Cavaliers overcome slow start with strong finish
By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer
St. MatthewsComing into the 2010 season, Calhoun Academy baseball coach Adam Jarecki was apprehensive about his team’s potential. The Cavaliers lost many seniors to graduation and came into the spring with a very young roster.
However, after a rough start, the Cavaliers got going and finished the season 12-7 overall and third in the conference standings. They defeated The Byrnes Schools in the first round of the SCISA playoffs, but fell to W.W. King in the second round.
“We needed to catch a couple of breaks and we didn’t, but we did well considering we graduated so many people. Halfway into the season we really started playing well, and we finished the season strong. It really turned out to be better than we expected to start with. I’m very proud of them,” Jarecki said.
This year Calhoun Academy will say goodbye to five seniors on the 12-man roster. The biggest loss will be pitcher/outfielder Matt Arant, who made the All-Region and North-South teams. He went 4-2 with 68 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched. At the plate, he batted .330 with two home runs and 13 runs batted in.
“That’s a big loss because he won a state championship for us and pitched in another one. He was a leader for us this year and that will be a big hole to fill. We’re going to miss him,” Jarecki said.
Another key senior leaving is first baseman William Granger, who hit .312 with 14 runs batted in. Other players graduating include Taylor Porth, outfielder Adam Carter and designated hitter John Perrow.
Still the Cavaliers have a lot to look forward to next season. Infielder Cameron Huddleston is back after leading the team with a .365 batting average. Outfielder Bryan Love will be another force in the lineup after hitting .356 with three homers and 12 stolen bases.
Shortstop Jeff Grubbs batted .357 with 14 RBI this year while Jordan Rucker went .309 with 10 runs driven in at the dish. Rucker will also step into the No. 1 starting role on the mound.
“We’ve got the bulk of the team coming back and I feel good about what we have,” Jarecki said.
Other players returning next season are catcher Eric Smith, infielder Jesse Reeves and outfielder Phillip Tyler.