Experienced Panthers eyeing return to postseason
Even a structure with good bones is due for a facelift every now and then.
The baseball stadium at Ridgeland High School has been undergoing a transformation this offseason. For the last couple of months, head coach Scott Harden and others have been hard at work sprucing the place up. New safety nets and a new coat of paint are just two of the things fans will notice when attending Panther games this year. Even the concession stand is reportedly getting a modern upgrade with digital menu screens.
However, the stadium is not the only thing to have a bit of a new look to it this year.
Ridgeland lost some key players due to graduation this past spring and, although the Panthers will be senior and junior-heavy this season, there are still some major gaps to be filled as the Black-and-White looks to make a return to the Class 4A state playoffs for a second consecutive season.
“It’s going to be tough to replace the seniors we lost last year, especially at the top of our rotation,” Harden said. “But with that being said, we’ve got a lot of young guys stepping up and falling into some roles that we probably didn’t expect for them to fall into this early. We’re probably going to have to count on three or four different guys to replace what we’re losing on the staff, but they are three or four kids that we feel like can step up and give us some significant innings.”
Among the veterans is a senior class that goes 10 deep.
Utility player Tanner Hill and shortstop Riley Harrison were both All-Region first team selections in 6-AAAA a year ago. Hill made AllRegion as a catcher, but played at every single position in 2018. Both players will also see time on the mound in 2019, while fastballs that have been clocked in the low 90’s have them both on the radar of college scouts, including some SEC programs.
Left fielder D. J. Ball came on strong last spring to earn second team AllRegion honors, while veteran catcher Gabe Ashley has stepped up to take a huge leadership role with the club. Shawn Wilson and Ryan Frost will add depth to the outfield, while first baseman Tyler Crawford will provide power from the left side of the plate.
The final three seniors include third baseman Timmy Hollister, middle infielder Seth Pitts and outfielder Josh Whitefield. All three will see their share of innings, while Harden is counting on Pitts in particular to shoulder quite of bit of the pitching load this season.
“As far as this bunch goes, we have senior leadership all the way around,” Harden said. “They’ve been with us for so long now, so they’re well-seasoned and know what we do. From the first day we started this year, we just picked right back up like the (2018) playoffs were just last week. We’ve been able to move forward really well.”
A large junior contingent will feature right fielder Terrance Roberts, middle infielder Drew Meade, third baseman/catcher Dylan Fowler, first baseman/outfielder Lane Johnson, third baseman Damon Goines and outfielder Braden Long.
Among those sophomores are outfielder/first baseman Robert Jent, who will also see plenty of time on the mound, middle infielders Isaac Pitts, Aiden Raymer and Nolan Hughley, third baseman/ pitcher Chandler Goodwin and outfielder/middle infielder Nate Davis. Several freshmen are expected to have an impact, including middle infielders Chris Maddeaux and Zack Harrison, along with first baseman Jacob Klein.
Harden will be assisted this year by Kip Klein, Shawn Crawford and Forrest Hunter, along with former Ringgold High standout Slade Dale.
The Panthers will also partner up with their middle school feeder programs, Rossville and Chattanooga Valley, for practices. Billy Roberts will continue to coach the Eagles, while Harden himself will serve as head coach of the Bulldogs. He is taking over for Dennis Snyder, who has taken on a new job in the community.
“Dennis did a great job for us at Rossville,” Harden explained. “He was just phenomenal and losing him has been tough, but we’re trying to pick up the pieces and continue to success he had there.”
Harden reiterated that leadership was the strength of this year’s team.
“These kids are hungry,” he added. “We talked last year about us being a blue-collar team and putting in the work and that’s one thing about this year’s bunch. They aren’t afraid to work because we all know hard work pays off. They aren’t going to be satisfied with just the first round (of the state playoffs). They are ready to digs their toes in and make an impact across the state.
“The key is consistency and not getting eaten up by the grind of this region. Also, we have to find several young (pitchers) that we can platoon to collect five or six wins and fill in the gap from what we’ve lost.”