Panthers ready to climb to the top of 6-AAAA
It’s been 18 seasons since the Ridgeland Panthers last won a region baseball title and 12 seasons since the Black-and-White played a state playoff game on what is now known as Jay Smith Field.
But Ridgeland is hoping to end both of those droughts in 2017.
After making the post-season a year ago, the young Panthers have grown physically and mentally and believe the time is now to climb the ladder back to the top of the region.
“We return practically everybody from last season, so we’re another year older, wiser, stronger, faster and just better,” said head coach Scott Harden, now in his 11th season at the helm and his 12th season overall with the Panthers. “We were able to get into the playoffs last year and had to beat a great program in Cartersville to do it. Now that they are in a different region and no longer in the (Region 6-AAAA) equation, I definitely like our chances.
“Our goal last year was to make the playoffs, but our goal this year is to host the playoffs. It’s been a long time since we hosted a playoff game on this field and I also like our chances of making a run for (the region title).”
The Panthers have been getting into championship shape with not only after- school practices, but before-school practices at 5:30 a.m. as they look to gain an edge on the competition.
“We’ve asked them to commit and sacrifice a little more this year,” Harden added. “Like we’ve told the kids, when we get into a tough game, you have to look at your opponents and ask yourself ‘did they sacrifice as much time as we put in?’ You have to be able to dig down deep and be mentally tough to pull
it off.”
Harden says the strength of his team is leadership and a large portion of that leadership comes from his senior class.
Will Hodges, a catcher and four-year varsity team veteran, hit .431 with three doubles and 28 RBIs to earn a spot on the Walker County Dream Team a year ago, while leftfielder Austin Delay joined Hodges on the all-county team after batting .333 with four doubles, 16 RBIs and eight stole bases.
Ivy Boehm, a wellseasoned mound veteran, is on his fourth year on the varsity roster. A Dream Team honorable mention pick as a junior, Boehm will pitch and play third base. Across the diamond will be the final senior in first baseman Christian Gentry, one of better defensive first basemen in the region.
“All four are valuable leaders and tremendous assets for our program, both on and off the field,” Harden said. “
Dylan Wooten hit .416 with 15 RBIs last year and the junior third baseman/ outfielder is back after collecting Dream Team honors as a sophomore. Lefty Jalyn Shelton, one of the school’s top athletes, returns to play centerfield and pitch and is coming off a Dream Team honorable mention season in 2016.
The rest of the junior class included second baseman Jacob Stephens, third baseman/outfielder Jordan Tucker and southpaw pitcher Eli Foshay, who is back after taking a year off from baseball.
Ridgeland’s final Dream Team pick from a year ago, pitcher/ utility player Tanner Hill, returns to the lineup after hitting .322 with 19 runs batted in last spring. He’ll be joined by middle infielder Riley Harrison, outfielder Shawn Wilson and pitcher Ellis Johnson.
Also looking to contribute to the varsity as freshmen are lefty pitcher Malachi Liles and shortstop Drew Meade.
“All of our pitchers have gained velocity in the off-season,” Harden added, attributing that to his pitchers’ work in the off-season with a couple of former Lakeview standouts in Ridgeland High pitching coach Shawn Crawford and former Major Leaguer and current Los Angeles Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. “Everyone is growing up and should be able to produce some for us.”
In addition to Crawford, Kip Klein and Matt Holden are back on the bench. They will be joined by Bruce Coker to help coach the Panthers’ freshmen, junior varsity and varsity squads this spring.
“Everyone is holding everyone accountable and that’s huge when everyone knows their roles and everyone understands the process,” added Harden, who is closing in on career win No. 200. “That makes it so much easier for the coaches to teach and the players to learn.”
Harden said the keys to the season would be consistency, staying injury-free and bringing their best to the field every time out.
“We can’t take any pitches off,” he said. “We had a couple of games last year in the region that we lost that we probably shouldn’t have that knocked us down a little. We can’t afford any losses this year that we aren’t supposed to have if we are going to make a run at this thing.”