Starkville teams ready to start summer league

Don't expect the Starkville Yellowjackets to be just standing around during summer league baseball games.

SHS interim coach Ben Tillman said an exciting brand of baseball can be expected for spectators to watch as the team competes and gets better over the summer.

The schedule begins tonight when the junior high Jackets host neighbor Starkville Academy with doubleheader action beginning at 5 p.m.

“We'll be aggressive on the base paths and having some fun,” Tillman said. “We want the guys to be able to learn some things on their own. That's part of summer league.”

Tillman said the purpose of summer league is to develop players through time on the field.

The SHS players will also be expected to get stronger.

“We're lifting three days a week,” Tillman said. “We've were lifting hard right there at the end of the (spring) season and we continue that on.”

When the junior high squad takes the field tonight, coach Carlos Kemp will have some new faces to work into the mix.

Tillman looks forward to what they will provide.

“We have some guys transferring in from different schools,” Tillman said. “We hope they will be key in helping that junior high bunch. I know they did well in their season and there is some talent there with the eighth grade class that will be ninth graders next year.”

The high school-aged unit won't begin games until next week and there will be an adjustment period.

Without shortstop Dee Petty and second baseman Carter Bentley, there will be a hole left up the middle that will need to be filled. Tillman will also be looking for a right fielder and a pitcher.

The Jackets do have an experienced arm returning with Griffin Little and he plays third base.

Kamden Upchurch is expected to take over at shortstop and will also pitch.

“He's a guy that's got to be able to do well,” Tillman said of Upchurch. “We'll have some guys returning in some other spots. In left field, we'll have Caleb Stewart. He is playing football right now, but he'll be there playing in the outfield.

“I think we do have some talent coming back..It's a matter of being able to piece it together and see how well they do after missing some of those key figures.”

Thomas

Berkery gets to see his team in action today.

After taking over as baseball coach of the Starkville Academy Volunteers two weeks ago, Berkery will benefit from nine doubleheaders between junior high and high school this summer to see what they can do.

“It will be a good opportunity for me to learn all of the kids and get a head start on the season,” Berkery said. “We put in two practices last week and we will continue to practice once the games get started. We got a lot of good stuff in with several long practices.

“I have a different approach. It's getting them used to how I want it done and how we are going to do things. This is a great opportunity to have these games to get everything set and on track for next year so we don't have to do it at the start of the season.”

Berkery likes what he has with next year's seniors Taylor Arnold, Hal Archer, Nason Heflin, Will Miller and Cade Vickers.

He doesn't plan to wear out the seniors because he knows what they can do.

“I don't plan on using those guys much during the summer,” Berkery said. “I may just let Taylor swing it, play defense and not let him pitch. Taylor threw a lot of innings (during the spring) so we'll give him time to recover and let some other guys get some innings under their belt.”

Harper Arnold will be assisting Berkery with the teams this summer.