By Chris Parker
Hermitage returns six players from a team that only played ten games a year ago.
The Hornets will try to grow as a program with more of a full schedule this season.
“In my first year as head coach of Hermitage baseball, we hope to take a step forward after coming off a 3-7 season last year,” said head coach Zachary Stutt. “We have some key guys returning from last year and with such a big group of newcomers, we are hoping to build a competitive baseball team. We have added some games to the schedule and hope to take a step in the right direction.”
Sutt will have first-team all-conference and all-district star Cash Turner back. A pair of second-team players are back too in Justus Yates and Jaxon Wheeler. All three players batted over .300 last season with Turner topping the .400 mark.
Newcomers include senior Bennett Mantooth, who stars as a cross-country runner for Hermitage. Fellow senior Trenton Pyeatt joins him. Juniors Logun Whittle, DJ Divore, and Bryant Earwood are also picking up baseball for the first time this year. Freshmen Joel Earwood, Ashton Sawyer, Bryson Kobe, Justin Weathers, Steven Robertson, and Dane Harlow-Fitzpatrick are all pieces Sutt hope will develop into foundational pieces for the program.
“I am excited to get going and I think the kids are too,” said Stutt. “Having 17 guys come out this year is something we will use to create a competitive culture which will hopefully lead to some success on the year. Our kids understand that they are going to have to compete to earn a spot in the lineup and I think they will buy into this mindset and make each other better. We have a great group of kids and are excited to get going this year.”
Hermitage begins the season March 18 at Macks Creek.
