2023 Baseball Magazine Preview | Page 43

After a tough year on the diamond , the Southside Southerners welcome Adam Winter to lead a turnaround on the baseball field . Coach Winter says the Southerners are young , but they are hardworking , energetic , and have some depth . He believes that if they can limit mental mistakes , figure out a new system , and simplify the game , his ball club will have a chance to show vast improvement . Senior Colby Harris will lead the way for the young Southerners . The centerfielder is a top of the order hitter with good pop and great speed . Harris will also pitch some for Southside . He is a pitch to contact hitter that relies on his defense while making hitters miss with his breaking ball . Juniors Tyson Trucks and Kaelan Duncan will be looked upon to provide some offense . Trucks hits leadoff with some pop while playing first and catching some . Duncan will catch most innings behind the plate providing toughness and leadership . Sophomore shortstop Jaden Passmore was all-conference as a freshman and will look to provide a spark in the middle of the lineup , while fellow sophomore Cameron Foree is a utility guy that will be key in the lineup , as well as on the mound . Foree has a low 80s fastball with movement and good breaking pitches . More sophomores will look to add to the pitching depth for Southside . Jaxon Hatfield is big framed hurler that can hit the low 80s with his fastball , and Andrew Plummer is a pitcher and outfielder that can also hit in the 80s with his fastball . Zeb Anderson is a sophomore move-in that is a good lefty stick and arm that will find himself in the middle of the lineup and also on the mound when not in the outfield . Freshmen Brady Wood , Wyatt Bishop , and Devan Hightower all look to make an impact this season . Wood is an infielder with a big bat , and Bishop is a tough , hardnosed player that will fight for a spot . Hightower can help behind the plate and in the infield with his smooth hands . The new look 4A-3 conference is pretty balanced , and will provide the Southerners an opportunity to improve and battle for a regional tournament spot .

The Southside Lady Southerners earned a share of the 4A-3 Conference Championship with eventual state champion Valley View last season . The Lady Southerners finished 21-8 and fell in the first round of the state tournament . Coach Bo Gould returns several key pieces to his team but is looking for some young and inexperienced players to step up and fill the gaps left by a strong graduating class . Chloe McCance is the lone senior on this year ’ s squad . The corner infielder led the team last season with a . 568 batting average with four home runs , and 39 RBIs . The two-time allconference selection had an on-base percentage of . 621 and scored 37 runs , ranking McCance as one the top first baseman in the state by Scorebook Live . Sophomore Chaney McCance was also all-conference while playing the outfield for Southside . The younger McCance will move to catcher this season and be at the top of the lineup where she hit . 270 last season . Fellow sophomore and allconference selection , Carlee Duncan , will return to pitch for the Southerners . Duncan started 15 games last season posting a 9-6 record and 83 strikeouts . She had a batting average of . 300 , playing first base when she wasn ’ t in the circle . Duncan will handle most of the pitching duties , showcasing good velocity on her pitches with a nasty screwball . Chloe McCance will likely pitch some innings in relief of Duncan , as well . Junior Madison Edington returns to the lineup after missing last season because of an injury . The outfielder started as a freshman and looks to be back into form to provide a pop in the Southside lineup . Sophomore Sadie Mathis played some innings last season on the infield but will have to expand her role moving to a starting position . Freshmen Abby Trucks , Haley Rea , Leslie Crenshaw , and Alyssa Haigwood will all have a chance to contribute this season . Coach Gould likes his overall team speed on the basepaths and the experience he has at pitcher and hopes to see some of the younger players step up as the season progresses . He believes two major keys for his team are handling the grind of a high school season and having quality at bats at the plate . Even with some youth in the lineup , NEA Sports predicts the Southside Lady Southerners to be battling at the top of the 4A-3 conference again and looking to make a deeper run into the postseason .