The "powers that be" at the South Carolina Independent SchoolAthletic Association office could only have been thinking one thingwhen they scheduled Dorchester Academy to play at Orangeburg Prepin the 2004 baseball season opener for both teams tonight: gatereceipt.
The Raiders claimed the SCISAA Class AAA Baseball Championshiplast spring with an 8-2 victory over Coach Todd Layton's Indians inOrangeburg to cap an 18-4 season. This highly anticipated rematchis one that fans and players have been waiting on for the betterpart of a year.
Although each team will feature many new faces, the action issure to be equally as competitive as the two team's previousmeeting.
Both teams were heavily impacted by graduation, as gone areOrangeburg Prep standouts Dusty Dukes, Mitch Melton, and TrippLove, as well as Raider stars Chris Minus, Brandon McClure, GregRice, Chris Myers, Adam Canady, and Sandy Dukes.
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Although both teams have seen their rosters depleted, thecupboards are not bare as young players are ready to step in fortheir respective teams.
"We lost seven of nine starters from last year," Indian CoachTodd Layton said during practice on Wednesday. "But we have someguys who I hope are ready to play. Losing so many starters willgive these young guys a chance to step up and prove themselves.
"We'll be a young team this year with freshmen starting incenter field (Brad Felder) and right field (Austin Godwin).Sophom*ore Bryce Parker will see time at first base and he'll starttonight with Christian Robinson on the senior class trip."
The Indians will be facing a tough schedule this year with twogames against the AAA defending state champions, games withconference rival Ben Lippen and ace pitcher Chris Peoples, andnon-conference tilts with defending SCISAA Class AA champ ColletonPrep, and 2003 playoff participants Calhoun Academy and Holly HillAcademy.
Dorchester Academy Coach Danny Jackson, who has guided theRaiders to state runner-up finishes in 1999 and 2001, third-placefinishes in 2000 and 2002, and the top prize in 2003 in his sixseasons at the helm, faces a similar task in finding some new facesto perform this season having lost five starters of his own.
Jackson must also replace long time assistant coaches Mike"Happy" Minus and Robbie McClure.
Assistant coaches Mike Metts and Tony Quattlebaum will joinJackson this season in attempting to guide the Raiders back to the2004 SCISAA playoffs as the coaching staff will be counting heavilyon returning senior starters Landon Wimberly, Elliot Mauney, BrentJackson, and junior David Metts.
The switch hitting Wimberly was second on the team with a .354batting average while playing mostly in right field last season,but will pitch and see time at third base this season.
Mauney, who made only one error in 120 chances last season, willbe the every day first baseman and should figure into the pitchingrotation as well. The versatile Jackson, who was an outstandingthird baseman last year, will catch in 2004 and may also play someshortstop and second base. Metts, the smooth fielding juniorshortstop, returns for his fourth varsity season. A switch hitterwho batted .318 last season, Metts, will also see time on themound.
Other key Raider returnees are seniors Adam Pendarvis and MattPope.
Pendarvis, a strong armed outfielder, should be the regular inright field as well as being utilized as a pitcher this season.Pope, who is a budding pitcher with a unique delivery will roundout the rotation and split time at third base.
Filling out the speedy Dorchester squad are senior first yearplayer Jay Hatchell, and 2003 JV players: juniors Benjamin Jordan,Jason Britt, Kevin Wilds, Jack Wimberly, sophom*ore Andy Gibbs, andfreshman Walt Quattlebaum.
Quattlebaum is a young talent with plenty of ability and will bethe likely starter at second base.
The Raiders will rely on their speed and better than averagedefense to carry them until their unsettled pitching rotation cangel. Many questions for both teams will begin to be answeredtonight as the 2004 editions will get underway.
"They (Dorchester) lost five starters themselves, but they havestrong players returning and some good kids coming up from the JVteam," Layton said. "Dorchester is one of the best coached teamsyou'll see," added Layton. "Danny Jackson does a fine job overthere."
Junior right-hander Baker Boles who is coming off of off-seasonsurgery on his non-throwing shoulder will get the start for theIndians with Josh Edwards ready to go out of the bullpen ifneeded.
Layton believes that it will be a plus for his team to open withan always difficult opponent.
"Dorchester is a good team to open with," Layton said. "It's agreat regional rival and a lot of the kids know each other. I justhope we have good weather for what should be a good game."
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