By Joshua Price/Sports Editor
If the Glencoe Yellow Jackets are to win baseball games this year, they may do so on the arm of senior Harrison Bright.
Bright, who recently inked a baseball scholarship with Snead State Community College, won eight games the Yellow Jackets last year. But “Hurlin’ Harry” will be asked to do more than just win baseball games for Glencoe.
“Harrison Bright is our team leader,” head coach Charlie Robertson said. “He was our ace last year and he will be our ace this year. He is a great leader in our dugout and oftentimes keeps the guys together and focused. As Harry goes, so do we.”
Bright will be the top man in the Yellow Jackets’ pitching rotation, which will consists of a few new faces. Juniors Joseph Fells and Dalton Reid will slate the second and third spots, respectively.
“I expect these two guys [Fells and Reid] to really step up and make an impact on our pitching,” Robertson added. “They got some experience last year and hopefully they have matured over the past year.”
Roberston said seniors T.J. Daugherty and Jamie Jones will slot the fourth and fifth spot for the Yellow Jackets.
“Those two guys are seniors and they will help us tremendously if they step up and throw well.”
Bright will play shortstop when he is not on the mound.
Roberston said one of the major concerns is filling the void behind the plate with the graduation of three-year starter Brandon Huff. The Yellow Jackets have a trio of players slated to compete for the position.
“Josh Jordan is currently in the lead for the spot and he has improved on his defense since last year.”
Freshmen Andrew Miller and Hunter Gibbs will also be in the hunt for Bright’s battery mate.
Southside transfer Daniel Otwell is expected to play first base, formerly occupied by graduated veteran Ray Ray Kimbrel.
Robertson insisted that because of the success thus far of the Glencoe basketball team, he cannot truly determine all the strengths of his team.
“I expect Chance [Cassidy] will return in centerfield and will give us some speed up the middle and in the outfield. He is also good on the base paths and will have to be even better this year because of the “small-ball” we will be playing. Chance really helps out with our overall team speed.”
Robertson said he is not so much concerned with the new bats imposed on high school baseball by the AHSAA.
“It really plays in our favor not because we don’t rely on the long-ball, but because some of our opponents do. Like all teams, we will have to hit more groundballs to manufacture runs and make the defense play.”
Glencoe opens on Feb. 20 with a double-header against Cedar Bluff and Sand Rock at Cedar Bluff.