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The 2021 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. That excitement may be at an all-time high entering this high school season as the 2020 high school baseball season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season during an offseason unlike any other and as always, there are some very talented players and teams across Tennessee.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Murfreesboro at the TSSAA Spring Fling state championships, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, prospect watchlists, and Tennessee Power Rankings

 *Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.

 

High School: Cookeville High School

Coach: Butch Chaffin 

Classification: TSSAA AAA-District 6

Positional Starters Returning: 4

Pitchers Returning: 7

Team Strengths: Depth, several talented players but untested. 

Team Weaknesses: With Jayden Davis starting at SS, lacking a power arm starter. 

 

 Top Returning Players:

2022 SS/RHP Jayden Davis (Rice Commit)

2021 RHP Colby Phillips (Carson Newman Commit)

2021 RHP/3B Connor Holmes

 

Top 2021 Prospects:

2021 RHP Colby Phillips (Carson Newman Commit)

2021 RHP/3B Connor Holmes

2021 RHP Mason Fike

2021 OF Matt Sweeney

 

Top 2022 Prospects:

2022 SS/RHP Jayden Davis (Rice Commit)

2022 INF Luke Maniscalco

2022 OF Carson Ragland

 

Top 2023 Prospects:

2023 RHP Aiden Linder

2023 C Ty Gantt

 

Outlook: 
Perfectly placed between Nashville and Knoxville is Cookeville, TN home of the Cavaliers (@Cav_Baseball). Butch Chaffin (@ButchBaseball29) has been at the helm for 30+ years, turning out 20+ win seasons and consistently in the AAA postseason mix. The Cavs have been at the forefront of their district with a string of region appearances often running into a stout Bradley Central (2019 State Runner Up) team, but a deep 2021 club will look to make a run to Spring Fling and get back for the first time since 2014. The headliner is junior SS/RHP Jayden Davis (Rice Commit), former Future Gamer and top 3 SS in the class. Davis handles the bat and can do damage while playing great defense up the middle while sitting 87-91 on the mound with a high spin CB.  Around Davis, is a deep cast of veteran seniors such as: RHP Colby Phillips (Carson Newman commit), 3B/RHP Connor Holmes, Speedy OF Matt Sweeney, and RHP Mason Fike.  Long, lanky right hander Phillips commands low to mid 80s FB and exceptional breaking ball with strong mound awareness. Holmes is a competitor and can contribute both ways with sinking FB in low 80s and solid breaking ball and solid all around positionally at the hot corner.  Sweeney can track it down in the outfield with great speed and solid production at the dish.  Fike will be another veteran arm that is gonna log some innings with potential for Davis to close out some games. '22 INF Luke Maniscalco will contribute with good athleticism and can play all over the infield while tall '23 RHP Aiden Linder will be one to keep an eye on.  The Cavs put in good work over the offseason and look to put the pieces together to maintain their reign in district six and make a deep postseason run.  CREDO!

 

Not even going to lie....love my team...love them more when they focus on the task like they did today. Wow...focus. #credo

— Butch Chaffin (@ButchBaseball29) February 5, 2021

 

Best of luck this season!

 

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