By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

MOUNT ULLA — West Rowan’s baseball team is coming off an unusual 17-9 season.

In the middle, the Falcons went 15-1, but they started 1-3 and they finished on a 1-6 slide that brought an unexpectedly quick end to their season.

West just about always pitched well, but didn’t always hit.

West’s veteran coach Seth Graham, who was inducted into the North Carolina American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame last year, has seen his share of baseball streaks and slumps, but the Falcons’ roller-coaster ride was one for the books.

“During that 15-1 stretch, we played the best baseball we have played at West Rowan in a long time.” Graham said. “We’re sitting at 16-4 with two weeks left in the regular season, only to finish 17-9, with one of the worse stretches of baseball we’ve had in a long time. We’ve discussed last year’s end-of-season fall at length with our guys. As a coaching staff, we are confident in this year’s team to not allow history to repeat itself. The guys have matured mentally and physically from last season, and we can’t wait to watch them compete.”

On paper, West looks good, with six returning starters, plus six pitchers who have competed in varsity games.

“Pitching will again be the strength of the Falcons,” Graham said.

 Junior left-hander Maddox Moore (2-1, 0.70 ERA in 20 innings) is being counted on as the ace. The southpaw has a low-to-mid-80s fastball and has great command of his secondary stuff.

Junior right-hander Cole Blevins (2-1. 0.95 ERA) will be a key starting pitcher after throwing only 14 innings last season. He’s a hard thrower with a fastball that was topping out at 91 mph in the fall. Blevins also has solid command of his off-speed pitches.   

Junior right-hander Brant Graham enters his third season as a varsity hurler. Graham (3-1, 3.73 in 21 innings) throws in the low 80s and has big-game experience.

Senior right-hander Chase Fisher, a Pfeiffer recruit, will take 80s velocity and a late-breaking slider to the mound.

Also in the mix for work on a deep staff are senior right-handers Brice Knox, Eli Graham, Ben Koontz and Gaige Scruggs and junior right-handers Carter Lefebvre, Dylan Carter, Luke Ponczka and Carter Durant. Freshman lefty Preston Javidi may log some innings.

“We are very excited about the number of options we have on the mound,” Graham said. “Pitching depth is one of our greatest strengths. It’s a good feeling as a coach to know that if our starter gets in trouble early, we can go to another guy with equal ability.”

The lineup will include some familiar faces, although some will be in new positions.

Scruggs, a Surry Community College recruit, was the starting catcher last year. He’ll still see some time behind the plate, but he also will be needed in the outfield and at second base. Sophomore Brody Pope can handle catching duties and is expected to be a regular in the lineup.

Eli Graham, a Surry recruit, started in the outfield last year but is expected to play third base this season. Fisher also can play some at the hot corner.

Senior Brice Knox, another Surry recruit, will hold down the shortstop position for the fourth straight season. He will be paired up the middle with Durant or Scruggs.

 If Knox pitches, Cole Ludwick, will be asked to step in at shortstop.

Ponczka is a returning starter at first base. He has power and will bat in the middle of the lineup. Brant Graham may also get some action at first base.

 Moore will roam center field when he’s not on the mound. When Moore pitches, Scruggs or Javidi will play center.

In left field, the Falcons will employ Brant Graham, Carter or Koontz.

 Blevins is the Falcons’ best overall hitter and will be the right fielder when he doesn’t pitch. When Blevins is on the mound, Scruggs or junior Lucas Watts will fill the void in right.

“Our depth and our versatility off the bench are strong attributes,” Coach Graham said. “We are going to be able to make moves late in games as needed to get better match-ups at the plate.”

 

West Rowan baseball glance

Coach: Seth Graham (11th season, 158-72).

Players to Watch: Cole Blevins, Brice Knox, Maddox Moore, Luke Ponczka, Brant Graham

2024 record: 17-9, 10-6 (tied, 3rd) 3A South Piedmont Conference

Playoffs: Lost 1-0 in 1st round to Kings Mountain

Conference regular-season championships: 1960, 1961, 1969, 1974, 1994, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023

Opening Day: Feb. 25 at South Rowan