KANNAPOLIS — Everyone knows what Joe Hubbard did last summer.
If you had underdog Kannapolis in your 2000 American Legion office pool, you’ve probably got a new Lexus in the garage and have already re-named your kids Joe and Josephine.
Last summer, Kannapolis won three consecutive playoff series that — on paper, at least — it wasn’t supposed to win. Then it iced the cake with a pair of upset victories in the state tournament. If Rowan County, which beat Kannapolis six out of seven last year, hadn’t gotten in the way, Kannapolis might still be playing.
“It was David and Goliath all summer,” said Hubbard, who coaches Northwest Cabarrus High in the spring. “But, after a while, our kids figured out that they had to be pretty good. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have kept coming back and beating people.”
Last season’s surreal success has placed Hubbard and assistant Empsy Thompson, who’s the head coach at A.L. Brown High, in an unusual predicament. Kannapolis likely has more pitching and more proven players than last year. At the same time, duplicating last year’s success will be an order taller than Shaquille O’Neal. There won’t be any sneaking up on anyone this time around.
Still, Hubbard says he wouldn’t trade last summer’s dream nights for anything in the world. Winning brought an increased awareness and interest in the program. Usually, he’s been lucky to get 25 Wonders and Trojans out for his two-school team. This time he might have 30-plus kids looking for summer jobs.
“It’s great,” he said, “to see new faces coming out. Young faces.”
Hubbard also senses a difference in the amount of respect accorded Kannapolis around the Legion world. When you accomplish what this program did last season, everyone takes you seriously.
“Expectations are high around here,” said Hubbard. “And that’s fine. We do return a lot of experienced players.
“But,” cautions Hubbard, “there are also some holes.”
A whole lot of holes.
Start with Bobby Helms. Helms doesn’t leave just a hole, it’s more like a crater. Helms wasn’t just the team’s top pitcher, he was a leader who inspired confidence. Average players became stars when they took the field behind him.
Also missing are athletic outfielders Ryan Craft and Dusty Carmichael, over-achieving infielders Nate Amerson and Steve Swann, and power-hitting catcher Zack Gurley.
Still, even without Helms, Hubbard gets good vibes from his mound crew.
“This is the most pitching quantity we’ve had in my six years here,” said Hubbard. “Usually, we’re having to turn some position players into pitchers just to get by. This year we’ve got eight or nine legitimate pitchers.”
Zach Ward, A.L. Brown’s right-handed ace, will lead the mound corps. He has stuff and tenacity.
Lefty John Graham, the Wonders’ No. 2 hurler; former Trojan star Justin Bonds, who’s been out of school a year; Wonder Andrew Petty, who excelled in the state tournament; and Northwest hurlers Jonathan Goodman and Lucas Dalton give Hubbard some options.
And if injured Wonders Drew Maher and Adam “Eggs” Russell, can overcome physical setbacks, they’ll provide a significant boost for the stretch run.
The biggest sticks will come from third baseman Wally Tuttle, first baseman Zeke Gurley and outfielders Tyson Fink, Chris Florence, Brooks Little and Graham.
Tuttle and Florence, an excellent center fielder, were hitting stars last summer.
Goodman, Petty, Matt Harris and Nick Argo are experienced middle infielders, with Goodman the likely starter at short. Harris is a feisty top-of-the order-guy who gets on base and on pitchers’ nerves, while Petty has power.
Sweet-swinging Thumper Williams and Craig Waller are the likely catchers, with some jayvee youngsters also in the mix.
Brett Stirewalt, the Wonders’ leadoff man and designated hitter, might fight his way into the lineup somewhere.
“There’s some good healthy competition at a lot of spots,” said Hubbard. “Some kids who started in high school may not necessarily start for us. That’s a good situation to be in.”
Another Wonder who could wind up on the team is first baseman/pitcher Daniel Smith, who would provide another arm and switch-hitting power. Smith was still deciding between Legion ball and AAU ball at presstime.
If Smith comes aboard, the Legion squad will be missing only two key players from decent Northwest and A.L. Brown teams that combined for 25 prep wins. Wonder right fielder Josh Lee will be preparing to play football at Western Carolina, while Trojan pitcher/shortstop Ryan Woodham will report to Colorado Springs for basic training in late June. He’s a quarterback hopeful at the Air Force Academy.
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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