Cookeville High School - Cookeville, Tennessee

Cavs Experience Diamond Success

Ben Pauli, Charger Staff

Coach Kevin Kennedy’s 2002 edition of the Cavalier baseball team has broken out of the gates in a mad dash to an early season 14-3 record. The Cavs have played a flurry of early season games, and feel that they have come out of them on the right track. After making yet another off-season coaching change, Coach Kennedy looks to have the diamond men in position to have one of their best seasons in recent memory. Although they have faced strong competition in district play (3-2), the district looks to be quite even from all sides, and the Cavs feel confident that they can make a run through their district foes and through the postseason.

The pitching staff has shown flashes of brilliance early, and Kennedy feels they are making vast improvements. Led by staff ace Jeremy Jones with a 4-1 record, the Cavs have a full stable of able-bodied hurlers. Barrett Steakley, Jason Cobb, Drew Cook, and Todd Martin have all proven their worth in the young season.

However, where the Cavs have really shown their ability is with the bat in their hands.

“The top half of our order has really been ripping the ball. Adam Millitana has done a heck of a job at the plate,“ Coach Kennedy said

As for the district competition, the Cavs pounded Murfreesboro Blackman, then lost a hard fought game to Riverdale, before losing to Warren County in a game they felt they should have won.

Kennedy noted, “We made a couple of small mistakes at Warren County that cost us the game, but I think we’ll be ready for them next time. We’ve been in the game in all of these district games and basically, whichever team plays the most fundamentally-sound baseball should win.”

The Cavs then breezed by White County and Lebanon. Solid defense, a dominating performance by Jones on the mound, and homeruns hit by Martin and Militana helped the Cavs easily knock off Lebanon.

The Cavs feel they can continue to ride this wave of early season success through the meat of their district schedule and they will perform well in the postseason.