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2016 Team Preview: Patuxent

March 25, 2016

Northeast Prospect ID

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By Ryan Hudspeth
MD/DE Scouting Supervisor

Team:  Patuxent      
Nickname: Panthers
Class: 2A
Conference: SMAC
Head Coach:  Keith Powell
Years as HC: Entering 13th Season
2015 Record: 12-10
2015 Conference Record: 8-5
2015 Post Season: Lost in Regional Finals to AA State Champion Southern HS

Returning Position: 6
Returning Pitchers: 0

PLAYERS WITH POST-SEASON HONORS
Reese Crounse – All County
Arley Shepherd – All County

PLAYERS TO WATCH
2B Austin Kellaher
3B/DH Austin Benton
3B/C Reese Crounse 2017
OF/SS Arley Shepherd 2017
OF Hugh Clark

SEASON OUTLOOK
Panthers look to improve on last year season with Head Coach Keith Powell embarking on his 13th season. Coach Powell has a 162-110 record as the Panthers skipper which includes two State Final appearances. This Panthers squad wants to take their coach back to the State Finals. Infielders Reese Crounse and Arley Shepherd look to be the guys that help spark the Panthers all year.

The story this season will be their depth and experience in the field. Coach Powell says he has 2-3 players who could start at every position. This will make for great competition at practice leading up to the season. There will be depth in the lineup with five returners all batting above .300 mark in 2015. Bryan Kellaher (.311), Austin Benton (Chesapeake CC commit, .333), Crounse (.350), Shepherd (.320), and Hugh Clark (.385).

An area they will need to look for new faces is on the mound. The Panthers are only returning 30 innings from last year and they will be missing 11 of 12 wins in the rotation. But newcomer southpaw Sophomore Sayo Kintunde will look to make a major splash in the rotation. RHP Hunter Atherton is another new arm with three pitches who will eat up a lot of innings looking to replace those that graduated. Jaelen Gross (OF) and Dane Overstreet (Utility) are newcomers who look see major time this spring.

The Panthers have a great deal of experience returning in the middle of the line up, so look for them to put up runs. With very few innings returning  on the bump, the pitching rotation may be the question mark heading into the season. But with Kintunde and Atherton, the rotation might have some depth to it. Look for the offense to pace the team early as the rotation develops and the young pitching staff settles in this upcoming season.

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