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Last year’s CCC champ, Ledford returns as a favorite to repeat in a top-heavy league. The Panthers sport perhaps the best 1-2 pitching tandem in the conference with seniors Ricky Vaughn and Justin Livengood.
This duo has been nearly unhittable through the early part of the season. Vaughn pitched a masterpiece on Tuesday against the Lexington Yellow Jackets, striking out 11 in five innings of no-hit work. Livengood was on his way to beating Central Davidson in Southmont on Thursday before a power issue forced the game to be postponed with Ledford leading 2-0. For the Panthers to defend their title, these two will have to be at their best. There are other options in the LHS rotation with young hurlers Cory Alcon and Travis Vogler, but Vaughn and Livengood give the Panthers their best opportunity to win big games, especially on the road against the likes of Salisbury, West and Central Davidson.
“You just have to get in your head that you are going to be a leader,” said Livengood following his 4-1 victory over Southwest Guilford, a 3-A team that was ranked in the top five in the state. “You just have to step up and make things happen.”
As good a Vaughn and Livengood are on the mound, the Panthers (8-1, 2-0) still have to score runs. Ledford lost Murray White and Clay Carmichael to graduation, but the Panthers return much of their lineup from a year ago. Left-fielder Jacob Scott will again lead off and provides speed and a good eye at the top of the order. Scott getting on base will be key as Vaughn, Patrick Koontz and Livengood will follow and they are all capable of driving in runs. Ryan Fitzgerald, Sam Berrier and Vogler should also have plenty of RBI opportunities hitting in the 5-7 spots. Second baseman Tyler Rogers and shortstop Alcon need to be consistent at the plate, particularly when Vaughn is pitching and both are playing the field.
“We are just looking for consistency,” Adams said after LHS’ 7-2 win on Tuesday. “We got hits when we needed them and we just have to keep getting better.”
East Davidson could be the sleeper in the CCC before the season is over for one simple reason — pitching. The Golden Eagles, like their cross-county rival, have two pitchers that are capable of shutting down a lineup in Brooks Miller and David Watson. Miller won his second CCC start of the year on Thursday, beating North Rowan 1-0 in Spencer. In a home game versus Lexington in the Eagles conference opener, Watson relieved Miller and polished off an impressive six-hitter with three nearly flawless innings.
In order for EDHS (2-4, 2-1) to crack into the top four of the CCC, the Golden Eagles need to find a consistent offense. East has had a few games so far where the Eagles didn’t hit all that well and that outcome resulted in losses. Replacing a hitter like former catcher Nathan Naturile is nearly impossible, but the pieces are there to fill the void as East returns a veteran lineup. Bryson Faulkner and Adam Hayes will set the tone for the Eagles at the top of the order. Third baseman Chad Ferguson is likely out for the year after hurting his right knee 10 days ago, leaving yet another hole, but Ryan Coleman, Keaton Hawkes and Jesse Cooper have the tools to do it. Kyle Workman, Josh Lovern and Kevin Michael could provide a big boost at the bottom of the lineup once they all get more plate appearances.
East can upset some teams if Miller or Watson is on and the offense can generate 3-4 runs. What the Golden Eagles can’t do is fall to teams like Lexington (1-4) and North Rowan (0-7), clubs that in all likelihood will not be competing for the league title. Should EDHS hold fort at home and score one or two wins over West (5-3, 1-1), Central, Salisbury (8-1, 3-0) or Ledford on the road, the CCC will get mighty interesting come May.
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 233, or at eliotduke@hotmail.com.