03-13-2012, 11:05 PM
With seven starters back and Chase Roark making a return to the diamond the Middlesboro Yellow Jackets have high hopes for the 2012 season.
âI am really excited about this yearâs team. I think weâve got a chance to do something really special,â said longtime MHS baseball coach Bill Powell. âWeâve got a veteran group that has played a lot. The coaching staff is very up beat and I think weâve got a chance to do something very meaningful in the All âAâ and then we may get another shot to take a bite of the âAppleâ at the end of the season.â
The Jackets got off to a terrific start Monday as they blanked Thomas Walker 13-0 in five innings.
Senior shortstop Thomas Epperson hit a solo home run for the Jackets in the first inning and later added a two-run double to pace the Middlesboro offense. Senior second baseman Austin Baker also had two hits and drove in two runs.
Sophomore Lucas Crawford started on the mound and picked up the win. He gave up just one hit over two innings of shutout baseball. Senior Chase Roark also pitched two scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out two. Senior Nick Capps finished the game by striking out two while allowing just one hit in a scoreless fifth inning.
Roark was a standout baseball throughout his Little League years, but left the sport to concentrate on football once he reached high school. That certainly paid off as he was a four-year starter at quarterback for the Jackets and twice made honorable mention all-state. He recently signed to play quarterback at Carson-Newman College.
âYou really canât minimize what having Chase out there means for the team,â Powell added. âHeâs another big bat and heâs also going to help us by pitching and with his defense.â
The Pioneers were led by catcher Brandon Moore who smacked a pair of doubles. Lucas Chadwell had the other hit for Thomas Walker.
Middlesboro jumped on top in the first inning as Baker led off with a walk. He advanced to second on a wild pick-off throw, stole third and scored on a wild pitch. Epperson followed with his solo homer to make it 2-0.
In the second inning Crawford and Capps singled and both later came around to score on Bakerâs two-run base hit back up the middle to stretch the lead to 4-0.
The Jackets tacked on another run in the third as catcher Bubba Brock led off with a double and later scored on Crawfordâs sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.
Middlesboro brought an early end to the game in the fourth as they send eight runs home. Eppersonâs two-run double was the big blow in the inning and the Jackets went to the 13-0 win.
Epperson enters his senior season as arguably the top player in the 13th Region.
âHeâs definitely one of the top players in the region and heâs really worked hard this off season and put on some extra muscle,â Powell said. âIâm expecting another outstanding season from him both batting and on the mound.â
The Jackets' opening day line up had Brock starting at catcher for the third straight year, fellow senior Timmy Helton back at first base, Baker at second for the third straight year, Epperson back for his third year starting at shortstop, Roark at third and an outfield of seniors Chris Short, Nick Capps and freshman Jake Brock.
Powell said that Crawford would also see time at third base on days when Roark is pitching or playing short and that freshman John Millett could also see time at shortstop.
Middlesboro (1-0) will be back in action Thursday at Cumberland Gap and theyâll host those same Panthers on Friday. Both those games are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. The Jackets host Claiborn Saturday at 1 p.m.
Read more: The Middlesboro Daily News - Jackets open season with 13 0 win
âI am really excited about this yearâs team. I think weâve got a chance to do something really special,â said longtime MHS baseball coach Bill Powell. âWeâve got a veteran group that has played a lot. The coaching staff is very up beat and I think weâve got a chance to do something very meaningful in the All âAâ and then we may get another shot to take a bite of the âAppleâ at the end of the season.â
The Jackets got off to a terrific start Monday as they blanked Thomas Walker 13-0 in five innings.
Senior shortstop Thomas Epperson hit a solo home run for the Jackets in the first inning and later added a two-run double to pace the Middlesboro offense. Senior second baseman Austin Baker also had two hits and drove in two runs.
Sophomore Lucas Crawford started on the mound and picked up the win. He gave up just one hit over two innings of shutout baseball. Senior Chase Roark also pitched two scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out two. Senior Nick Capps finished the game by striking out two while allowing just one hit in a scoreless fifth inning.
Roark was a standout baseball throughout his Little League years, but left the sport to concentrate on football once he reached high school. That certainly paid off as he was a four-year starter at quarterback for the Jackets and twice made honorable mention all-state. He recently signed to play quarterback at Carson-Newman College.
âYou really canât minimize what having Chase out there means for the team,â Powell added. âHeâs another big bat and heâs also going to help us by pitching and with his defense.â
The Pioneers were led by catcher Brandon Moore who smacked a pair of doubles. Lucas Chadwell had the other hit for Thomas Walker.
Middlesboro jumped on top in the first inning as Baker led off with a walk. He advanced to second on a wild pick-off throw, stole third and scored on a wild pitch. Epperson followed with his solo homer to make it 2-0.
In the second inning Crawford and Capps singled and both later came around to score on Bakerâs two-run base hit back up the middle to stretch the lead to 4-0.
The Jackets tacked on another run in the third as catcher Bubba Brock led off with a double and later scored on Crawfordâs sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.
Middlesboro brought an early end to the game in the fourth as they send eight runs home. Eppersonâs two-run double was the big blow in the inning and the Jackets went to the 13-0 win.
Epperson enters his senior season as arguably the top player in the 13th Region.
âHeâs definitely one of the top players in the region and heâs really worked hard this off season and put on some extra muscle,â Powell said. âIâm expecting another outstanding season from him both batting and on the mound.â
The Jackets' opening day line up had Brock starting at catcher for the third straight year, fellow senior Timmy Helton back at first base, Baker at second for the third straight year, Epperson back for his third year starting at shortstop, Roark at third and an outfield of seniors Chris Short, Nick Capps and freshman Jake Brock.
Powell said that Crawford would also see time at third base on days when Roark is pitching or playing short and that freshman John Millett could also see time at shortstop.
Middlesboro (1-0) will be back in action Thursday at Cumberland Gap and theyâll host those same Panthers on Friday. Both those games are scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. The Jackets host Claiborn Saturday at 1 p.m.
Read more: The Middlesboro Daily News - Jackets open season with 13 0 win
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