Jefferson Forest baseball preview

  There are few things that are certain in life:  Pundits tell us death and taxes are two certainties.

Bourne to pitch. Jefferson Forest hurler Christian Bourne gets in some work against Staunton River.

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Add to those:  JF will have a strong baseball team.

One might think that a team that sent five members from last year's Seminole District championship team off to play in the college ranks would be depleted.

Such suspicions would be wrong.

The Cavs have looked superb in winning their first two games of this young season.

In their opener, the Cavs appeared to be an offensive juggernaut, topping Staunton River, 10-1, on a frigid evening.  "First game of the year, 14 hits," noted JF Head Coach Jim Thacker.  "I'll take that even if it wasn't cold."

His lads took a lot more on Saturday, pounding River Ridge District traditional powerhouse Cave Spring, 21-0.  Yes, that's not a football score.

The Cavs are expected to be led by some familiar faces.  Said faces are doing just that so far.

Primarily, we can expect Thacker's three returning starters to make some noise.  That would be shortstop Cal Hodgert, catcher Zach Duff and Cameron Byrd, who makes the move from third base to first.

Michael Carter, who had a plethora of varsity experience last season, should join that trio in being the RBI guys.

While it may sound young, the team is strong in senior leadership, with nine suiting up for Thacker.  Highlighting that group is Jon-Ryan Breeden, a fireballer who has already committed to Liberty University.  Breeden pitched extremely well for LCA last season before heading over to JF.  You know that old saying about the rich getting richer?

Speedy leadoff hitter Zach Coleman may bat in front of  fellow senior and second baseman/pitcher Andrew Phemister.

Other seniors giving Thacker some muscle include the always-lively Bless Jung, football standout Gilberto Herrera and Nate Williamson, a good-looking pitcher.

Speaking of pitching, Thacker seems to have an endless supply of possibilities.  Breeden, Carter, Phemister and Williamson all have varsity experience.

Christian Bourne, Ryan Crist, Courtney Goodwill, Zane Willis, Taylor Bell and Tyler Lucy picked up mound experience on JV last season.  Any one of them could be called on.  

By the way, what team (and we're talking amateur level only) has a staff of 10 pitchers?  Still, Thacker stated, "Our staff is a work in progress."

The one area of concern may be in the fact that the outfield is completely new, with last year's three starters–Mikey Wallman, Christian Sanderson and Mark Heideman–all playing for Randolph-Macon College this year.  With players like Bell, Coleman and Carter patrolling the outfield, however, we suspect there'll be little over which to fret.

Going for their eighth consecutive Seminole title, the Cavs have a  proven ability to make things happen.  It's one of life's certainties.