LaFayette looking for improvement in second season under Base

With a young roster and a new head coach, the LaFayette Ramblers struggled to just four wins in Region 6-AAAA play last season. But if you’re looking for a team to make a big jump in 2019, the Orange-and-Black might just be the pick.

A small senior class in 2018 means there is plenty of experience returning to the diamond this spring and second year Chris Base said he is optimistic heading into the Ramblers’ seasonopener at Coosa on Feb. 11.

“We should be much better than last year,” Base explained. “I think we have good leadership and I think just having more familiarity between me and the guys will help, being that it’s my second year with the program.

“I think we’ll be able to compete with anybody that we play with. We’ll still have to play close to mistake-free ball to be able to win games, but I think we’ll have a shot in the last couple innings of games to win whatever game we’re playing. There are two or three guys that are really going to have to step up. If they do, we’ll be okay. If not, we’ll have to really battle.”

Base said the strength of this year’s team should be its experience.

“We’ve got seven seniors, six of whom have played a really good bit since they were young,” he added. “Our defense should be another strength. If we can field it, we’ll be in ball games. We’re not great at one (specific) facet of the game, but we’re good at all the facets of the game.”

This year’s senior class is seven deep.

John James will play in the middle of the infield, but will likely see most of his time on the mound. James threw 31 innings last year and an offseason spent in the weight room could mean a jump to the team’s No. 1 starter this spring.

Blake Guffey is one of the team’s top power hitters and should bat in the middle of the lineup. Guffey will do quite a bit of catching, but will also see some time at third base and on the mound, while another team leader, Jack Martin, will play first base and do some catching, while also hitting in the middle of the lineup.

In the outfield, Base will be counting on Andrew Pendergrass, Landon Rayburn and Vyshonn Daniel. Pendergrass will also see some time on the mound, while the final senior, Kyle Ludy, will be beginning his first year with the Ramblers. Base said Ludy has worked tirelessly in the offseason and should compete for playing time.

A small, but pivotal junior class will also be asked to step up even more in 2019.

Pitcher/third baseman Levi Pettigrew turned in his share of solid appearances on the mound late last season for the Ramblers and will be asked to eat up even more innings this season, while Anniston Mann will hold down second base and can also pitch.

Another player who could see an increase in his time on the bump this season is Trent Currie, who will also play some in the outfield. The final junior, outfielder Nick Smith, is also in his first year with the program and is looking to compete for playing time.

Among the sophomores, middle infielder Blake Mann is the team’s leading returning hitter from a year ago. Mann was an honorable mention All-Region pick last year and will likely add depth to LaFayette’s staff.

Davis Richardson is a natural first baseman, but is being asked to play in the outfield and do some pitching this season. Dylan Deering performed well in limited innings as a freshman and will split time at first base and at the designated hitter spot, while Hunter Deal is a versatile enough athlete to play in the outfield or behind the plate.

Base also said that several fresh- men could see action in the field or on the mound before the season is over. He added that he likes the mechanics and the potential that some of his rookie class possesses.

He will be assisted on the bench this season by Jason Johns and Devan Bruce.

Base added that pitching and fielding would be the two main keys for the Ramblers’ success this season.

“Apart from those two things, we’re really going to have to run the bases well and do things like hitting behind the runners,” he added. “I don’t think we’ll have a lot of guys that will have double digits in doubles or hit a lot of home runs, but if we can pitch and play solid defense, we’ll win games.

“We don’t have enough pitching or defense to win these 1-0 or

2-0 games, but if we don’t kick the ball around, if we make a ton of plays and if we throw strikes, then we should be able to win games. I think we have a lot of leadership too, especially with seven seniors, and we have some good experience with our sophomore class too. It wouldn’t surprise me if they show some leadership traits this year as well.”