By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
GRANITE QUARRY ó Success will be measured mostly by the way East Rowan’s baseball team finishes the season, but coach Brian Hightower had no complaints about how flawlessly it started.
The Mustangs, who came within one victory of winning the 3A state championship series last year, impressed Hightower with the sharpness they displayed during the first official practice in mid-February.
“It was the best first day I’ve ever had in 13 years,” said Hightower, who coached at Statesville before taking the East job in 2004. “We were on the money with everything. We like to keep everything on schedule, and I think we ended up practice two minutes over.
“It means everybody was hustling station to station. We went out there defensively and did well fielding every groundball. They went through all their fundamental drills like it was the first time they’d ever done them. It was just a great day.”
More could be ahead for a group that moves forward without departed standouts Justin Roland, Micah Jarrett and Trey Holmes.
Familiar names such as Noah Holmes, Ethan Fisher, Austin Shull, Zach Smith, Ben DeCelle, Corbin Shive, Cody Laws and Kent Basinger are back. The addition of Salisbury transfers Robbie Ijames and David Ijames, who are brothers, as well as little-known senior Alex Litaker should provide a boost.
East went 29-5 last season, forcing a decisive third game in the championship series before falling to Rocky Mount.
“We had a great year last year, and a lot of those guys are back,” Hightower said. “Our guys did come in with confidence, and they have high expectations.
“You like to see that from your guys. It’s definitely a positive, and we just have to see where we can take it.”
Shive, the No. 1 starter on last year’s pitching staff, has signed with Charlotte. He underwent shoulder surgery in the fall and could be back on a mound within a few weeks. Hightower doesn’t want to rush his return, and Shive will contribute at first base when he’s not pitching.
“I said when he went in to have surgery that if we got him back two weeks before the end of the season I was going to be happy,” Hightower said. “We’ve got plenty of arms, and his future is too bright. We won’t push that too hard.”
Hightower can turn to Laws, Basinger, Litaker, Preston Troutman, Robbie Ijames, Thomas Allen, Parker Gobbel and David Ijames to eat up innings.
Laws went 9-1 with a 1.60 ERA last season, and Basinger earned one win. A shoulder injury prevented Litaker from pitching as a sophomore or junior, but he committed to Brevard earlier this year.
“I still think we’re going to pitch it and defend it as well as anybody,” Hightower said. “We just have to make sure we come up with some clutch hits. You wonder who’s going to be that go-to guy.”
Holmes batted .294 as a sophomore, and he’ll likely occupy the No. 3 spot in East’s order.
His defense at third base draws rave reviews from Hightower.
“Him and Craige Lyerly, those are the best two I’ve seen,” Hightower said.
Reigning county player of the year Robbie Ijames will step in at shortstop to fill the void created by Roland’s departure.
Ijames batted .548, belted nine home runs and recorded 21 stolen bases last season playing for Salisbury at the 2A level. He reached base at a 70-percent clip in CCC games.
“As far as getting from home to first from the right side, he’s about as good as it gets,” Hightower said. “He can get a lot of base hits if he can hit it to the right of the shortstop or to the right of the second baseman.
“He’s going to beat out some balls. He gets a lot of infield hits to go with the power he has.”
Ijames is expected to serve as East’s leadoff hitter, and his brother will start in right field.
David Ijames has run the 60-yard dash in the 6.8- to 6.9-second range.
“They’re great kids, and I think our guys have accepted them,” Hightower said. “They’ve come in and jelled well with our guys. They’re not hard to get along with, and that’s made it an easier transition.”
Fisher (.326 average last season) returns at second base, and Litaker can play first when Shive is on the mound.
Troutman will contribute at shortstop, and Matt Miller is versatile enough to help all around the infield. Casey Little will likely get a lot of at-bats as the designated hitter, and he’s also a reserve outfielder.
Shull is again in charge of handling East’s pitchers. He hit .290 with four homers last season and excels defensively.
“He blocks the plate so well,” Hightower said. “He’s 1.95 (seconds) to second base, and that’s great as far as pop time goes. He does everything you want, throws behind runners. You have to love throwing to Shull.”
Speed separated East’s outfield from others last season, and the Mustangs haven’t lost much of a collective step even with the graduation of Jarrett.
DeCelle (12 steals last season) remains in left field, and he could hit second or ninth. Smith, who batted .321 last year with 19 extra-base hits, has made the full-time switch to center after spending most of 2008 in right.
“We’re not losing a whole lot of speed in the outfield, and we still have pretty good arms out there,” Hightower said.
East went 18-0 in the NPC last season, beat Lake Norman in the third round of the playoffs and made a miraculous comeback to edge Mooresville in the next round.
The Mustangs will also be pushed by rival West Rowan, which looks like a legitimate contender.
“Everybody is eager to get out there,” Hightower said. “They’ve worked hard in the offseason to get better, and we’re always stressing you have to get better day to day. It’s a mature group.”