Baseball goal: Repeat, advance

The 2009 Madison County baseball team returnees have a common theme in mind for this season: repeat and advance. Last season, the Mountaineers were co-champions of the Bull Run District, sharing the title with Strasburg. Both teams finished district play with 8-2 records. Unfortunately, Madison was upset by George Mason in the semi-finals of the district tournament prematurely ending their season.

Seniors Jacob Houser, Kyle Louk, Matt Racer and Evan Tucker all advised that their team goals for this season include winning the district and advancing to the Region Tournament. “We have all played together since basically T-ball,” said Racer. “We have worked real hard and hope to win the district again and advance farther than last year.”

Madison Head Coach Tom Butterworth is very optimistic about his team’s chances to do just that in 2009. “We have a dozen young men who bring enough skill to the team to help us be quite successful — if we can really concentrate on playing together as a single unit,” said Butterworth. “These guys like to compete and we will be working on the mental toughness necessary to bring success.””

“Everybody on this team works real hard,” said Louk. “We just need to transfer that hard work to the season.” Off season workouts have been a big part of the Mountaineers’ recent success. “We hit and workout all winter,” said Tucker.

One of the strengths of the 2009 Mountaineers appears to be the return of a solid infield. “Our infield boasts a wealth of experience in each spot except one. Matt Racer will continue at third with back-up from Dylan Shifflette, Evan Tucker returns for his fourth year as our shortstop and Jacob Houser returns for his third year as our first baseman,” Coach Butterworth said. “They will anchor the defense along with junior Will Taylor at second base, backed up by Collin Tucker and J.J. Adams.”

Another area of strength will be the flexibility of the Mountaineer outfield. “Our outfield has some interchangeable parts to it and some returners working hard at new positions. Senior J.J. Adams is working very hard out there to learn a new spot and Shifflette will also see some time in the outfield,” said Butterworth. “Some familiar faces out there are Kyle Louk, who can play either left or right, and junior Casey Campbell will roam centerfield. Brandon Rutherford can play either left or right as well and Dustin Kirby and freshmen Travis Warren may find some time in the outfield as well.”

Catching duties will be handled by Kirby and Warren. “Dustin is working hard at this new position and with Travis back from basketball we are deeper at catcher than we have been for sometime,” said Butterworth.

The Mountaineers will sport a six man pitching staff — seniors Kyle Louk and Matt Racer, juniors Dylan Shifflette, Brandon Rutherford and Dustin Kirby, along with freshman Collin Tucker. This group will be looking to ease the loss of two All-District pitchers from last yearr’s championship team.

With the return of his coaching staff, Drew Eanes, Billy Mitchell and David Londrey, Coach Butterworth is positive that this year will be another Mountaineer success story. “We are looking forward to playing excellent baseball against our strong non-district schedule, which I feel will be a great preparation for our ’09 Bull Run District campaign.”

2009 MADISON COUNTY BASEBALL SCHEDULE

• March 26 – Visit Luray, 5 p.m.

• March 27 – Host Greene County’s William Monroe, 7 p.m.

• March 31 – Host Fluvanna County, 7 p.m.

• April 3 – Host Page County, 7 p.m.

• April 4 – Visit Orange County, 7 p.m.

• April 9 – Host Rappahannock County, 7 p.m.

• April 14 – Visit Clarke County, 5 p.m.

• April 17 – Visit Strasburg, 7 p.m.

• April 21 – Host Manassas Park, 7 p.m.

• April 24 – Visit George Mason, 5 p.m.

• April 28 – Visit Rappahannock County, 7 p.m.

• April 30 – Host Clarke County, 7 p.m.

• May 2 – Host Orange County, 7 p.m.

• May 5 – Host Strasburg, 7 p.m.

• May 8 – Visit Manassas Park, 7 p.m.

• May 12 – Host George Mason, 7 p.m.

• May 15 – Participates in Bull Run District quarter-finals at top seeds, location, opponents and time TBA.

• May 19 – Participates in Bull Run District semi-finals at top seeds, location, opponents and time TBA.