BH Baseball article from the Sun

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article from the Sun:

Eagles must grow up fast to defend title
By Dave Rogers
The Baytown Sun
Published February 20, 2010
MONT BELVIEU – The Barbers Hill Eagles have a special place in their baseball clubhouse room for varsity veterans:

It’s Tyler Lyday’s locker.

The senior first baseman is the only returning starter for the Eagles, who tied Kingwood Park for the District 19-4A title last year and finished up 19-12 in a season truncated by a swine flu scare.

“I don’t think many people are giving us much of a chance to make the playoffs this year,” veteran coach Gil Stalbaum said. “But I’d like to think we’d be able to battle for a playoff spot.

“We’ve got some talented young kids. It’s just a matter of how quick they mature into leaders.”

Grayson Long, a 6-foot-5 sophomore righthander, is the talented prospect most talked about, based on his showings in summer showcase events. But like most of the Eagles, this will be his first varsity season.

A quartet of seniors did see enough action in 2009 to letter. They are outfielder Brandon Wright, third baseman Blayne McDonald, first baseman Brian Meyer and third baseman-pitcher Cole Young.

Going into the final weekend before the start of the 2010 season, McDonald, Young and junior Aaron Kramer were competing for a starting spot at third. Second base was up for grabs between sophomore Blake Bonnin and junior James Santana.

Those who seemed to have nailed down positions were Lyday at first, junior Ethan Jeffcoat in centerfield, sophomore catcher Kody Thompson and sophomore shortstop Kyle Leggett.

Corner outfielder possibilities include Wright, junior Coleman Blaylock, junior Jonathan Green, senior Daniel Mitchell and freshman Preston Townley.

Tyler Newcomb, a sophomore move-in from Pasadena Dobie, just joined the program after playing JV basketball and could see a lot of time at a variety of positions, Stalbaum said.

When it comes to pitching, Mitchell, who’s currently busy with Barbers Hill’s playoff basketball team, is the Eagles’ most experienced man on the mound.

“Kody Thompson and (sophomore) Kyle Leggett picked up some innings on the varsity last year,” Stalbaum said, but nobody on our roster now pitched more than 10 innings for us.”

Carson Asbury, another varsity basketball player, Young and Townley are other pitching probables.

“Our district is loaded,” Stalbaum said, noting that Kingwood Park and Goose Creek Memorial return their entire teams. “Crosby has outstanding pitching returning. C.E. King has a good nucleus coming back and so does Galena Park and Dayton always competes for a playoff spot every year.”

So does Barbers Hill. Area baseball fans know better than to ever count out the Eagles. It’s up to Stalbaum to direct their flight.