Prep Baseball: North Rowan preview

North Rowan's Dakota Brown. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Big bats at North will be carried by Hunter Feezor, left, and Matt Mauldin. Photo by Ronnie Gallagher, Salisbury Post.

By Bret Strelow

bstrelow@salisburypost.com

SPENCER — With Patrick Snider's jersey present in the visitors dugout, North Rowan beat defending 1A champion South Stanly to begin the 2010 baseball season.

Snider, who led North in victories and innings pitched last year as a sophomore, is battling cancer. He won't play for the Cavaliers during their first season since dropping from 2A to 1A, but the Cavs could make noise in the YVC while Snider continues his inspirational fight.

"Regardless of whether Patrick is here or not, he's always been a big part of this team," North coach Rob Linder said. "Even though he's not here, he's probably an even bigger part now. I know we're praying for Patrick, and we're also playing for Patrick."

Hunter Feezor delivered a critical three-run homer in North's 9-6 win over the Rebel Bulls, who are now without departed pitching stars Ryne Poplin and Wes Hatley.

The Cavs scored eight times in the first two innings of that contest. Linder said pitching and defense should be team strengths, but the biggest question mark is hitting. North, which went 5-16 overall and 5-9 in CCC play last year, struck out 17 times against South Stanly and was shut out against South Rowan on Wednesday.

Kyle Munday and Jeff Nelson are the lone seniors on a roster that includes 10 juniors. Munday, a corner infielder, led the team with 14 RBIs and hit three home runs in 2009. He often hits in the cleanup spot.

Staff ace Dakota Brown, who plays shortstop when he doesn't pitch, is North's leadoff hitter. He batted .355 last season with six doubles and 11 runs scored.

Brown's ability to reach base should help open holes on the right side of the infield for left-handed hitting center fielder Matt Laurens, who is also the team's No. 2 pitcher.

Wesley Barker, another junior, catches and bats third. Gone is the floppy, curly hair he sported for most of the basketball season: the baseball players shaved their heads a few weeks ago as a way to honor Snider.

Feezor occupied the No. 7 spot in North's season opener and started at first base, which put Munday at third.

"Hunter played jayvee last year but was hurt a lot and played only about half the time," Linder said. "He's a good kid, a strong kid. He had been hitting in batting practice, and that's one reason we threw him out there at first. We thought he could help us there, and he did."

Dusty Agner plays second base, as does sophomore Josh Mock. Agner or sophomore Jake Smith can step in at shortstop when Brown is on the mound.

Returning starter Matt Mauldin (left) and sophomore Mason Jennings (right) are normally alongside Laurens in the outfield. Colton Fries, Jamone Kelly and Sam Brooks can also contribute there.

Linder said Brown, Laurens, Agner and Josh Price will handle most of the pitching duties. Brown started against South Stanly, Price picked up the win in relief and Laurens earned the save.

"I don't really think we're young any more," Linder said. "All of our pitching is in the junior class. That's kind of good, and a couple of those guys got experience as freshmen."

The Cavs were 0-9 last year before Brown posted the win and Snider got the save in an 8-6 decision against Ledford. Snider had complete-game victories against Providence Grove and Salisbury later in the season.

Brown finished his sophomore year with a 2-4 record and 5.53 ERA in 312/3 innings.

"He always listened to the older players," Linder said. "He doesn't really say a whole lot, but the way he plays on the field, he leads by example."

Laurens went 0-3 on the mound last year, but he made a promising start to 2010 with two scoreless innings against South Stanly. He fanned four Rebel Bulls.

The competition level in the YVC is a bit of an unknown, but North has fared well in the league. Its football team finished third, and the boys basketball team won the regular-season title.

"Being that they're competing well," Linder said," hopefully that gives us confidence that we can, too."