Travel teams allow local players to stay in game
The 2020 baseball season couldn’t have started any better for Ethan Ott.
The Greenbrier Christian Academy junior hit three homers with nine RBIs and three runs in the season opener.
That game was March12.
What followed, however, rocked his world as he, along with other spring athletes, learned their season was over because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s been a tough lesson for all spring sports athletes to accept.
But Ott, who is drawing recruiting interest from ACC schools, knew he couldn’t stop working. He’s spent the past three months lifting, hitting and fielding as he waited for the chance to get back on the field.
That opportunity came last week when he played three games in North Carolina.
“I definitely had a lot of excitement in the on-deck circle,” said Ott, who played for the Canes 17U Black travel team. “But it felt like as soon as I stepped in the batter’s box, I felt like I hadn’t left. I felt comfortable and I felt like a kid having fun. It felt awesome.”
Ott, who plays the infield and outfield, went 3 for 4 for the weekend.
“My timing was still there,” he said. “It felt good to be back.”
Ott, who will play for Canes Central 17U this summer, isn’t alone as many of the area’s top baseball players are finding ways to stay sharp after missing an entire season.
Maury rising senior Kennedy Jones was motivated for this season. He had lost weight and improved his hitting.
“I was just smacking the ball,” said the power-hitting first baseman. “I was just ready.”
Then just before practice was about to begin, Commodores coach Larry Gordon told the team there would be no season.
“At first, I thought we’d be able to get in a season later on,” said Kennedy, who batted .438 with 20 RBIs as a sophomore. “I didn’t know the coronavirus would last this long. I thought I was going to have a breakout season. I wasn’t angry; just disappointed.”
Teammate Tre Keels described the feeling as “a punch in the gut.”
“We had been preparing for the season,” said the rising junior. “Then to have it just be canceled just like that, it was unexpected.”
Keels, a shortstop, committed to nationally ranked Miami in January. As a freshman, he batted .385 with 34 runs, 24 RBIs with 21 walks. Like Kennedy, he was ready for the season that never began.
But both players are working toward next season.
Kennedy was in South Carolina last week for a showcase. Keels will head to Alabama this week for a showcase.
Kennedy said he’s working on his hitting and recently faced live pitching.
“It actually, surprisingly, wasn’t that bad,” he said. “I was still making contact. It wasn’t like I forgot how to play baseball.”
Keels works out six days a week to stay ready. “Just because the school season got canceled, I have the summer to look forward to,” said Keels, who will play with the Richmond Braves’ travel team. “You have to keep that muscle memory down so you can do it in your sleep.”
Kennedy will play with the Tidewater Orioles travel team along with Cox catcher Ethan Anderson and Ocean Lakes shortstop Carson DeMartini.
Anderson and DeMartini both thought their teams had a chance to contend for a state title.
“I was really bummed because I really thought we could have won back-to-back state titles,” said Anderson, a rising junior.
As a freshman, he batted .442 with 28 RBIs and 24 runs and earned first-team All-Tidewater and second-team all-state honors. He hasn’t let up as he’s been lifting and working on his fielding and hitting.
He said seeing the devastating look on the seniors’ faces this season motivated him.
“I saw the seniors crying when they realized their season was over,” said Anderson, who has committed to Virginia. “It was really hard for some of these guys who aren’t going to play college ball. This was it for them.”
DeMartini, a rising senior, echoed Anderson’s thoughts. He said missing this season has made him more focused.
“Without playing a season this year, it really kind of showed the guys that you can’t take this for granted,” he said. “It’s not something that’s given to you. You have to work for it because it can be taken away just like that.
“The younger guys took a lesson from the older guys last season and they are stepping up their game this summer, fall and winter.”
Western Branch outfielder Harrison Didawick said he’s not taking anything for granted, either. The rising junior said seeing this season end without warning impacted him.
“I’m definitely glad that it wasn’t my senior year,” said Didawick, who committed to Virginia. “But I have two more years and I’m really looking forward to it.”
He said life was definitely “much slower” without baseball this spring. It hasn’t stopped him from putting in work hitting and fielding.
“I’m just trying to get better every day,” said Harrison, who will play with the Tidewater Drillers this summer. “I always push myself no matter what because there’s going to be games eventually.”