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SPRING SPORTS
THE DAILY DISPATCH
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 2011
Loaded Spartans hope to defend state crown BY ERIC S. ROBINSON DISPATCH SPORTS EDITOR
So what does a defending state champion with nearly every key piece returning expect to accomplish the following year? “Trying to repeat: That’s the goal,” according Kerr-Vance baseball coach Dave Cline. With four returning AllConference players — two of them Division I signees — and an All-Conference Coach of the Year at the helm, the Spartans may have what it takes to finish on top again. Kerr-Vance returns nearly every regular starter except graduated Tyler Overby. After falling in Game 1 of the championship series 11-1 last season, the Spartans rallied for a 7-4 victory to force a deciding Game 3 — which they won handily, 12-1. The Spartans benefited from some gutsy performances along the way. Early in the practice season, Cline thinks this year’s team may be even better than last season. A scary thought. “As good as they were, they look like they’re a lot better than they were last year. Even the underclassmen have gotten a lot better,” said Cline. “Everybody’s worked hard and it should be a fun season once we get everybody healthy.”
DAILY DISPATCH/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Kerr-Vance’s Chris Lanham connects for a hit in this March 2010 file photo. Team health will be the biggest concern for KVA early on. Pitcher, shortstop and East Carolina signee Tyler Bolton, the Player of the Year in the conference as well as the Dispatch All-Area Team, suffered a broken middle finger on his non-throwing hand toward the end of the basketball season. Bolton was punishing at the plate and on the mound in 2010, breaking the school’s career home run mark while his fastball topped out near 90 mph. Cline said Bolton is expected to be fully healed in six weeks. “I’m thinking I want to hold him out as long as I can to make sure it’s ready, not to re-injure it.” A big blow to the rotation will be the absence of Chandler Loyd for possibly the entire season. Loyd suffered a shoulder injury in Game 1 of the state champion-
Some rebuilding for Kerr-Vance softball BY ERIC S. ROBINSON DISPATCH SPORTS EDITOR
With several girls from last year’s team missing in action, Kerr-Vance softball coach Pat Pulley has a little rebuilding to do. “We’ve got to get back to the drawing board, start from scratch,” she said. The team will rely heavily on pitcher Hannah Powell this season. Powell will enter the circle this season for the second year as the Spartans’ primary hurler. “We’re really looking for her to help carry the load,” said Pulley. Other returning players Pulley will be looking to will be first baseman/catcher Jesse Edwards, third baseman Jordyn Steagall, and outfielders Lauren Wilkinson and Morgan King. Numbers will again be an issue for KVA. Last year’s team had nine players total,
and had to play a few games down a girl, taking an out each time the ninth spot came to the plate. “We’ve got 10 girls — one more than we did last year,” said Pulley. Despite the numbers, KVA was competitive in the Eastern Plains Independent Conference. The Spartans took third in 2010. Pulley expects Halifax Academy, last year’s firstplace team in the EPIC, to again be tough. “We were third place last year, I’d like to be higher than that. I’d like to be one step or two steps higher than that,” said Pulley. “We can do it if these girls apply.” The Spartans hit the field Tuesday, March 8 on the road at North Raleigh Christian. Contact the writer at erobinson@ hendersondispatch.com.
KVA track wants to build on success BY ERIC S. ROBINSON DISPATCH SPORTS EDITOR
With three athletes competing at the state level last year, Greg Carswell has high hopes for Kerr-Vance track in its fourth season. Last year, Devonne Smith, Andy Johnson and Addison Mabry advanced to the state meet. Smith finished as state runner-up in the triple jump, with a distance of 41 feet, 2 inches. “We’re really excited about his chances his senior year for coming back and maybe even winning it this year,” said third-year coach Carswell. Mabry, then a seventh grader, competed in the 1600m and the 3200m. Johnson took part in the shot put. “Andy is continuing to improve on his sprints, and I think he’s going to have a good year too,” said Carswell. “He’s a year stronger and faster and I think he’s going to have a good year individually.” Smith also ran the 100m dash and competed in discus and long jump. This year sees the addi-
tion of junior Gerald Palmer and seventh grader Kayla Holder. Both are competent middle-distance runners. “We ought to be very strong in the middle-distance events because Addison competed very well last year in middle distance,” said Carswell. This past week was the first full week of practice for Palmer and Smith, who played basketball for KVA in the winter. KVA does not compete against other Eastern Plains Independent Conference school because not every school has a track team. Being a small team, Carswell knows it’s not really possible to win a team track meet against larger squads, but the coach is focused on individual improvement and competition — and getting Smith, Mabry and Johnson back to the state level. “We’re looking forward to them returning, doing that again, and then the hope is the others can reach that goal as well,” he said. Contact the writer at erobinson@ hendersondispatch.com.
ship series against Westchester Country Day and needed Tommy John surgery to repair it. Loyd was crucial to the rotation in 2010, amassing an impressive win total as the team’s No. 3 starter. A productive offensive presence, Cline still expects Loyd’s big bat in the lineup, but the senior will move to first base. “Chandler can throw lightly and play a position and hit, but he’s not going to pitch. If at all, it’ll be late in the year,” he said. Cameron Capell — a Pitt Community College signee — may step up to take Loyd’s spot in the rotation. “I think Cameron’s going to be the No. 3 guy, but we really need Tyler to catch him. We’ve got to wait till he’s healthy before that can really materialize too,” said
Cline. “We’re going to start off a little rough because we don’t have everybody ready to go right off the bat. By mid-season, we’re looking to be a pretty hard team to beat.” Capell is a versatile leadoff man who can play several different positions on the field. Cline said he brings “leadership” to the team, and is an example to his teammates. “Plus, he’s good as hell,” added Cline. “He keeps everybody in check. He’s going to let you know if you’re out of line. He’s just a leader.” At the front of the rotation will be healthy southpaw John Allen — the hero of KVA’s state championship series. Bolton’s future Pirate mate combined to throw 10 innings in the Spartans’ victories in Games 2 and 3. He allowed no earned runs on two hits while striking out 15. Cline knows the advantage of having a 1-2 combo like Allen and Bolton in the rotation is immeasurable. “We’ve got guys that can pitch, but we don’t have guys that can pitch like that,” said Cline. “You got two D-I guys you can run out there, it makes a big difference.” Cline expects EPIC foe St. David’s to be a tough out in 2011. The teams finished 1-2 in the confer-
ence, and KVA ended the Warriors’ season with a 5-1 win in Round 2 of the NCISAA state tourney. “They’re very good, I think. St. David’s and us both thought we got a raw deal having to play each other in the playoffs when we did last year,” said Cline. High Point’s Westchester may return a strong squad, as well as Southlake Christian out of Huntersville. The Spartans have some tough non-conference matchups scheduled to prepare them for EPIC play, including North Davidson and Southern Nash. KVA will play in an Easter tournament in Tarboro, which includes some tough competition. “We could wind up playing some guys there that are going to be high draft picks,” said Cline. The tough schedule in and out of conference is what Cline hopes will prepare his squad for its ultimate purpose: Finding a way to Rocky Mount to play for a title in late May. “It’s not going to be a cakewalk, I can tell you that much. We’re going to have to work at it and we’re going to have to beat some good teams along the way if we’re going to repeat.” Contact the writer at erobinson@hendersondispatch.com.
Spartan netters field 3 seniors BY ERIC S. ROBINSON DISPATCH SPORTS EDITOR
Kerr-Vance tennis coach Dave Donaldson makes it clear he respects the competition. “The first thing is that we play in the toughest conference in the state, with two of the top four teams in the state,” he said. “But Kerr-Vance is going to be good — how good remains to be seen.” Last year, Eastern Plains Independent Conference opponent St. David’s finished second in the state, while Arendell Parrott took fourth. “I think we’re going to be pretty strong. We’re going to shoot for second in the conference, which means we have to pass Parrott, which we didn’t do last year,” said Donaldson. The coach said two of last year’s better players are not returning, but the 2011 squad sees strength in numbers. Fourteen Spartans have come out for tennis this year, ranging from seventh through 12th grade. KVA tennis hasn’t had any seniors in years. This year, the team
DAILY DISPATCH/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Kerr-Vance’s Dalton Crews follows through after hitting a backhand return in this March 2010 file photo. fields three: Dalton Crews, Will Bugg and Zack King. “I need strong leadership from them. I need to have them show the rest of these guys,” said Donaldson. “I need for them to be committed. I know it’s tough being a senior, getting ready to go off to college and get out of here.”
“They need to show the work ethic and be focused and do what they need to in practice and in the matches, and I think they will.” Crews looks like the team’s No. 1 seed. Bugg is a likely 3 and King will be fourth. Donaldson gained what he called an “unexpected bonus.” German foreign-exchange student Felix Grasshoff hasn’t played tennis in a few years, but the multisport athlete is expected to be the team’s fifth seed. Junior Dylan Ellington is the No. 2 player, moving up from fourth. Dustin Evans will round out the likely top six. Donaldson is intrigued with what he’s seen in early scrimmages. “Good group of guys, they all get along together,” said Donaldson. “Got a lot of them out for the first time this year, so there’s a lot of teaching going on, but Kerr-Vance is going to be in the thick of it.” Contact the writer at erobinson@hendersondispatch.com.
Lots of vets with Spartan soccer BY ERIC S. ROBINSON DISPATCH SPORTS EDITOR
Kerr-Vance soccer will feature some seasoned veterans peppered all over the field in 2011. The Spartans have two senior midfielders, two senior defenders and one senior striker on the roster. KVA coach Amy Steg hopes the team will benefit from having leadership mixed across the pitch. Catherine Perry, Elizabeth Hill, Haley Ross, Catherine Gaby and Emily Adkins represent the senior class. Multisport athlete Adkins was key for KVA last season. The Daily Dis-
patch All-Area selection was a presence on the offensive and defensive side. Sophomore Jessica Darnell had an impressive freshman campaign. She returns in goal for the Spartans. This year’s team also features a couple of freshman at the varsity and junior varsity level. The competition level in the Eastern Plains Independent Conference is high. Last year, three EPIC teams made the state tournament. Secondseeded Cary Christian advanced to the state championship, where the Knights fell 1-0 to defending champion Calvary Baptist. Cary finished the season 20-1-1.
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“I’m expecting it to be a tough year,” said Steg. “It’s a tough conference to move into, but I think having one year under our belts playing these same teams (will help).” Steg is hoping the team just finishes with more numbers in the win column in 2011. “It’ll be tough. The schools that we play are around the Raleigh area with more strictly soccer players,” she said. “We just want to have a better record from last year, just hope to build on that.”
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