Pamplico – When he has a fully healthful team, Hannah-Pamplico baseball coach Trey Woodberry feels his 2024 team can equal or better the success of 2023.
The Raiders advanced to the district championship game after a strong playoff run last season. Many of the players who made that strong run are back this spring, but illness and injury has slowed the early season progress.
Woodberry has been around long enough to realize that the early part of the season is not as important as region play. His hope is to have his full roster available come conference play.
“We only lost two kids from last year’s team so we have a good amount of experience and talent,” Woodberry said. “Right now we have battled some flu and some injuries so we’re not nearly at full strength. Once we get to full strength, I feel like we will have a competitive team that can make a run. We just have to get healthy.”
Due to the lack of returners early, Woodberry has been forced to play a lot of underclassmen. The experience his players are gaining will add depth later in the season. In an early preseason tournament game, Woodberry had a starting lineup consisting of five sophomores and two freshmen.
“We put a pretty good jayvee team out there,” Woodberry joked. “A lot of those young guys are going to be good players for us.”
One of the top returning players this season is senior shortstop Wade Poston, but he has battled the flu bug early. Junior centerfielder Jamarcus Williams is one of the state’s top prospects but is missing time early after knee surgery from a football injury. Junior Ty Daves was a returning third baseman but also has suffered a knee injury, while starting outfielder Brandon Cox was hit in the wrist by a pitch and will miss extensive time.
Senior Logan Bass is a returning starter behind the plate and senior Avery Stone is working at third base, along with freshman Jacob Creech.
Junior Boone Johnson is working early at first base while sophomore Davis Kimbrough and freshman Kolby Hyman are sharing early duties at second base.
Working in the outfield are Mason Smith, freshman Jonah Poston and Daniel Chandler.
Sophomore Payton Farmer, a left-handed pitcher, is expected to be a major contributor on the mound. Jonah Poston, another southpaw, will get innings on the mound. Johnson, Stone and Smith also will see time on the bump.
“The pitching is young but we have a lot of potential to be competitive,” Woodberry said.
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