Veteran Trojans' club eye postseason bid

By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Feb. 26, 2003
The Northeast Trojans will try to use solid pitching and good hitting up and down the lineup for success on the baseball diamond this season.
After going 9-3 in district play last season and missing the playoffs because of a tiebreaker, the Trojans have back many key players and will look to improve.
The Trojans will have one of last year's leading pitchers back this season and will return it's leading hitter from last season.
Drew Anderson finished last year 6-1 on the mound and had a 1.64 ERA and will be back to pitch for the Trojans this season.
Last season's top hitter, Cory Chance, will also be returning. Chance hit .367 last season as a ninth grader to lead the team.
Joining Anderson on the pitching staff will be Kenny Wesley, Fred Fulton, Wesley Gray and Nathan Peden. The group, mixed with good pitching from Anderson, should be able to give the Trojans some solid innings this season.
The staff will be able to put up some strikeout numbers, but the team will mainly rely on solid defense.
Jason Pritchett will anchor a solid infield from shortstop and has one of the better gloves in the area. Peden and Anderson will both see time at second base.
Andrew Siciliano will be at third base, and Mark Snider, Gray and Jacob Garrett will handle the first base duties.
Ryan Stewart will lead the outfield from center. Stewart will also get the hitting going from the lead-off spot in the lineup.
Chance will be in left field and Gray will see some action in right.
Jonathan White will play in the outfield and move Gray to first when he gets back to the team from basketball.
Chad Brunson will return to play catcher for Northeast this season. He is one of the better catchers in area baseball and will be a big contributor for the Trojans.
The Trojans should also be solid in the batter's box. Northeast will have a little pop in the lineup and will also play some small ball from time to time.
Northeast will need to be ready in a hurry as district baseball has started this week. The Trojans compete in a very good district with West Jones, Quitman, Northeast Jones, Florence, Magee and Mendenhall.
West Jones, Quitman and Northeast Jones will be the big three the Trojans will need to overcome in district play this season.
The Trojans went 9-3 in the same district last season and hope more experience will mean a spot in the playoffs this year.