CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Local high school baseball coaches give a breakdown of their individual teams and outlook on the upcoming campaign.

District 10-AAA

Clarksville

Coach: Brian Hetland, 11th year

2019 Record: 27-9, tied first in District 10-AAA

Starters graduated/returning: 5/4

Key Departures: Nick James (TBCA Mr. Baseball, Player and Pitcher of the Year 10AAA); Devin Bender (All-District); Steffen Brooks (All-District); Noah Gallagher (All-District); Gavin Hams (2018 Pitcher of the Year)

Key Returners: SS Gavin Baxter Jr. (All-District); OF Miles McKay, Sr. (All-Tournament) signed with (Jackson State C.C.); DH Noah Gallagher, Sr. (All-District); C Dylan Walker, Sr. (All-Tournament)

Outlook: “We had a very successful season in 2019 going 26-9,” Hetland said. “We tied for the regular season title in 10AAA. We lost three quality left-handed pitchers that threw the majority of our meaningful innings. We are trying to figure out our rotation and depth for this year. I feel like we can be better defensively in 2020. We did lose some very good speed in Devin Bender, Steffen Brooks, and Sawyer Harris. Offensively we have to cut down on strikeouts to have a chance to be better in 2019. Our schedule is the toughest we ever have had including the Donny Everett Classic which has some outstanding teams coming in April 9-11.”

Montgomery Central

Coach: Todd Dunn, 35th year

2019 Record: 10-17, fifth in District 10-AAA

Starters graduated/returning: 3/6

Key Departures: Dakota Danner; Scot Coulter; Kameron White

Key Returners: OF/P/C Reagan Traylor, Sr.; P/1B Graham Blackwell, Jr.; SS/P Garrett Taylor, Jr.; P/1B Cole Atkins, Sr.; P/2B Brady Devers, Sr.; P/3B; Timmy Campbell, Jr.

Outlook: “We look to compete for the district championship,” Dunn said. “We made great strides towards that last season and if we improve this year, we will do it. We lost some great seniors, but we have a veteran team coming back. Besides the returning starters, we have other part-time starters returning and have a lot of returning pitchers. We have hard working experienced players and we expect to do well.”

Northeast

Coach: Charlie Ratliff, second year

2019 record: 8-18, sixth in District 10-AAA

Starters graduated/returning: 3/6

Key departures: P Trey Elkins; SS Gavin Cleghorn; 1B Heath Williams

Key returners: C Jaxon Mixon, So.; 2B Evan Primasing, So.; 1B Mason Briggs, Sr.; DH Jaylen Johnson, Sr.; 3B Kyle Book, Jr.; P Izayah Reifel, Sr.

Key Newcomers: Chris Collins, Fr.; Jeremiah Hall, Fr.; Marcus Kinch Fr.

Outlook: “The 2020 Eagles are talented, but are young,” Ratliff said. “We have been very dedicated to our conditioning and to the weight room this offseason. The pitching staff lacks experience for now, but continue to work hard and will be ready. Defensively we are better than years past. We are looking forward to competing within the district and putting ourselves in a better position than last year.”

Northwest

Coach: Chris Benne, fourth year

2019 record: 15-16-1, second in District 10-AAA

Starters graduated/returning: 4/5

Key departures: Jordan Smith (All-District 2018) (signed to SWCC); Takao Padron (All-Tournament 2018); Nick Wheeler (All-Tournament 2019); Kyle Bradford (All-Tournament 2019) (signed to Union)

Key returners: OF Cody Kirkland, Sr. (2x All-District); C Marcus Newsom, Sr. (All-Area); Ryan Silverstrim, Jr.; Garrett Roberts, So.; 3B AJ Harris, So.

Key newcomers: John David Redden, Sr. (transfer); Tyler Phillips, Fr.

Outlook: “We had a very successful 2019 campaign,” Benne said. “We played a tough schedule and put ourselves in a position to win big late in the season. In 2020, we will be inexperienced, but extremely talented. Our season will depend on our ability to mature, remain consistent and face adversity as it comes. To compete for the D10AAA title, we have to get over the hump. For two years in a row, we have been one win away from a district title and a regional birth. We are motivated and hungry to prove we belong with the top tier programs in our state.”

Rossview

Coach: Parker Holman, sixth season

2019 Record: 24-13, tied first in District 10-AAA

Starters graduated/returning: 2/7

Key Departures: Matthew Bowman; Clay Smith

Key Returners: P Gage Bradley, Sr. (Vanderbilt); IF/P Kaleb Vaughn, Sr.; IF/OF/P Ty Garrett, Sr. (Univ. of Charleston WV); IF Josh Sanchez, Jr.; P Bracken Rice, Sr.; P Jackson Izatt, Sr.

Key Newcomers: Gabe Sibert, Sr. (transfer)

Outlook: “We return most of their innings on the mound outside of losing Max Leineweber to graduation,” Holman said. “We’ll also return seven of our eight starting position players from a season ago. The Hawks will be veteran led, while also looking for some young players to serve some impactful roles this season.”

West Creek

Coach: Scott Loose, second year

2019 record: 4-24, tied seventh in District-10AAA

Starters graduated/returning: 5/4

Key departures: P/SS Aaron Denhart (All-Tournament); OF/P Luke Cheney; 2B Blaise Sparks; C Jonathan Spencer; P Nathan Tripp (Berea College)

Key returners: C Alex Maust, Jr. (All-District); P/CF Joshua Del Valle, Sr.; 1B Keon Booker, Sr.

Key newcomers: SS/P Damien Crisp, Sr. (injured last year); IF/P Joaquin Silva, Sr. (All-District); IF/P Donovan Moss, Sr. (transfer)

Outlook: “Record wise last year was disappointing, but West Creek baseball is a program in transition,” Loose said. “Despite the record, we did see improvement. There were many games we had a chance to win, but we just hadn’t learned to take that next step. The coaching staff expects to see continued growth and improvement this year as well. Our team is a mix of senior leadership with multiple underclassmen vying for starting positions. If we play to our potential, we have the capability to surprise a few teams in a very tough 10-AAA district. As is with most teams, our success will ride on our pitching. We have a lot of pitching but it is un-tested pitching. Joshua Del Valle will lead the way as our No. 1 district starter with a mix of potential pitchers following. Offensively, we should see improvement as our players have put a ton of work in both at school and on travel teams. Last year, we had one player playing travel ball and this year we have six seeing playing time on quality travel teams which should translate positively to the high school field.”

Division II-A District 4

Clarksville Academy

Coach: Dustin Smith, first year

2019 record: 26-15, Division II state tournament final four

Starters graduated/returning: 2/7

Key departures: CF Bryce Robinson (All-District and All-Region); SS Carson Caudill (All-District)

Key returners: P Shawn Scott, Sr. (Tennessee Commit); P Nolan O’Shoney, Sr. (Austin Peay Commit); P/3B Isaac German, Sr.; P Weston Bell, Sr.

Key newcomers: SS Max Cassle, Fr.; OF Cooper Wallace, Fr.; OF DJ Meriweather, Fr.

Outlook: “Coming off a very successful 2019 season where we made it to the state final four, we hope to build on that success and make a return trip to the state tournament,” Smith said. “We are led by some strong pitching, and if our bats can continue to improve, we should have a solid season. We will have a couple freshman sprinkled in the lineup that are very talented, and if they continue to improve as well, it will also help us.”