additional hitting instruction during the offseason and has aspirations of playing at the next level.

Tanner Rose has a "rock solid" glove at first base and will chew up some innings on the bump. Second base is a work in progress with competition among four guys -- particularly sophomores Jaxon Anderson and Mason White.

Holden Foster and Ted Suggs will share time at shortstop, depending on which player is on the mound. Hinton considers each a solid hurler and added that Foster has improved his repertoire of pitches, as well as worked on his command and movement around the plate.

Austin Howell returns to the hot corner and is a savvy base runner who will bat lead-off for the Eagles. He hit. 400 last season and logged an on-base percentage of .526.

Patrolling the outfield are senior Tyler Mozingo, Trey Hinton and Brandon Price. Hinton said that all three bring different mentalities that make them a good defensive unit.

"There are very few changes from last year with second base as the main question," Hinton said. "That most likely will be decided with the bat, whoever is hitting the best. It's the same team we fielded toward the end of year last year with more strength.

"We like the position we're in coming into the season."

Hinton said the biggest change he's noticed has been the team's maturity level and the knowledge the players have gained since their eighth- and ninth-grade years on the diamond. They have a better grasp of what to do when the ball is hit, when to take the extra base and appreciate how the game is played.

Wayne Christian has won eight Carolina Christian 1-A regular-season and tournament crowns since 2004, and undoubtedly wears the target on its collective jersey again this spring. Hinton anticipates tests from Northwood Temple, Cape Fear Christian and Trinity of Raleigh.