Trojans

facing these bigger schools just to try to earn classification bonuses. The Trojans have a stacked roster and a deep pitching staff more than capable of hanging with and beating the bigger boys of northwest Georgia.

It starts with the senior class, which features a pair of future NCAA Division I baseball players in Ethan Clark and Chaney Rogers.

Clark, a future Austin Peay Governor, was 7-1 with 73 strikeouts and a 2.06 ERA in 54.1 innings a year ago. He also hit .309 with 17 RBIs. Next to him is University of Georgia signee Chaney Rogers, who hit .333 with seven doubles, one home run and 12 RBI’s as a junior despite dealing with injuries most of the season. Rogers will also be one of the team’s top pitchers.

The seniors will make up the majority of the infield. Noah Peterson - who joined Clark and Rogers on the Walker County Dream Team after batting .337 last year - will man shortstop, while Kobie Cowan will fill the starting spot at second base. Cole Tarvin will secure first base and Clark will play third when not on the hill. Rogers is taking over in centerfield this season, while Drew McDaniel rounds out the class in left.

Cowan and Tarvin were All-County honorable mention picks a year ago.

Doing the catching and batting clean-up is strong-armed junior Dylan Minghini, who made the Dream Team

after hitting .430 with 31 RBIs a year ago. The rest of the juniors include rightfielder Mason Pettigrew, third baseman McCain Barbee, outfielder Austin Thompson and first baseman Caleb Hopkins.

The sophomore class is filled out by utility player Justin Wooden, infielder Hunter Hodson, outfielder Braxton Ledford, catcher/third baseman Chris Potter and pitchers Logan Streetman and Haven Howard.

Freshman Jake Wright is also listed as a pitcher and Dunfee said he still trying to determine the final two players on the varsity roster as of press time.

Gordon Lee will also have one of the deepest pitching staffs in the state as Dunfee said that about 20 of the 28 kids in the program could or will pitch at some point this season. Assistant coach Derek McDaniel and Zach Barnes are back again this season, while the new face on the bench will be former Trojans shortstop Zach Cobb.

Dunfee said the 2017 Trojans are taking a day-to-day approach to figuring out their strengths and identity as a team.

“Our motto this year is ‘Stay On Schedule’,” he said. “Yes, we’d like to get back to the state championship and win it, but like I told them, we’re not good enough yet to get there and win it.

“Developing our identity is the key. We have to find out what it is first and then go on from there. But it’s been a hard-working group so far. We just have to keep growing and keep getting better as the season goes on.”