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Eagle Baseball Headed Down The Wright Path
New Liberty baseball coach Chad Wright is a social studies teacher, but he presents an interesting mathematical theorem: If the 2008 Eagles had a 3-17 record, subtracted eight seniors through graduation and lost two top pitchers to Kettle Run, then the 2009 Eagles will win at least four games.
The proof will have to come on the field, but Wright is confident it will.
“We’re going to win more than three games. No doubt about that,” Wright said. “We’re young. It’s a matter of learning the game…It will be a challenge, but I have players that will meet those challenges.”
A fourth-year teacher at Liberty, this is Wright’s first season as the Eagles’ coach. He played baseball at Clark County High and Averett University before returning to Clark County as coach of the junior varsity squad in 2003. He took over the Liberty team this season after a one-year stint by Mark Holmes in 2008.
“The main reason I took it is I think I, along with my coaching staff, can turn this program into what it used to be – a baseball powerhouse in the early 2000s,” Wright said. “We’re trying to put a quality product on the field and trying to make something attractive for the Eagle fans to come out and see.”
If nothing else, fans will see a lot of new faces. Only shortstop Josh McDowell, catcher Bryant Hines and pitcher Cody Williams are returning starters. Many key starters from last season’s squad graduated, like Kurt Thiele and Russell Hill, while the Liberty pitching staff was gutted of some underclassmen when star Jimmy Bowman and late-bloomer Justin Reinaldo were redistricted onto the Kettle Run roster.
Bowman was the Eagles’ ace, started as often as possible and dominated most his appearances, while Reinaldo didn’t start until the 11th game of last season, but proved quite capable with an off-speed repertoire.
“A lot of people said we lost a lot of our pitching to Kettle Run, but right now we have three solid starters and we’re pretty deep as far as relief,” Wright said.
Williams will head the pitching staff, while the No. 2 starter will be Cody Donelan and the No. 3 man will be Ryan Walker. Wright hopes to expand Liberty’s rotation to four starters and find another pitcher to serve as closer or long reliever...
See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.
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