2024 Preview: West Wilkes
January 1, 2024
West Wilkes Preview
PROGRAM INFORMATION
HIGH SCHOOL NAME West Wilkes
MASCOT Blackhawks
CLASSIFICATION 2A
CONFERENCE Foothills Conference
HEAD COACH Drew Ward
TWITTER @WWhawkbaseball
INSTAGRAM wwblackhawkbaseball
HOME FIELD: The Creek 6598 Boone Trail, Millers Creek, NC 29651
PROGRAM HISTORY
PROGRAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
+ Conference Champions - Mountain Valley 2021
+ State Champions - Northwest 1A- 2010
PREVIEWING 2022
SCHEDULE: CLICK HERE & find the 2024 schedule
ROSTER: CLICK HERE & find the 2024 roster
PRESEASON EVENT:
Tri-Scrimmage at Rockingham High School. WW, Rockingham, Heritage Blackhawk B.E.S.T.- March 2 at West Wilkes. WW, East Wilkes, Surry Central, North Stokes, Mountain Heritage, Polk County, North Surry Classic at The Creek- March 4-8 at West Wilkes. WW, Saint Stephens, Watauga, Mount Airy, North Surry, North Iredell
SPRING BREAK: N/A
STARTERS RETURNING: 6
RETURNING PITCHERS: 4
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Expectations for Team - Strong core of returning players that are led by two uncommitted seniors Brady Penland and Branson Davis. Look for the team to gel and make a run at the conference title.
From the Coach,Expected Team Strength
As a team, we are excited about our returners, both in the lineup and on the mound. We will return 6 of our regular offensive starters, last year's #2 arm and our closer. We have been working hard to continue to develop young arms and bats that we are excited about and now return with varsity experience this year. We plan to play a team game of baseball ,offensively doing whatever is necessary to score runs, but also feel like we can drive the baseball and do damage. Ultimately, our pitching and defense will tell the story.
THOUGHTS ON THE CONFERENCE:
We always expect to see a team's best, no matter the team or how things are going. East Surry has won the league the last two seasons and looks to return strong. Forbush has finished 2nd both years and has a very solid pitching staff. North Surry, Surry Central, Wilkes Central, and North Wilkes all return key pieces to their teams and always compete. The regular season championship and slots down from there have come down to the last week of the season each year and I expect that to be the case again. If someone runs away with it, I will be surprised. Each night in this league, especially playing the same team twice each week, is always a dogfight. Once we get through this conference season, I think the playoff teams are prepared for the playoffs and have been battle tested.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
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Eli Johnson RHP / C. E. Jordan, NC / 2024 |
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HAYDEN GENTRY 3B / RHP / West Wilkes, NC / 2026
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Zeb Shepherd CF / West Wilkes, NC / 2025 |
- NC 2024 Top Prospect Games: Trackman Pitchers 8/16/24
- NC Future Games: Team NC vs. Team VA 8/15/24
- NC 2024 Top Prospect Games: Quick Hitters - 2027 Position Players 8/15/24
- NC Senior Future Games: NC Hitters BP Metrics 8/15/24
- NC 2024 Top Prospect Games: Quick Hitters - 2026 Position Players 8/15/24