MOUNTULLA — Step by step.
That’s how West Rowan baseball coach Chris Cauble describes his first two years as the head man of the Falcons.
The former Rowan County Athlete of the Year is starting his third season in Mount Ulla. Season No. 1 saw a playoff berth. Season No. 2 saw a playoff win and a 16-11 finish.
This year?
“Our mindset is to win,” he said simply.
It will be quite a challenge, considering his new conference, the 3A North Piedmont, gets only two postseason berths. And Cauble knows that East Rowan is loaded and A.L. Brown is as good as it has been in years.
“The crowds are going to be bigger and the rivalries will be good,” he said. “But I expect to win anyway. I expect my players to want to win.”
Actually, making the playoffs isn’t Cauble’s biggest challenge. It’s meshing the returning upperclassmen with a bunch of youngsters who carried Todd Bell’s jayvee team to a perfect 23-0 season in 2001.
In fact, two seniors and two sophomores will make up the infield.
First and second base will be manned by seniors Corey Rolla and Justin Graham. Rolla was the designated hitter much of last year while Graham is a three-year player.
“I hope Rolla supplies a little power,” said Cauble. “Graham is one of the smoothest second baseman I’ve coached.”
Graham improved greatly during American Legion season at Mooresville. Now, he’s slated to lead off.
“His confidence level is really good,” Cauble praised, “and he’s hitting the ball real sharp.”
Graham’s brother Bryan, is the shortstop and fellow soph Seth Waller is at third.
“Bryan is just like his brother — very smooth,” Cauble said. “We pulled Waller up last year and with a year to mature, things are going well so far.”
Backups in the infield include seniors Steven Ashby and Clay Everson, juniors Jeremy Connor and Shane Graham, along with sophomore Chris McDaniel.
Ashby hit .273 last season.
One sophomore and two seniors will be in the outfield.
Leading the way is senior Matt Morgan, an all-conference and all-county center fielder. The three-year starter hit .354 in 2001. Last year’s leadoff man, Morgan will now hit second.
“He’s developed a lot of pop in his bat,” Cauble said. “We’re using him as a speedy-type guy.”
Another senior, Brandon Hiatt, will play right. He is a returning starter as well.
“He’s a solid outfielder. We’ll toy with him at the plate and see if he can hit,” said Cauble.
Sophomore Patrick Adams is in left. He pitched some on the varsity last season and Cauble likes his bat.
Also playing in the outfield will be juniors Brandon Bailey and D.J. Lyles. This is Lyles’ first year but he is a very good athlete, according to his coach.
Yet another sophomore will be behind the plate in Ryan Wilson. Of the switch hitter, Cauble says,“If he can handle (the position), it will be his all year.” Matt Beck, a junior, will also see time behind the plate.
And then, there’s football star Ben Hampton. Now that it is spring, Cauble expects him to be baseball star Ben Hampton.
“Depending on who’s pitching, Ben is going to be a jack of all trades,” said Cauble, who expects the senior to play in the outfield, at first base and even behind the plate. Cauble doesn’t want to catch Hampton unless it is absolutely necessary so he can save his knees for a college football career.
Cauble won’t hesitate putting a bat in Hampton’s hands, however. He hit .310 last year with three doubles and four homers. He is a threat to send a screaming liner out of the park at any time.
“People want to talk about his strikeouts but my thinking is, at any given moment, we’ve got runs because he can hit it. You can deal with the strikeouts.”
Hampton may even join a long list of pitchers. He was 2-0 last season.
But replacing graduated Jared Barnette (9-4, 90 strikeouts) is a chore. Cauble will turn to junior Paul Link and sophomores Adams, Daniel Cauble and McDaniel. Ashby might get a crack at it, too.
Link is a crafty left-hander, says Cauble, who adds, “He’s a Tom Glavine-type pitcher who works in and out and locates you.”
Adams is No. 2 on the staff and throws 82 mph.
And then, there’s Cauble, who will shock you with his junk-ball pitching.
Go through the lineup once, grins coach Cauble, and watch the opponents quickly get frustrated against the hurling Cauble. “Daniel’s a smart pitcher,” he said. “It’s a young pitching staff but we’ll be OK as we mature.”
Everyone is expectingWest to better its 16-11 record from last year. It’s no secret the sophs are a key.
“This young group has had good success all the way back to Little League,” Cauble said. “So we want the older guys (Morgan, Hampton, Graham and Rolla have been on varsity three seasons) and the younger guys to complement each other.”
Last year’s most impressive win was a 3-1 victory over highly touted Asheboro in the playoffs, a victory no one expected — except Chris Cauble, that is.
“Now, we want to build on that,” he said.
Remember, it’s step by step this season at West Rowan.
Cauble just hopes with all of his diaper dandies, those baby steps quickly turn into giant steps.
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Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4287 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com
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