Coach counts on close-knit team to grow together
This year’s baseball team is the youngest and has the least amount of overall baseball experience Taylor Cooper has had during his tenure as head baseball coach at Rose Bud High School. “I expect lots of growing pains but look forward to watching this group grow together over the next couple of seasons,” Cooper said. “We will start at least three freshmen and three or four sophomores. “I really couldn’t ask for a better collection of kids. We will hit some speed bumps, for sure, but we will keep pushing forward to our larger and ultimate goal.” Rose Bud, which got beat in the first round of the regional by Harding Academy last season, is already behind the eight ball this year after losing the team’s lone senior, Jordan Wray, to a season-ending injury in the season opener against McCrory High School. “He slid into second, and his foot got caught, causing a severe sprain and a bone fracture,” Cooper said. “It was bad. It happened in the first inning of the game, too.” Wray, who is the team’s catcher and captain, batted .200 last year with 9 runs and 3 RBIs. Cooper said he wasn’t sure who would replace Wray. “Unfortunately, it is probably going to be by committee,” he said. “It depends on who is pitching that day. I’m down to 14 kids overall — most of them are sophomores and freshmen. We will have to mix and match until we find something that works.” Cooper said he will have to rely heavily on sophomore Dugan Jones, who is listed at 6-2 and 205 pounds. “He should be a stud by the time it is all said and done,” Cooper said. “He is so much more athletically gifted than the others. He is just a big kid.” In eight games last year, Jones batted .450 with 9 runs, 7 RBIs and a home run. “He has only been playing baseball since he was 14, but he has progressed so fast,” Cooper said. “He started right off the bat, batting in the four or five hole, and I’ve never looked back. “He will play shortstop, and we will put him behind the plate some. He is going to compete.” Pitchingwise, Rose Bud has three kids on whom the coach can rely on the mound. They include junior Keaton Hambrick, sophomore Landon Roberson and Jones. “Keaton is a pretty good size kid, and he has a good arm on him,” Cooper said. “He has a couple of pitches he can work with, and he can control the ball well. “He pitched a shutout in the district tournament, which got us into the regional, but he has to work on his mental side.” Hambrick appeared in 10 games last year, finishing with an ERA of 4.94. He struck out 6, walked 5 and gave up 4 earned runs. Jones made five appearances in 2017, striking out 6 and walking 11. He did not give up a single earned run. Roberson played first base most of last year, so Cooper said he doesn’t know what to expect out of him. “He is a big kid with a funky delivery,” Cooper said. “His fastball has a lot of movement on it. He is a good kid.” Cooper said the biggest strength for this year’s squad is just how close they are. “Our goal is to enjoy the season and try to keep building not only for a late season win but success with the upcoming season,” Cooper said. “With such a young and raw team, we just want to keep our heads up and eyes on the bigger picture along the way.”