Photo courtesy of Cari Dean
Chelsea Baseball
Jake Posey will anchor an experienced pitching rotation for the Chelsea Hornets in 2016.
Jake Posey and Joel Cheatwood pushed Chelsea into the postseason last year with strong pitching, and they aim to do the same in 2016.
The Hornets finished second in Class 6A, Area 10, and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by a Briarwood Christian team that advanced to the quarterfinals.
Chelsea returns many key cogs to that unit, including Posey and Cheatwood at the top of the pitching rotation.
“I’d like to think we’re going to be very good this year, since we’re returning both of our area starters from last year,” said Michael Stallings, who is entering his seventh year on the top step of the dugout.
Stallings buys into the philosophy that you have to be strong up the middle of the baseball diamond, meaning that the catcher, pitcher, middle infielders and center fielders are important players.
“If you can command the middle, I think you’ve got a pretty good chance of defending,” he said.
Jacob Burback caught nearly every game last season as a sophomore, giving the pitchers a familiar face once again. In the middle infield, Cheatwood is a two-year starter at shortstop when he’s not on the mound, and Brendon Case is a sophomore expected to play second base.
“Brendon Case has really good speed, great hands, handles the bat really well, and is a good defender. He’s going to be a bright spot for us,” Stallings said.
Two players who could produce some thunder in the middle of the lineup are Jake Harkins and Riley Watkins.
For the Hornets to have the season they want, camaraderie is the key.
“Our team unity is very important,” Stallings said. “We’ve got a really good group of kids. They work hard. They spend a lot of time together off the field, which speaks volumes.”
The Hornets get started on Feb. 15 as they host the Hope 4 Gabe Classic.
