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Photo by Ann Spteker At left, Infielder Matt Fletcher takes his turn during a recent practice with the varsity Panthers baseball team. Above, Senior L. B. Settle will be one of Coach Jenkins anchors at first base.
Time to play ball
By CHRISTINE KRAPF
Special to the Rappahannock News
For the Rappahannock County High School varsity baseball team, it is not how well it does at the start of the season.
“Predictions don’t mean much. You still got to play every game,” Panthers head coach Jeff Jenkins said. “By the time it’s the (Bull Run District) tournament, unless you finish first and automatically go to regionals, the tournament is all that will matter. The main thing is that we improve with every game.”
Rappahannock County qualified for the Region B tournament a year ago for the first time in more than 30 seasons.
But the 2007-08 version will be vastly different. Only seven players return. So Jenkins will need his younger, inexperienced players to produce.
“The biggest difference between the older guys and the younger guys is that the younger ones have more speed,” Jenkins added. “They are light on their feet”
Returning to Rappahannock County’s lineup are sophomore Taylor Yowell, junior Chase Tupper and seniors Jason Wiese, Jonathan Butler, J.R. Barron, Travis Jenkins and L.B. Settle.
Yowell saw some varsity playing time as a freshman. This year he will be found primarily behind the plate but also can play in the infield. Tupper is a two-year starter who split time between shortstop and catching last season. He returns to the shortstop spot but also will be one of the Panthers’ starting pitchers.
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