There is a lot of energy in the air at Scotty Bunton Field as the Hampton Bulldogs gets ready to field a new season of baseball.
Music blared out of the speakers as the ‘Dogs work through practice Thursday evening. The upbeat tempo of the music reflected the enthusiasm of the Bulldog players as they ran through workouts. Overseeing the practice was second-year head coach Nicolas Perkins, who said the Bulldogs and himself are ready to hit the diamond for another season.
“I get to work with a great group of student-athletes every day,” said Perkins. “They come from great families. I get to coach alongside great coaches, and we are very fortunate and excited to get the 2019 season started.”
The Bulldogs will be facing a thin pitching staff at the start of the 2019 season as two of their top slingers regroup from injuries, said Perkins.
“Our ace, Dalton Rouse, is currently battling some rotator-cuff tendinitis,” said Perkins. “He is out at the moment. Josh Owens is also battling some arm issues.
“We are going to try to pitch by committee and piece together some games at the start of the season,” added Perkins. “We hope to get those young men back later in the season.”
The Bulldogs will host South Green this Monday to open up the season. Getting the start for Bulldogs will be Parker Henry, who is among other Bulldogs who will be a part of the pitching rotation.
“We also have lone senior Devin Riddle, who we will be counting on to give us some solid innings,” said Perkins. “Others will be junior Caleb Oaks and freshman Morgan Lyons. We have a number of pitchers, and we are hoping that quantity produces quality pitches.”
Behind the plate will be Lyons along with junior Hunter Haynes. When it comes to the field, there will be a lot of flexibility in relation to the Bulldogs pitching rotation, said Perkins.
“It is high school baseball,” said Perkins. “Who is manning a position has a lot to do with who is on the mound. I like versatility. We are going to have multiple players at multiple positions.
“But we have freshman Caleb Royston and junior Weston Street in our middle infield,” added Perkins. “We are looking to Caleb Oaks to man third base with Weston Street backing him up. Josh Owens will see time at first base and second base. Parker Henry will man down the center field as he did as a freshman.”
Perkins went on to say that junior Landen Street will play at left field while multiple players could play in the right field.
At the plate, the Bulldogs will look to returning slugger Rouse to be their clean up hitter. Oaks and Owens will hit third and fifth, respectively.
“We need those three young men to produce runs in the middle of our lineup,” said Perkins.
Starting the lineup during preseason scrimmages has been Weston Street at the one spot while his lefthanded brother Landen Street has been hitting in the two hole. After the fifth spot in the lineup, things are still to be determined, said Perkins.
The Bulldogs will open up play in the District 1-A league on Mar. 18 as they travel to University High. Perkins said that he is expecting a rough path through conference play in 2019.
“I tip my cap to this conference,” said Perkins. “I learned last year that this is a tough little baseball conference. For many of the schools in our conference, historically, baseball is one of the strongest sports on their campus. We know we must play well. We know can’t just show up.”
Perkins will be helped by assistant coaches Jerry Rouse, Jason Davenport, and Judd Hammons.
The 2019 Bulldogs will be made up of Devin Riddle, Hunter Haynes, Noah Laughters, Scott Lord, Caleb Oaks, Dalton Rouse, Andrew Smith, Elijah Smith, Landen Street, Weston Street, Josh Stout, Parker Henry, Josh Owens, Conor Burleson, Avery Hill, Seth Hughes, McKinley Kuhn, Morgan Lyons, Kyler Lewis, Caleb Royston, and Cameron Moss.