Following the graduation of a handful of veteran hitters who played key roles on last year’s 26-win team, Phil Campbell will have to rely more on pitching and defense this season in its ongoing quest to make a deep playoff run.
And that suits head coach Jonathan Raper just fine.
“I think our pitching and defense will be our strength this year,” said Raper, whose team won an area championship last season and advanced to the second round of the Class 2A playoffs before falling to Mars Hill. “We have a good core group of players coming back to build around, and most of them have been starters for several years. They’re hard workers and good leaders for the other players coming up. I think we have a chance to have a competitive team.”
Senior Peyton Thomas is still the straw that stirs the drink for the Bobcats, and he returns in his role as staff ace following a junior season in which he went 8-1 with a 2.10 ERA, 80 strikeouts, 17 walks and 46 hits allowed in 60.1 innings. Thomas completed seven of his 10 starts and pounded the zone with his fastball-curveball combination, posting a strike rate of 65 percent.
“Peyton does a good job of helping us have a chance to win whether he’s on the mound or at the plate,” Raper said. “He makes his teammates better by being around him and feeding off his experience and his confidence in our team. They see how hard he works at baseball, and his work ethic fuels his teammates to work hard also during practice and on their own time.
“The team believes that if Peyton is pitching, we have a good chance to win if we can play good defense and give him a few runs to work with.”
Left-hander Hayden Copeland and righty Nick Swinney must be replaced after combining for more than 70 innings and 11 wins last season, but Raper is confident that senior right-handers Chase Hutchens and Joe Hardy are ready to take on larger roles on the mound. Hutchens worked 34 innings last year across 11 appearances, including four starts, and Hardy could potentially fill the role of closer when he’s not holding down his customary spot behind the plate.
“Joe looked really good during the summer for us on the mound,” Raper said. “He may actually get to pitch more this year for us. I don’t know yet if we’ll use him as a starter or maybe someone to come in and close games. He’s like a bulldog out there on the mound.
“Chase Hutchens is a senior that I believe is ready to have a good season for us on the mound. He pitched a lot last year and gave us a lot of quality innings and always gave us a chance to win.”
Junior right-hander Nate Owens is also back after going 3-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 29 innings last year as a sophomore.
“Nate is an 11th-grader who should really push to be an area game starter or start at least one game a week for us,” Raper said. “He had some games last year where he really pitched well. He just needs to become more consistent and believe in his stuff more.”
Junior Cole Motes, healthy again after returning last year from an arm injury, and freshman Ridge Raper, who impressed last season in nine innings of work (one win and two saves with two earned runs allowed, 10 strikeouts and only one walk) provide even more depth on the mound.
“Cole pitched mostly jayvee games last year, with a few varsity games late in the season,” Jonathan Raper said. “He’s looked really strong early on this year. He’s really worked hard in the weight room this offseason, and I think you’ll be able to notice the difference in him this season on the mound and at the plate.
“Ridge pitched well for us last year at the end of the season. He had a couple of starts and a save at the end. He was really starting to push some of our other guys for innings last year, and he had a good summer. He just needs to keep working hard and continuing to improve. He could be a starter [on the mound] for us this season.”
The same goes for senior right-hander Brody Nix and freshman Brett Saint, both of whom could fill key roles on the mound this year.
“Brody couldn’t stay healthy for us last year, pitching-wise,” Raper said. “We were planning on him having a big role last year on the mound, but back problems kept him from pitching. He’s back and healthy this year. I think he’ll help us as a starter or reliever this year—maybe in a closer role if he doesn’t start.
“Brett Saint pitched very well for us this summer. He’s a young kid who I think will pitch for us this year on the varsity level. I think he has a chance to be a weekend starter for us. If not, he could definitely handle a relief role for the varsity.”
Others who could make an impact on the mound for the Bobcats include senior lefty Brandon Thomas, senior righty Daniel Smith, senior righty Mike Wrona, sophomore righties Rilan Garrison and Tyler Weeks, and freshman righties Levi Crittenden and Austen Baker.
“We’ve gotta continue to have good pitching and play good defense for us to return to the playoffs,” Raper said. “We’re gonna have to find some offense from some of the new players that are coming up this year. Everybody has to learn their role on the team and be able to accept their role. We have to learn to be a team together this year, and learn to trust and believe in each other.”
As is the case on the mound, everything starts for Phil Campbell at the plate with Peyton Thomas, an extra-base-hit machine and the reigning Class 2A Hitter of the Year. The 6’1, 200-pound shortstop batted .433 as a junior with 12 home runs and 12 doubles, giving him 22 homers and 38 doubles in three seasons at the varsity level. He drove in 33 runs last season and scored 48 while drawing 29 walks, striking out only nine times and reaching base at a .585 clip.
Thomas, a UNA signee, is a fearsome hitter, but the Bobcats must find a replacement in the leadoff spot for Copeland, who batted .415 last season and ignited the offense with 37 walks, 28 stolen bases and 46 runs scored. Raper said that Motes and senior centerfielder Mike Wrona, a varsity veteran, are candidates to hit atop the order. So is Hardy, who caught fire late last season and batted .419 with 21 RBIs in 15 games after April 1.
“As of right now, I’m not sure who will bat leadoff for us,” Raper said last week. “We have several players that I think are capable of doing it. We just need to find out who likes the role and can handle it. Cole Motes and Mike Wrona are two players who may take on that role. They both have improved at the plate from last year, and both are capable of stealing some bases for us.
“Joe Hardy has hit leadoff for us in the past and did a very good job in that role. He may be there also. He does a very good job at finding a way to get on base.”
In addition to Copeland, the bats of Swinney, Gage Roberson, Colby Baker and Nick Taylor must also be replaced. Nix returns after hitting .296 last season with four doubles, three triples, 22 RBIs, 29 runs scored and a .408 OBP. Raper batted a solid .289 in 38 at bats, driving in nine runs, scoring 12 and reaching base at a .453 clip.
Owens figures into the mix at first base, along with Brandon Thomas and also Hutchens, who can play either corner infield spot. Motes will see time in the middle infield and the outfield, and Smith can play in the outfield or behind the plate.
Rilan Garrison can also catch or play third, and Austin Baker could see time at a number of spots. Junior Trent Gonzalez is also in the mix in the outfield.
“We’ll have to have some players step up offensively for us this year that don’t have much experience,” Raper said. “We will have the most team speed we’ve had in a while. We just have to continue to work hard as a team and not live on last year’s success.
“I think we’ve been real close at making a long run in the playoffs, but we’ve been beaten by some really good teams. I think we’ve been maybe a hit away or a defensive play away from making that happen.”
Phil Campbell is scheduled to open the 2018 season at home against Hamilton on Tuesday. The Bobcats will host Marion County on Thursday.
