Fox Creek baseball team off to fast start in first year under Gillespie

           North Augusta – The Fox Creek High School baseball team is off and running under first-year head coach Roby Gillespie.

The Predators were 12-2 on the season and 5-1 in Region 3-AA prior to Easter.

           Gillespie, a 2014 Fox Creek graduate, inherited a team that went 13-13 last year and reached the championship round of its district tournament.

           “The boys have played up to par with what I expect of them,” Gillespie said. “We are always striving to have a relentless pursuit of perfection though. We are never satisfied with where we are at and always growing on and off the field.”

          The Predators are relying on an extremely deep pitching staff. They have used 11 different arms and own a team earned run average of 2.42.

           FCHS’ top pitcher is junior right-hander Bradley Anderson. He had a 4-1 win-loss record with a 1.56 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched.

Sophomore righty Will Fountain was 3-0 with a 1.11 ERA in 19 innings.

           The other pitchers are junior Chasten Williamson, junior Will Hicks, freshman Lawson Lewis, sophomore Andrew Dorries, junior Audyn Randall, junior lefty Devin Hillary, sophomore lefty Will Frischmann, freshman Cam Porter and sophomore Kale Williford.

           “We have done a good job of throwing a lot of strikes this year, pitching to contact and letting our defense make the routine plays,” Gillespie said.

           The defensive alignment has Chance Weathersbee catching, Frischmann and Hillary sharing first base, Hank Greene at second, Anderson and Dylan Altman at shortstop and Jackson Wright at third.

           Trevor Bafford, the only senior, sees time in the outfield along with Fountain, Caleb Walters, Lawson Lewis and Dorries.

           Anderson had a .529 batting average with five doubles Frischmann was at .484 with three doubles, a triple and a home run. Weathersbee was at .359 with five doubles, two homers and 10 runs batted in like Frischmann.

Wright was batting .370 and Hillary .350.

SOFTBALL TEAM OFF TO GOOD REGION START

           The Fox Creek softball team won five of its first eight games and was 3-0 in region play.

           “I have a veteran group of girls who are mature and know how to work and stay focused on the task at hand,” said FCHS head coach Derrick Quinn. “We have great team chemistry and leadership is the strength of this team.”

            Junior Jasmine Grant is the leading hitter with a .500 average. Zoey Owens is hitting .458, Ella Blume .455, Holly Guerreri .448 and Paden Quinn .375. They are all seniors.

            “Holly is a very good hitter who can hit for average and with power,” Quinn said of Guerreri, a 4-year starter who had two doubles, two triples and two home runs. “She can also steal a base. She’s above average defensively (at shortstop).

            “The team offensively is solid 1-9 (in the batting order). We have gap power and can play small if needed.”

Addyson Snellings is the No. 1 pitcher.