Displaying items by tag: WoodsLeo

2015 Senior Colts Baseball Team

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 Derrick Webb, Reporter7:29 p.m. EDT July 13, 2016

 

CHILLICOTHE - As Chillicothe Post 757 heads towards the Region V Tournament, the Colts are in good hands when comes to a leadership aspect.

Veterans Zack Stapleton, Leo Woods and Cody Hendershot are all in their last year with the organization and, because of that factor, they're determined to carry their team on the deepest postseason run possible.

The recipe for that hoped for success? Heart, togetherness and hitting the cover off the ball.

"We can win the whole thing if we put our minds to it," Woods said, a four-year veteran on the club. "We have to come out playing in every game, play together and listen to our coaches. We've got a lot of new kids this year, who have never been in the tournament. It's up to us older guys to show them the ropes."

The Colts (11-18) have just two regular season games left, a doubleheader with Hillsboro Post 129 on Thursday evening before the tournament starts. In a double-elimination format, two losses over the weekend signal the end of three storied 757 careers.

"The other night, we played our last game on our home field," Hendershot recalled, speaking of Post 757's JW Hoffman Field in Chillicothe's Mary Lou Patton Park. "That was a bittersweet feeling. I love playing here. It's been home for seven years. To know that I was stepping on that field for the last time, in a game sense, it was emotional."

Hendershot, 19, has spent the longest of the three with the Colts as the 2016 summer marks his seventh in blue and gold. The Southeastern High School graduate originally planned to play for 757's crosstown rival Post 62, but thought otherwise when the two parties' first meeting didn't go as planned.

"When I came out of little league, I wanted to play for Post 62 because that's where all of my friends were playing," Hendershot said. "But there was a lot of 'daddy ball' so to speak. So when I showed up to tryouts, they didn't want me because they already had their team picked. I then came to 757 and (coach) Tom (Barr) gave me the chance. After my first year here and pretty much every year since, I've been offered the chance to go to 62. But I haven't done that because they didn't want me."

At 19 years old, Stapleton is in his sixth season with the Colts out of Jackson High School.

"A kid from Jackson told me to come up and try out when I was around 13 years old," Stapleton said. "That's what brought me here and I've stayed ever since. I've grown up with some of the guys I've met here and have made some really good friends."

Whatever the reason in which the three came to 757, the Colts are glad they have them on the roster. But as Hendershot alluded to, Barr is a central reason why they continue to show up summer after summer.

"Coach Barr is a confidence booster and he likes playing the game hard," Stapleton said. "He doesn't like losing and neither do I. I've grown a lot as a ballplayer since coming here. Going into my freshman year, I didn't want to play any sport. Coach Barr is one of the main reasons why I played high school baseball. It's been a roller coaster ride for me but I'm glad I'm on it."

The seeding for this weekend's tournament, being held at VA Memorial Stadium, will take place Friday. No matter where they're seeded or who they're eventually slated to play, 757's goal is a clear one.

"We want to win. Period," Woods said. "We've got a lot of talented guys on our roster and they're able to get the job done. Zack, Cody and myself have to be the leaders. We have to bring the intensity and we have to get our guys up. If we do that, you never know, you may just see an underdog win a tournament championship."

dwebb@chillicothegazette.com

Twitter: @dw1509

Follow along

The Gazette will have live coverage of the American Legion Region V Tournament as Chillicothe's Post 62 and 757 both vie for a championship. Follow @dw1509 on Twitter for updates throughout the event and visit chillicothegazette.com for full details.

 Derrick Webb, Reporter9:20 p.m. EDT March 26, 2016

 

As baseball and softball season swing into full gear — pun intended —the area's best power hitters are being lured out of winter hibernation.

In close contests, power and cleanup hitters will be called upon to knock in the go-ahead run, notch a sacrifice fly to tie the game; performing their specified job duties to the best of their abilities.

What makes these hitters so notable isn't the fact that they can hit a ball a mile but rather the fact that they have the "clutch" gene.

This week's "10 to Comprehend" takes a look at some of the area's best power hitters who possess ice in their veins.

I'll say this about Leo Woods: What he might lack in height, he makes up for it in courage. Woods is poised to be one of Chillicothe's better hitters this year. Most recently, the third baseman signed with Ohio Christian University to play the game at the next level. On the field, Woods .347 as a junior and scored 14 runs. If he's in the middle of the Cavaliers' order, opponents should probably choose to pitch around him. Defensively, Leo's pretty smooth, too. The Cavaliers are lucky to have a student-athlete like him.

 Derrick Webb, Reporter8:24 p.m. EDT March 24, 2016

CHILLICOTHE CAVALIERS

2015 Record: 9-12 (3-11 SCOL)

Head Coach: Todd Seymour, 2nd season

Key Returners: Leo Woods, Jeff Webb, Jack Busch, Gage Jones, Dylan Conley, Jordan Valentine, Noah Jackson

Player Spotlight: At the top of the order, senior Jack Busch will set the pace for the Cavaliers' offense. Busch was vital to Chillicothe's success last year as he hit .339 with four doubles and 10 RBI. Busch also scored 18 runs, second to only Caleb Price and Matt Valentine.

Outlook: The Cavaliers lost their top hitter in center fielder Caleb Price and top pitcher in lefty Nick Rinehart. So, as expected, question marks surround this team. A conference title may be a lofty goal but if Chillicothe can hit its stride at the right time, a postseason run could be in the works.

ADENA WARRIORS

2015 Record: 19-4 (14-0 SVC)

Head Coach: Tom Barr, 1st season

Key Returners: Jonathan Thomas, Collin Cory, Hayden Henness, Gunnar Free, Bo Dratwa, JD Blevins

Player Spotlight: With JD Blevins at the top of the Warriors' pitching rotation, Collin Cory will spend a lot of time at second base this year. However, when he's on the hill, Cory is poised to be dominant. During his junior year, Cory was 2-0 with a 2.72 ERA in 18 innings. If it wasn't for Blevins, Cory would be the team's ace.

Outlook: It's really simple: the Warriors just have to continue to do what they've done. One question surrounds this team however in whether or not they have that 'killer' instinct. They won 19 of 23 games last year but lost to an SVC opponent in the first round of the postseason. They have the talent to get over the hump but will they?

HUNTINGTON HUNTSMEN

2015 Record: 9-16 (3-11 SVC)

Head Coach: Brian Smith, 3rd season

Key Returners: Brian Smith, Hunter Henneberger, Billy Doyle, Devon Byrd, Merfel Conley, Jacob Pugh

Player Spotlight: Senior Billy Doyle will be counted on to capitalize with runners on base this season for the Huntsmen. Doyle hit .370 one year ago and drove in 10 runs while scoring 12. This season, he should be moved up in the lineup. But with that move comes responsibility. Look for him to embrace his new role.

Outlook: Pitching. Pitching. Pitching. The Huntsmen had virtually none last year. But with another year comes more experience so who knows what will take place in 2016. Brian Smith will be the leader of this club, followed by Doyle. Those two have to take charge and make their teammates better one by one.

PIKETON REDSTREAKS

2015 Record: 6-17 (4-10 SVC)

Head Coach: Gene Bumgardner, 8th season

Key Returners: Riley Harris, Jacob Chester, Colton Blakeman, Ethan Crabtree, Zane Barker, Tyler Brown

Player Spotlight: Anchoring Piketon's pitching rotation will be senior Jacob Chester. As a junior, Chester hurled 37 innings and allowed 20 earned runs for a 3.78 ERA. While striking out 24 and walking just nine, Chester went just 1-3 as he suffered from a lack of run support. Piketon will look to change that in 2016.

Outlook: Both Ethan Fremder and Zack Jordan have graduated while Talon Osborne transferred to Waverly. The Redstreaks are now left with young talent and will rely on veterans Riley Harris and Colton Blakeman to rally the troops. Piketon played in a plethora of close contests last year. Gene Bumgardner's club has to be optimistic heading into this weekend.

dwebb@chillicothegazette.com

Twitter: @dw1509