BASEBALL: Spring Creek outlook

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on March 11, 2016 1:48 PM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek's players hustled onto the field and began diving on their bellies for ground balls.

Soon, due to the recent wet weather, the Gators looked like they had actually been playing in "The Swamp." Covered in mud and their cleats caked with clay, their effort pleased head coach Heath Whitfield.

He grinned.

After all, when you grow up in a baseball family and learn to how play and respect the game, every fan -- no matter the age -- turns into a kid again. Whitfield knows that energy and enthusiasm will be just one of many crucial elements that will determine Spring Creek's success this spring.

Leadership is another.

"We don't have anybody yet who is vocal, willing to take that leadership role," Whitfield said. "So far, they've all done a pretty good job of leading by example, but I would like to see at least one of them step up vocally."

SC must also forget about last year's playoff run.

The Gators captured the Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season championship for the first time since 2004. Whitfield's team eventually advanced to the N.C. High School Athletic Association eastern semifinals -- a first in school history.

However, this group, which returns five starters, has to develop its own identity.

"Our number one goal is to get better every day," Whitfield said. "I like this team. I think they are going to surprise some people, and I think they're going to get better and better as we go along."

One strength is pitching.

Senior right-handers Will Rouse and Sawyer Smith return. The duo handled most of the pitching chores during conference play a year ago, and Rouse stepped to the forefront as the Gators chomped their way past the opposition late in the season.

Rouse logged a 2-1 worksheet and 3.36 earned run average (ERA) during a team-leading 41.7 innings on the mound. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was nearly 4 to 1 and he held opposing teams to a .250 batting average.

An Averett University signee, Smith ended up 6-2 with a 2.74 ERA in 38-plus innings of work.

"Hopefully that experience from last year will be huge for those two guys because they've been in big games and in big spots," said Whitfield, who has three other arms -- son Casey, freshman Landon Smothers and Hunter Walker -- to depend on out of the bullpen.

"We don't have a bunch of guys who are going to go up there and strike people out. If we can pound the strike zone, put a good defense on the field and just make those routine plays ... then on the offensive side, if we can put the ball in play and put pressure on the other team, we can make some things happen."

Spring Creek lost some offensive punch to graduation.

But Smith, Rouse and Walker -- depending on their placement in the lineup -- should trigger a few offensive rallies. Smith posted a .417 average and drove in a team-high 31 runs a year ago. Walker hit .377, while Rouse batted .299.

The Gators showed their thievery on the diamond last season with 97 stolen bases. Rouse and Walker combined to swipe 16 bags in 16 attempts. The remaining returning players had 11 total stolen bases between them.

"We don't have the speed (this year)," Whitfield said. "There's a fine line between aggressiveness and stupidity, but we're going to walk that line and hopefully not cross it too many times. That's how we have to play -- put pressure on the other team."

And have fun doing it, too.