Hornets have to find charge for battery

Salisbury has only two real question marks, but they’re rather significant.

Pitching and catching.

Both ends of the battery are potential sore spots, because the Hornets are missing all-county Boo Blount. Blount accounted for five of the Hornets’ six wins — including both ends of a doubleheader with High Point Central — with his arm and performed rare double duty as the squad’s best catcher.

“It looks like we’ll definitely hit better than last season and our fielding looks improved,” said second-year coach Scott Maddox. “But we’ve got just one varsity pitching win coming back and just one coming up from the jayvees.”

That returning varsity win was posted by senior right-hander Tommy Ludwig (1-5, 35 Ks). Ludwig and Adam Haynes, younger brother of former Hornet standout, Jimmy, figure to be Maddox’s top two mound horses.

The rest of the stable includes veteran Todd Utech and Trey Wingerson, who recorded that lone jayvee win. Potential arms are Bryan Roten, a good athlete who hasn’t played baseball since suffering a collision in middle school, and towering, but raw left-hander Scott Robinson.

Marlowe Rary, who wore the shinguards several times last season, is the probable starter at catcher. His backup will be the marvelously named Scotty Scott.

The primary thing Hornet pitchers have to do to be reasonably successful is limit bases on balls. If they can make batters put the ball in play, they have a chance, because Maddox’s defense should be solid.

The defensive anchor is veteran shortstop Richard Dailey, who should form a competent double play combination with freshman Adam Butler.

Butler’s big brother, Matt, a junior who made all-county in football and started in basketball, figures to get some time at first base and will also receive at-bats as the designated hitter. The older Butler played at East Rowan last season.

“We’re hoping Matt can reap the benefits of playing in a 2A league,” said Maddox. “In 3A everyone seems to have two great pitchers. In 2A, most schools just have one.”

Butler, 260 solid pounds, should hit some homers. If he makes solid contact, go ahead and rub up a new baseball.

The incumbent at first is tall sophomore Jack Campbell, who debuted impressively last season (.333, nine RBIs).

At third base will be veteran Barry Medinger (.300, 15 RBIs), who will smoke his share of line drives. Medinger whacked out three hits in a 15-10 opening-day loss to Concord.

Joel Stamp, the team’s only lefty hitter, will help out at both infield corners.

The outfield appears in good shape.

Daniel Wallace (.431, 16 RBIs), who played second last season, will get the starting call in center.

“Daniel should have a big year,” said Maddox. “He was all-conference and led us in most offensive categories.”

When Ludwig (.322, 12 RBIs) is not on the mound, he’ll head to center and Wallace will slide over to left.

RyanLesley (.237) figures to man right on a regular basis and could be a surprise. He had four RBIs on opening day, matching his total from last season.

P.J. McLaughlin and Jonathan Snider, who has courtesy-runner speed, could also earn starts in the outfield.

The lineup will probably open with Medinger and Wallace, and Ludwig, Matt Butler and Campbell in the 3-4-5 power spots. Adam Butler appears to be an ideal No. 9 hitter. The 6-7-8 spots remain a work in progress.

Besides his battery, Maddox’s main concern is the strength of the Hornets’ revised league. It’s tough to find people his guys have a 50-50 chance to beat.

The Hornets, 6-15 last season, always knew they had a good shot at a win whenever they went up against High Point Central or North Stanly. But those teams are no longer in the Central Carolina Conference.

Perennial powers North Rowan, East Davidson andLedford are, however, and now they’ve been joined by Central Davidson, another institution with a reputation as a baseball school.

No one’s exactly sure what to expect from West Iredell, which scored 21 runs against Statesville, or West Stokes, so the only certain CCC target is Lexington.

Then there’s the non-league portion of the schedule.

Concord’s no patsy and the Hornets can’t realistically expect to knock off South Rowan, East Rowan or West Rowan, all of whom are larger schools that appear headed for strong seasons.

“Our non-league schedule is ambitious, to say the least,” said Maddox. “And in the first round of the Easter Tournament we get (4A) Harding. The second round we get East or Davie (another 4A). That’s tough.”

All in all, it does look like a challenging spring for the Hornets.

They have more good players and they’ll more than likely be a better team than in 2001.

But victories at a school that hasn’t enjoyed a winning season since 1993 may be even harder to come by.

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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com .