In 2010, BA won its third straight state title. With the loss of key seniors, 2011 looks to be a rebuilding year.

BA defending state title; BHS, RHS look strong in Div. 11-AAA
Brentwood Home Page is kicking off its five-day spring sports outlook today. Coming tomorrow: Boys soccer.
By CAROL STUART
For Brentwood Home Page
There was plenty of baseball talent on Brentwood high school teams last year, and coaches are restocking their rosters for the 2011 season from the area's deep talent pool.

Brentwood Academy won a three-peat as Division II-AA state champion last spring; Ravenwood High captured district and region titles, and Brentwood High had a senior pitcher drafted into major league baseball.

Ravenwood returns seven starters, while BA and BHS are more in rebuilding modes to fill key positions hit heavy by graduation.

"The winner of the district will have strong possibilities to reach the state tournament," Raptors Coach Chad Kirby said about District 11-AAA, where RHS and BHS compete.  "We're very excited about this."

Brentwood not only loses left-hander Robbie Ray, given a big signing bonus by the Washington Nationals, but also career and single-season home run record-holder Ryan Shelton.

"This team is coming together and working hard together as a team," Bruins Coach Lee Vaughn said. "It's probably one of the better teams I've had as far as working together. Our strength is that we play together."

In Division II, BA Coach Buddy Alexander expects his team may start off slowly as Eagles players gain game experience in new roles.

"I certainly feel like we were the hunted the last two seasons, but I don’t see us as the front runners this spring," Alexander said.  "I’m relieved that we are not the target again this season."

Here's a team-by-took look for the upcoming baseball season, which begins March 14:

Brentwood Academy
The Eagles (23-14) no longer have Will Blalock (.351, 34 RBI, 8 HR batting; 1.69 ERA, 51 Ks pitcher), the TBCA Player of the Year signed by Lipscomb University. Also graduated are shortstop and closer Andy Lennington (.318, 31 RBI, 8 HR, 19 steals), playing for Southeast Missouri State; Cody Nelson, two-sport player at Centre College (.364, 13 RBI); and big-game pitcher Jay Hooper Luna (.314, 19 RBI at the plate).

"The four seniors we lost to graduation will create some major holes in both our offensive and defensive lineup," said Alexander, 357-191 as head coach in 17 of his 19 years at BA.

BA does return junior southpaw Hunter Wood (.294, 20 RBI) and right-hander Tyler Berlin (.259, 14 RBI) on the mound. Also back are sophomore catcher Will Haynie (.343, 27 RBI, 5 HR), who contributed a lot as a freshman, and senior outfielders Nathan Renfro (.316, 24 RBI) and Mason Sutton (.296, 12 RBI).

"All of our current players have played key roles in our recent success, but now leadership will have to emerge as they are no longer 'role' players," Alexander said.

BA will count on three seniors to make a bigger impact for the final year: OF-LHP Taylor Greene;  outfielder Brennan Mobley; and utility player Robert Hinson. Sophomore third baseman Griffin Ganick is a newcomer expected to contribute a lot.

“We have some young and experienced players that are very capable of contributing -- depth and flexibility should be a strength," Alexander said.

Every team in the DII Middle/East Region is improved with numerous key starters returning, the BA coach said. Among top regional teams the Eagles will face are Battle Ground Academy (April 19-20, 22); John Paul II (March 31, April 1-2); Ensworth (April 27-29) and Baylor (in Chattanooga April 8-9).

"Our team is very anxious to get started," Alexander said.

The Eagles get a trip to Orlando, Fla., for the Hall of Fame Sunshine Classic for opening week, March 15-18. BA returns home for a home/away/home series with Father Ryan March 25-26 and ends the season May 2-5 against Montgomery Bell Academy.

Click here for schedule

Ravenwood High School
This is Raptors Coach Chad Kirby's last season with the team after accepting the athletic director and baseball jobs with the new Summit High School opening next fall. Kirby, at RHS for seven seasons, is 61-43 in three seasons at the helm.

"District 11-AAA will be very strong again this year." RHS Coach Chad Kirby

His 2008 district championship team made the state Final Four, and last year's 24-13 title team just fell short of state after winning the region crown.

"We expect to compete for the district title again this year with state tournament aspirations," Kirby said. "We are senior heavy with seven returning starters."

Ravenwood has several big bats back in the lineup as seniors: left-handed first baseman Richard Carter (.348, 31 RBI, 4 HR); outfielders Andrew Cash (.325, 22 RBI, 4 HR) and Preston Carter (.347, 13 stolen bases); third baseman Chase Denton (.343, 29RBI); and switch-hitting catcher Ian Kukowski (.325, 14 RBI).

RHS loses two top pitchers, however, in Nate Kukowski (7-2, 2.22 ERA), who also had a .378 hitting average, and Ryan Fitzpatrick (7-2, 2.97 ERA), who batted .330.

Junior right-hander Ben Brock and OF-LHP Geordie Carlson should provide some pitching help. Junior infielder Reese Giffe, who bats left, is a top newcomer.

Ravenwood opens the season at home against Blackman at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 14, followed with a trip to the Rutherford County school the next night. The Raptors also get a second home game on Thursday from an Alabama team, and then plays in the Wilson Central Invitational March 23-26during spring break.

RHS begins district play with a home/away/home series with Franklin March 28-30, and also gets two home games against Brentwood during their April 11-13 series. But the Raptors have to play two away games against district opponents Independence, Centennial and Hillsboro.

"Ravenwood will be battling it out again with the same Williamson County foes," Kirby said.  "District 11-AAA will be very strong again this year."

Click here for schedule

Brentwood High
Despite losing their top pitcher and top slugger, the Bruins have back Lipscomb signee Tyson Ashcraft (shortstop-RHP), Kevin Stoffer (LHP), Tyler Richardson (good hitter/versatile player); and Lewis Rogers (utility infielder) for their senior seasons. Ashcraft was a two-way player on the district championship football team, and Richardson played for the Preds Cup champ hockey Bruins.

BHS senior Tyler Ashcroft will play at Lipscomb next year.

"Our defense is going to be pretty good, and our offense is pretty solid," Vaughn said. "Replacing the two big seniors from last year will be the big thing. Replacing Robbie Ray and Ryan Shelton is going to be a challenge."

Shelton's younger brother, 6-foot-6 sophomore Cody, has been starring for Brentwood's district champion basketball and should play a big role in baseball too as a right-handed pitcher and infielder.

Another 10th-grader, outfielder Bryan Reynolds, started a lot last season and hit five home runs -- a freshman record at BHS. Junior outfielder Ryan Whitt also is expected to step up this season as well.

The Bruins don't get a home game until March 29 and only have eight games scheduled on their home field all season.

Brentwood opens up at Smyrna at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March, 15, then plays in the Smyrna Grand Slam Tournament March 17-19 and the Ooltewah Invitational March 24-26 during spring break.

Brentwood opens 11-AAA district play March 28-30 with a home/away/home series against Hillsboro before playing in the April 1-2 Warrior Classic in Rutherford County.

"I have high expectations," said Vaughn, who says the key will be guys stepping up in new positions.

Independence, Ravenwood and Franklin are all top competitors in 11-AAA, Vaughn said.

"The whole district is so strong," he said.

Click here for schedule