2021 Baseball Season Gets Underway; Wolverines Pick Up Scrimmage Win
By EDDY GIFFORD
Sports Writer
It is baseball time for the Dade County High School Wolverines as they are set to open regular season play this week.
Coach Chris Brown had this to say about the upcoming season.
“The 2021 Wolverine baseball team will be a young team this year. Though we may be young we do not lack the experience. The Wolverines will be returning their entire infield and will be replacing two outfielders from last year’s team.
The returning seniors are Colton Emmett (1B, P) and Brett Michael Kay (3B, P). These two seniors are incredible leaders, and I am so glad to have them leading this team.
Returning juniors are Brodie Swader (SS, P), Nolan Heath (2B), Brayden Nethery (OF, P), and Dylan Dwyer (OF, P). These juniors are great athletes and really have a mind for the game of baseball. Along with the mindset for the game some big sticks come in this group as well.
Returning sophomore Zeke Wheeler (C), this young man had a tough break last year and was not able to play in all the games, but he is healthy and ready to get behind the dish.
All together this team is ready to get out on the field and I am excited to see what this group of young men can do.
I ask the kids every year to give me team goals that they want to strive for throughout the season. The biggest goal that continued to show up is finally beat the Sweet 16 curse. For years, Dade has been able to get to the Sweet 16 but never past. This group says they are determined to finally beat the curse.
They also want to strive to have the best batting average in the region and to finish in the top four of the region.
My expectations for this team are high. I feel like if I do not have high expectations for the kids then they have nothing to shoot for. I tell the players every year that I will coach them as if they were a state championship 7A team and expect nothing less.
This pushes the players to be the best players they can and ultimately come together to be the best team they can be.
This team will have to out hit every team we play, our pitching is not the strongest. We may not throw 90 but we are going to be able to locate and mix speeds.
As a coach I am honored to be able to coach this fine group of young men and I can not wait to see what the season has in store.”
The Wolverines played a scrimmage game last week at North Murray and came away with a big win. Heath led the Wolverines at the plate with three hits, four RBI’s, and scored four runs, Wheeler had a hit and three RBI’s while Brayden Nethery had a hit and four RBI’s.
Nethery picked up the win pitching two and a third innings giving up one hit and one earned run while striking out two.
The Wolverines open the season today when they travel to Northwest Whitfield for a 5:30 game. They are set to host Trion on Saturday at 10 a.m., and North Sand Mountain at 3 p.m.
Come out and support the Wolverines as they start the 2021 season!