Bulldogs hungry for more success on diamond
Published 9:14 pm Friday, March 13, 2015
The King’s Fork High School baseball team enjoyed a breakout year in 2014, and the 2015 Bulldogs want to do even better.
Players tasted success last season unlike any previous King’s Fork squad, helping produce a 14-10 overall record, which featured the most wins in school history, including the first postseason win and regional berth. The Bulldogs advanced as far as the regional semifinals.
King’s Fork High School sophomore Blake Sargent will be one of the Bulldogs returning this year, enriched by unprecedented postseason experience in 2014.
Gone due to graduation are eight different players, including pitcher Tim Hairsine, middle infielders Connor McNamara and Coty Ward and pitcher Truman Boyd, who came on strong toward the end of the year, particularly in clutch situations.
“It’s going to be hard to replace his arm on the mound,” KF coach Pat Stafford said.
Kalev Henry, a talented outfielder who would have been returning as a senior, moved to North Carolina.
“That was a big loss for us as well,” Stafford said.
And though these losses are significant, the departed players strengthened their younger counterparts by helping them get places in baseball that none of them had ever been.
“The returning guys we do have coming back gained a lot of valuable experience last year in the postseason,” Stafford said.
Seniors Duke Santora and Cal Bailey will be key for King’s Fork.
Santora had a .395 batting average and earned a second team all-region selection last year. He could move to center field this season to replace Henry.
Bailey will be important on the mound.
“We can look for him to pitch in some of the bigger games for us this year,” Stafford said, later adding he will look for Bailey to move over to a middle infield role when he’s not pitching.
Junior Josh Bush recently transferred from Nansemond River and is expected to contribute as corner infielder, primarily at third base, and he is a power hitter.
“Josh is going to kind of bring a new element to our lineup,” Stafford said, noting Bush is someone who can drive in some runs with big hits.
Senior Bryce Jones returns after missing most of last season due to injury. He will likely play in right field on defense, and similar to Bush on offense, “He’s really become one of those power-type guys,” Stafford said.
The coach highlighted several sophomores who will be key for the Bulldogs including Blake Sargent, Tim Gromkoski, Ricky McCleod Jr. and Tristen DeGuzman.
Sophomore Andrew Riddick and the team’s lone freshman, Mason Brown, were primary players for King’s Fork’s junior varsity squad last year and are new to varsity this season. They are expected to make an impact as the season progresses.
The Bulldogs open the year at home on Tuesday against Deep Creek High School.
