Spring Sports Look to Capitalize on Season

If pitching is the key to success, then the High School baseball team is in for some fun this spring.

Simply put, the Hawks are loaded on the mound. They have a deadly one-two duo, a strong back half to the rotation, and some serious talent in the middle relief, set-up and closer roles.

"Pitching is definitely something I don't have to worry about," said coach Van Vanatta. "That's our strength. We've got a lot of good, quality guys."

At the top of that list is junior righty Jonathan Harris, the returning Suburban North Conference Player of Year. Harris was 8-0 last season with a 2.49 ERA. He also batted .475 and will likely play shortstop when he is not on the hill. He tied for the team lead with 27 RBI.

Harris, considered one of the top pitchers in the area, has already garnered plenty of attention from colleges around the country.

"He's so fundamentally sound," Vanatta said. "He's got three or four pitches that he can command really well."

Harris topped out at 85 miles per hour last season. He added a little more punch to his fastball in the offseason.

The 6-foot-2-inch Harris came from out of nowhere as a sophomore. He possesses an amazing up side, Vanatta said.

"Even I'm not sure just how good he can end up being," he said.

The Hawks' arm strength doesn't stop with Harris. Senior Mike Eagan will hold down the No. 2 spot in the rotation. He won eight games throughout the past two seasons. Eagan has a wide variety of pitches including a knuckleball.

Senior Kurtis Haus will see plenty of work as the third starter in the talent-rich rotation. Junior Travis Sietrich and sophomore Noble Hampton should get some starts as well. The two will also see plenty of relief duty.

The five-pack will play a key role in the Hawks' success this spring. Central compiled a 20-6 mark last season and captured a district title before losing to Saint Louis University High School 12-0 in the sectional round. Central shared the conference crown with Hazelwood West High School.

Vanatta's bunch can also score runs. Junior outfielder Matt Dezort returns to lead a balanced attack. He hit .502 as a freshman and .420 last season. He sported team bests in slugging percentage (.595) and on-base percentage (570) in 2010. The speedy Dezort, who has already committed to Missouri State University, also led the team with 19 stolen bases.

Senior catcher Jamal Hughes swings a potent bat as well. His defensive skills and game management have played key roles in the success of the pitching staff. Hughes threw out 21 runners last spring.

The Hawks lone weakness might be a lack of power. They managed just 11 home runs last season but scored a conference-best 212 runs.

"We're the type of team that has to manufacture runs," Vanatta said. "We play small ball. We're kind of a punch-and-Judy team."

Central might just have the ability to punch-and-Judy its way to a league title - and beyond.

"I'm looking for to it," Vanatta said of the upcoming season. "We're anxious, and we're ready to go."

 High School will be looking to reverse a losing trend.

The Stars went 11-14 in 2010 and have lost 29 of 48 games during the past two seasons.

North has only 17 players on its roster, and Coach Mike Sevier is hoping to get the most from his thin squad.

Senior outfielder brings a winning attitude to the diamond. Okunrinboye, who hit .290 this past season, was a starter on the Stars' state championship basketball team.

Juniors Nick Wildman and Peter Jackson should also make some noise. Wildman drove in 18 runs in 2010. Jackson can pitch and play the outfield. He swiped a team-high 13 bases last season. 

is looking to senior outfielder Lance Jeffries to improve on last year's 7-19 campaign. Jeffries recorded a team-high on-base percentage of .493 last season. He hit .327 and drove in 21 runs.

Looking to Make Some Goals 

Hazelwood Central is expected to improve on last year's 12-12 record.

Sophomore goalkeeper leads the way. Chappelle, also a standout on the basketball team, compiled an 11-11 mark with an 0.89 goals-against-average in 2010.

Junior Caitlyn Obrock returns to anchor the offense. She scored 11 goals last spring. Sophomore Devan Jones (nine goals) will also help out up front.

The Hawks have lost their first three matches. 

McCluer North is hoping for good things from seniors Samantha Jones and Breanna Lockette.    

Jones scored nine goals last season. Lockette is solid in the net.

North finished 13-13-1 last season and won five of eight Suburban North Conference matches.

McCluer, 7-18 in 2010, will bank on the play of sophomore forward Anissa Gomez, who scored 10 goals last season.