BASEBALL TAB -- Taylor says future looks bright for WCDS diamond men

By Cam Ellis
Published in Sports on March 13, 2015 1:48 PM

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cellis@newsargus.com

Wayne Country Day head coach Mike Taylor watched as freshman pitcher Amane Godo toed the rubber and went into his windup.

He reared back and fired a strike to the catcher, who was crouched 60 feet and six inches away. As the catcher got up to throw the ball back, the size difference between the two became clear.

"I've got a freshman throwing, and an eighth-grader behind the plate," Taylor chuckled.

Relying on underclassmen to carry a baseball team may seem nerve wrecking to some coaches. Not for Taylor and his Chargers.

They're excited, instead.

"I don't think the youth is going to hurt at all," he said. "These guys have been playing together for a while, and they've been playing under my system for a while now.

"We only graduated one senior off of last year's team and one transferred, so the bulk of the team -- seven or so guys -- return."

Things aren't changing any time soon for the Chargers, either.

This year, the team is comprised of one senior and three juniors. The remainder are four sophomores, five freshmen and one middle schooler.

Sophomores John Strickland and Mitch Turnage comprise the Chargers' nucleus. As freshmen last season, Strickland and Turnage finished second and third, respectively, on the team in batting average. Strickland hit .347 with 15 RBI. Turnage worked at a .345 clip with six RBI, including a home run.

Members of the WCDS program since seventh grade, Strickland and Turnage have become the face of the team.

"I think we embrace (the challenge) because we've been playing together since sixth or seventh grade," Strickland said. "We've been through it and seen how other people have stepped up."

It doesn't hurt that the two also provide experience at key positions. Strickland is slated to be the team's No. 1 pitcher and Turnage is expected to man the all-important shortstop position.

"Those two have been playing baseball all summer," Taylor said. "John and Mitch are going to be the leaders of my team, and they're sophomores. They're my number one and number two pitchers. Those guys don't really ever take a day off."

While hitting might not be the Chargers' strong suit, the team is confident that they have the pitching and defense to keep them competitive in close games.

"I think that the strength of our team is going to be our defense," Turnage said. "I think the hitting and the top of our lineup will be good. I think we'll score a good amount of runs, but also hold other teams to a low amount of runs."

The one thing that's gotten in the way of the Chargers' preparation, like it has for all teams, has been the weather. Without being able to get out and throw bullpens or long toss, the pitchers have had to rely on indoor bullpen sessions. With regular-season games underway, the team is still confident that they can achieve the goals they set out for.

"Our goal every year is the playoffs," Taylor said. "They've been in the playoffs 12 years in a row -- every year that I've been here. We've lost in the opening round the past two years. Our goal this year is to win a first-round game.

"Get back to competing at that level. This team has the capability to do that."